Violinist travels to record with her sister

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Violin performer and music instructor Susan Ramsey of Dover-Foxcroft returned home July 2 following a recording session in Buffalo, N.Y.

She worked with her sister, Mary Ramsey, of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs for two days to record a number of pieces. Some of them are for an album the sisters are doing together. Others are for a grassroots project called WhyHunger, which promotes access to nutritious and affordable food, according to the organization’s website.

They did a Civil War era tune called “The Vacant Chair”. They are also collaborating with others on “Mull of Kintyre”, a song made famous by Paul McCartney’s band Wings and written by McCartney and Denny Laine, formerly of the Moody Blues.

This time last year, Ramsey recorded on the group’s newest album “Twice Told Tales” (Cleopatra Records), a collection of traditional British folk songs. She contributed fiddle tracks on three songs. “It’s very Celtic sounding. It’s a little bit of a deviation from what the Maniacs normally do,” she explains. “But there’s a definite Maniacs sound on it and it’s been well received by the critics so far.”