Christiana formed Yarn in Brooklyn, New York in 2006, originally as a side project from his roots rock band Blake & the Family Dog. The new band began honing their chops with a standing Monday night gig at the renowned New York venue Kenny's Castaway. By 2007, Christiana had dissolved Blake & the Family Dog to focus on his new band, and Yarn released their self-titled first album. In 2008, the group released their second album, Empty Pockets, which featured guest vocals from Edie Brickell and ex-Whiskeytown fiddler and vocalist Caitlin Cary. Before long, Yarn had expanded to a stable, six-man lineup, with Christiana joined by Trevor MacArthur on guitar and vocals, Andrew Hendryx on mandolin and harmonica, Rod Hohl on electric guitar, Rick Bugel on bass, and Robert Bonhomme on drums. Yarn took to the road, and earned a reputation as a hard-working live act, playing up to 170 dates a year. A third Yarn album, Come on In, was released in 2010, and in 2011, the group released a collection of rare and unreleased material, Leftovers, Vol. One. Yarn adopted a more country-rock approach on their 2012 album, Almost Home, putting a greater emphasis on electric guitar and drums. A second Leftovers volume appeared the same year. 2013's Shine the Light On found Yarn returning to an acoustic-based sound, while John Oates appeared on two songs he co-wrote with Christiana. A period of musical and personal transition followed, leading to Yarn pulling up stakes and moving to North Carolina. A streamlined four-piece edition of the band -- Christiana, Hohl, Bugel, and Bonhomme -- returned to the studio, and the new lineup released This Is the Year in May 2016. ~ Mark Deming