“A musical collaboration that demands to be heard.”
– Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine
Zoe & Cloyd—the creative partnership of fiddler/vocalist Natalya Zoe Weinstein and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist John Cloyd Miller—prove that opposites truly do attract. Hailing from two distinct musical worlds, they merge their unique backgrounds into a powerful collaboration that has garnered both critical acclaim and widespread appeal.
Natalya, a classically trained musician from Massachusetts with deep roots in klezmer and jazz, joins forces with John, a 12th-generation North Carolinian and grandson of pioneering bluegrass fiddler Jim Shumate. Together, they create music that honors their respective traditions while forging a distinctive sound of their own. This award-winning duo’s work has been described by Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine as “a musical collaboration that demands to be heard.”
Accolades follow Zoe & Cloyd wherever they go. John is a grand prize winner of both the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and the Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest, while Natalya has earned numerous fiddle contests across the country. Based in Asheville, NC, they also teach in the traditional music program at Warren Wilson College, sharing their knowledge and passion with the next generation of musicians.
Zoe & Cloyd have performed nationwide and internationally, captivating audiences at prestigious venues and festivals like MerleFest, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Westport Folk & Bluegrass Fest in Ireland, Earl Scruggs Music Fest, FreshGrass Festival, and the NC Folk Festival. Since 2022, they have also served as the artistic directors for A Swannanoa Solstice at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts in Asheville.
Their fifth studio album, Songs of Our Grandfathers (2023, Organic Records), is an homage to their bluegrass and klezmer roots. The album has earned enthusiastic praise, with feature articles in Bluegrass Unlimited, No Depression, and The Bluegrass Situation. With soaring harmonies, heartfelt songwriting, and a seamless blend of bluegrass, klezmer, old-time, and folk, Zoe & Cloyd continue to delight audiences with their down home sincerity and musical zeal.
