Even after 20 years fronting Donna the Buffalo, Tara Nevins said she can’t imagine doing anything else.
“We never thought about the future when we started doing it,” the co-lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist said of the band’s 1989 formation near Ithaca, N.Y. “We just started doing it, and here we are, 21 years later.
“It’s pretty awesome, really.”
Tonight, members of the band are returning to the stage at Merlefest, their frequent stomping grounds. Thursday, the eclectic roots/folk rock quintet will share the stage at Rhythm & Brews with Nashville’s bluegrass giants The Infamous Stringdusters.
With the exception of a handful of albums released on Sugar Hill Records, Donna the Buffalo has avoided securing ties with major record labels. That self-reliant approach to the music has been a boon in recent years as label support has diminished, Nevins said.