Twin sisters and two brothers pick, pluck and strum traditional American instruments, including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, carpenter’s saw, banjo and dancing board for a heaping helping of old-time country music. Soaring voices in close harmony make them the Waxwings. On Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. come watch The Waxwings Old-Time Stringband perform for Lakewood Public Library’s “Sunday with the Friends” series at 2 p.m. in the auditorium on the lower level.

The Waxwings are comprised of twin sisters Lisa and Laura Cyrocki, originally from Michigan, and brothers Pete and Nate McDonald. Lisa plays an old parlor-style guitar from the 1930s and her grandfather’s old carpenter saw. Laura plays a 125-year-old banjo, and Pete plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar and harmonica. They all join in on vocals and produce close vocal harmonies. They play traditional old-time music and old-time inspired songs.

Old-time music developed in the Appalachian Mountains early in the 19th Century. It has its roots in folk ballads from the British Isles yet it has evolved into a truly American form of music. A typical old-time song has a lead fiddle playing melody accompanied by guitar and banjo.

Lisa and Laura began playing old-time music recently. The twins have been singing together most of their lives. Laura says, “We think our range is mezzo-soprano, although we’ve never had any formal music training to help us understand our voices.” Pete and Nate McDonald grew up with a life of music in a family of talented old-time musicians and they were exposed to traditional music at a young age. In addition to performing and recording original and old-time music, Pete McDonald is also involved in promoting traditional music. His CD, “Here and Gone,” was released in 2005 at the Beachland Ballroom.

The Cedar Waxwing is a medium-sized songbird whose call includes a very high-pitched whistles and buzzy trills. According to Laura Cyrocki the band was hiking together one day and they took a liking to the bird. “We all have an affinity for a bird called the Cedar Waxwing. It is a stunning bird and native to this region,” says Laura.

The Waxwings Old-Time Stringband is quite a diverse group. When they’re not playing they teach, work in land conservation and practice law. Join them Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library. The program is free and open to the public.