Watertown's own Ruth Rappaport and Ben Wetherbee are a mother-and-son musical duo whose repertoire includes rousing, powerful old-time fiddle tunes and traditional, modern, and original songs that feature tight harmony singing. They have a CD called "Newfangled Folk," and when they team up with a banjo and bass player they play as "The Ruth and Ben String Band."

Ruth played for many years in the eclectic string band The Poodles, and Ben has made a mark for himself as a popular old-time, roots rock, and alt music fiddler. Both Ruth and Ben are instructors at the Passim School of Music in Cambridge. Ruth and Ben play at clubs, coffeehouses, square and contra dances, and numerous events throughout the northeast.