How did the band come about? Dieter, Ewe and Egbert got to know each other at music sessions in the Amerikahaus in Stuttgart. On the occasion of a birthday gig more than 25 years ago, they decided to perform together with Wolfgang as the band "Four Potatoes". Martin joined a little later, Gaby has been with us since 2007. Matthias became a permanent member in 2020, having often represented Egbert or Martin. As a result, Martin was able to withdraw a little as desired and is now deputizing for his part. Peter is brand new. Sadly, Dieter passed away in July 2022 after a serious illness.

The Four Potatoes musicians are semi professionals. They don’t do this for a living (what a life that would be). Some of them also play in other bands or orchestras. It’s for the crack of making music, especially when the audience goes wild.


Egbert van der Hammen: Although he is a great fan of Keith Richards he started his music life singing Irish folksongs. Followed later by bluegrass, old time, blues, western swing and stuff you can do accompanied by an acoustic guitar. He makes most of the entertainment, always seeking to combine this with some modest education. He does not have the typical country and western voice (like the dog with his tail caught in barbed wire), it sounds clear and fits remarkably well in the “Four Potatoes” sound.
Matthias Möhring: Active in the Bluegrass scene since 1997, he began as guitarist and singer of the band „Captain Carrots Crew“, later „Sunnyside Bluegrass Band“. In 2010, Matthias joined „The Mr. Big Stringband“ contributing vocals, guitar, mandoline and contrabass (www.misterbigband.de). He also performs solo as singer-songwriter (TransAtlantik Folk) (http://www.matthias-möhring.de/). For many years he was happy to be the absence representative for the "Four Potatoes" on contrabass and singing and is now a permanent member of the Four Potatoes from May 2020.
Wolfgang Ritter: You can't tell that he's got a good sense of humor when he's playing the band's smallest instrument, the mandolin, with a plectrum. The melodies trickle down from the strings, and it is often only during a solo that the listener realizes how much the fine mandolin tone enriches the overall sound, because generally only the beat of the mandolin is perceived as providing the rhythm. With some music titles (e.g. Cajun pieces) Wolfgang plays the accordion, which immediately gives the overall sound a different colour.
Ewe Krumpholz: Even though he was forced to learn to play the violin when he was little (was he ever?) he eventually did find his way to the fiddle. Ewe is a great fan of Stephane Grappelli and Gilles Apap, the fiddlers amongst the great violinists. Above all, traditional folk music worldwide is for him the source of both beautiful and interesting melodies. He truly believes that, besides the popular TV German folk scene, real German old time music exists. He is considered the best male fiddler in the band!
Gaby Fitzner: While the others have been making music together for half their lives, she has only been with the band since 2007. She comes from the classic violin game and has taken the "beautiful" playing with her. She trained with no sheet music at sessions in Irish pubs in Galway and Donegal, and learned to fiddle and improvise a little dirty from Ewe. She is especially happy about the reels and jigs in the repertoire and is the best female fiddler in the band.
Peter Huber: First studied musicology with the aim of music ethnology. But since life doesn't always run in a straight line, he ended up in a different profession and had to give up the Framus longneck banjo (Pete Seeger!) that he had bought in 1971. But the love for genuine folk music remained, and so he finally came to American old-time music via detours. He plays the indispensable banjo - of course - in the original style, called clawhammer or frailing. Although there have been a few more banjos in the meantime, he still likes to unpack his old longneck.
Martin Gross: Despite all the artistry on the bass - musically his heart belongs to the Dobro, and here he has an international fan community. Not only his video clips are appreciated, but also the self-made accessories (ribbons, capo tastos and everything else that can be made of leather and metal), which is particularly popular in the USA, the country of origin of Dobro (more on this at www.martingross.com ). Martin does the vocal arrangements and, since 2020, has limited himself to deputizing if one of the others in the band is unable to perform. Due to his instrument versatility he can replace all band members except the fiddlers if necessary.
In memory of our band co-founder and banjo player Dieter Lengler. For decades he was the calming force, with a perfect outfit from the top hat to the toe of his boots. He will remain in our memory and that of all fans.
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