The Mammals
Downtown Music is thrilled to welcome Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda of The Mammals, who hail from New York’s Hudson Valley. Over two decades, the Mammals have built a legacy of genre-defying and emotionally resonant folk-rock praised as “some of the best songwriting of their generation” (LA Times). Their music resonates with urgency and tenderness—amplifying the voices of conscience, connection, and the full spectrum of human experience. Referred to as “subversive acoustic traditionalists” by the Boston Globe, The Mammals blend old-timey roots music with lyrical fire and magnetic force.
A Downtown Music Debut
This concert is made possible, in part, by a gift in memory of Robert Sherman.
“The Mammals make music for the moment—and the movement. Anchored in the fertile folk traditions of the Hudson Valley, this fiercely independent band blends string-band swagger with indie-folk heart and a radical spirit that feels both deeply rooted and urgently current. Co-founded by Mike Merenda and Ruth Ungar (daughter of fiddle legend Jay Ungar), The Mammals emerged in the early 2000s with a mission: revive the rebel soul of Americana, and give it something real to say.
And say something, they do. Their songs straddle the personal and political, moving from love ballads and front porch reflections to rally cries for environmental justice, labor rights, and community healing. It’s protest music with hooks—think Pete Seeger meets Wilco at a modern hootenanny. Their harmonies ache, their fiddles fly, and their lyrics don’t flinch. The Mammals aren’t here for nostalgia—they’re here to make folk music matter again.
At a time when roots music can feel either too polished or too precious, The Mammals cut through with grit, grace, and a palpable sense of purpose. Whether they’re headlining a folk festival, recording in their own homegrown Humble Abode Studio, or showing up for a cause in their backyard, The Mammals carry on a living tradition: one where music doesn’t just entertain—it empowers.” -RBR Music
“Some of the best songwriting of their generation.” High Times
“One of New York State’s finest treasures.” - Americana UK
"Some of the best folk-rock music you will ever hear.” - TapeOp
"Easily a new favorite." Daytrotter
”A national treasure.” - Anais Mitchell
"In the vanguard of today’s vibrant folk revival.” Pop Matters
“These two will shatter any preconceived stereotypical notions of what it means to be a folk musician.” - Coastal Journal
“Your hoot was one of the best song gatherings I’ve seen in all my 94 years.” - Pete Seeger