Meghan Coil is a versatile violin and fiddle player based in Portland, Oregon.  She grew up studying classical violin and started exploring bluegrass and adjacent genres in college at Denison University.  She has taught in Suzuki programs in Ohio and Pennsylvania and for nine years, she operated Breathe Suzuki Studio, offering violin and fiddle lessons in North Portland for students ages 3-adult.

Since 2022, The Prairie Benders has been her main focus.  She joined the SynchroLicity Collective in 2024. She has played on recording projects with Red Yarn, Bizarre Star Strings and Dirty Revival, and has appeared as a guest performer with Megan Alder and the Woods, The Slim Jims, and the Paula Boggs Band. 

 

The Prairie Benders' second album is out!

When Fences Go to Heaven

This album introduces Steve Rawley on upright bass and debuts the harmony singing of both Chris Calvert (drums) and yours truly.  "When Fences Go to Heaven" also features guest performances by Trevor Stellflug (pedal steel), Steve Freeman (banjo), and Jake Levine (banjo).  All the clever original songs you've come to expect from Jason Ferris, plus two of our favorite covers.

 

Listen to "When fences go to Heaven"

Testimonials
“Meghan Coil is a superb teacher and fantastic musician. She was a wonderful violin teacher to my kid for years, laying a foundation for an intuitive understanding of music. I’ve worked with Meghan and seen her perform many times as well. I appreciate her adaptability to play many styles as well as her beautiful sound.”

— Nate Query (The Decemberists, Black Prairie)

“Paula Boggs Band recently had the great pleasure of sharing a stage with Meghan as our guest artist on several songs from our newly released album Janus. Meghan was an extreme professional—quickly learning our music, asking questions when she needed clarification, always showing up prepared...Meghan’s violin elevated our music and we couldn’t recommend her strongly enough as a guest artist on stage or for studio work.”

— Paula Boggs (Paula Boggs Band)

“I’ve had the pleasure of making music with Meghan Coil for over five years now. She is a super skilled and intuitive fiddle and violin player. She studies hard to learn prearranged parts, but can also improvise beautifully. On stage and in the studio, Meghan brings a lifetime of training and a deep passion to her playing. I highly recommend working with this kind and talented human!”

— Andy Furgeson (Red Yarn Productions)