Biography
The Kennett Brothers were an Alt-country band from Champaign-Urbana, IL, active in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Led by Edward Burch (roommate and future musical partner of Wilco's Jay Bennett), the group had a repertoire both broad and deep and played live shows that could vacillate between the beautiful and the shambolic.
Originally a duo with Ryan Jerving (of the Viper and His Famous Orchestra), the pair adopted Kennett stage names, borrowed from members of Burch's family. Jerving became Earl Wayne Kennett, and Burch became Charlie Kennett. Their core repertoire was informed by a passion for the Louvin Brothers, filtered through a love of American indie rock and classic British pop.
After playing Champaign-Urbana as a duo, the pair began adding sidemen, eventually expanding into a full band. Early members included Riley Broach (also of the Viper and His Famous Orchestra) on string bass, and Kenneth Rainey (formerly of Thunderwear and later a member of Chicago's Tangleweed) on mandolin and lap/ pedal steel guitar. The group was rounded out by a revolving cast of drummers.
The group had only one official release, Santa is Real, on AllWrote records, released in late 2000, and now out of print.
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