You don’t need to spend a ton of money on an instrument to make great music, as Hunter the Spoon Man clearly demonstrates with his impressive covers of Billy Strings and other challenging songs played on spoons.
Hunter’s knack for the primitive percussion instrument is truly awe-inspiring, and his mastery of complex arrangements by Billy Strings and other bluegrass luminaries shows how the tradition of spoon playing is ripe for a resurgence as the genre continues to rise in popularity. Although he tends to favor the modern version of the spoons—a one-piece design carved out of wood—rather than the kind you can find in your kitchen, his videos have turned a whole new generation of TikTokers onto the instrument, which has deep roots in American folk music.
Watch Hunter take on Billy Strings’ “Hide and Seek”:
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And check out this video of him busking:
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Hunter has also shared clips of other Billy Strings songs, including “Slow Train”, “Living Like an Animal”, “Long Journey Home”, “Secrets”, and more:
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Billy Strings isn’t the only bluegrass artist Hunter the Spoon Man has taken on. Check out this video of him playing “Nashville Blues” by Doc Watson:
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Beyond bluegrass, Hunter has played spoons to songs by a wide range of artists including Primus, Tool, and Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes:
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Hunter’s talents also go beyond playing just spoons. He happens to also be more than proficient on the banjo, guitar, and washboard:
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If you, like us, are dumbfounded by Hunter’s spoon technique, check out this slow motion capture:
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