Based out of Minneapolis, the
Okee Dokee Brothers are a Grammy-winning bluegrass and Appalachian folk duo with a focus on children's music. Known for albums like 2012's Can You Canoe? and 2016's
Saddle Up, the band's material is largely inspired by outdoor adventures they've undertaken together including hiking the Appalachian Trail, canoeing the Mississippi River, and camping along the Continental Divide.
Featuring Denver natives and childhood friends, guitarist/singer
Joe Mailander and banjo player/singer
Justin Lansing,
the Okee Dokee Brothers were born out of the duo's shared love of the outdoors and folk music. While both
Mailander and
Lansing grew up playing music, they eventually earned degrees in Spanish with
Lansing attending Lake Forest College in Illinois and
Mailander attending Saint John's University in Minneapolis. After graduating college in 2008, they based themselves in Minneapolis and released the debut
Okee Dokee Brothers album, Kids with Beards. Two years later, the duo followed up with Take It Outside and the Spanish-language ¡Excelente Fabuloso! In 2012, they took home their first Grammy Award for their fourth album, Can You Canoe? The following year,
Mailander and
Lansing embarked on an extended tour of the Appalachian Trail, during which they wrote and recorded new music. The trip resulted in
the Okee Dokee Brothers' fifth studio album, 2014's Through the Woods, which also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Children's Album. The following year,
Mailander and
Lansing took a horsepacking trip together along the Continental Divide. Their adventure inspired
the Okee Dokee Brothers' next release, 2016's guest-heavy cowboy-themed album
Saddle Up. Another themed-release, Winterland, arrived in October 2018, exploring the seasonal voyage from autumn to spring. ~ Matt Collar