Touring as new parents, world music/folk rock band The Ragbirds will play a performance in Maintenance Shop on Friday, Nov. 8, with pop singer MaryBeth Doran. 

Formed eight years ago, The Ragbirds offers a unique blend between folk rock and world music elements including Celtic, African and Middle Eastern sounds.

“We call it infectious global groove,” said front-woman Erin Zindle. “That’s our catchphrase for it. It’s essentially folk rock with a lot of world music influence. It’s very high-energy, fanciful.”

Zindle plays violin and is backed up by folk string instruments and world percussion, with two of the members, including her spouse and brother.

“I play violin, mandolin, accordion, percussion and electric kalimba,” Zindle said. “My husband, Randall Moore, plays percussion. We have a drum set player named Loren Kranz. Our new bass player’s name is Brennan Andes. My brother T.J. Zindle plays electric and acoustic guitar, and he sings.”

The band hails from Ann Arbor, Mich. Their influences include Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Rusted Root, as well as musical styles from all over the world.

“I started the band in 2005 with my husband Randall Moore,” Zindle said. “He and I started recording, and we gathered together some band mates to join us and to also flesh out the songs to do for a few shows.”

The Ragbirds have released four albums since they began and have played up to 200 shows a year while touring.

“I think our shows are very uplifting,” Erin Zindle said. “They’re very positive energy, very danceable; I think people leave feeling good. It’s not just mindless feel good music. I like to make people think, too. I feel like it’s a well-rounded experience.”

The new parents quickly returned to performing around the country with their “New Baby Tour” which started in September after Zindle and percussionist Moore had a child together in late August.

“[Touring with a baby] has been great,” Zindle said. “I’m so glad to be back on stage, I love what I do. It’s challenging in its own way too, but the baby has taken to traveling really well, and just loves meeting people. It’s better than going back to a 9 to 5 job where I have to leave her for a long period of time. It’s nice that she can come to work with me and be with me most of the day still.”

The Ragbirds have been known for touring in their van that runs on recycled vegetable oil, which was retired this year. A recent Kickstarter campaign funded a replacement to keep the Ragbirds on the road and eco-friendly.

“We’re so grateful, we were able to raise a little over $25,000 to get a vehicle that we can tour in,” Zindle said. “We can travel in a way that’s environmentally responsible and that also saves us on fuel cost.”

While it will not be their first time in Ames, Friday’s show will mark The Ragbirds’ first appearance in The Maintenance Shop.

“Expect to have a really fun time, and experience something you haven’t heard before,” Zindle said. “It’s a fresh sound, and it’s an entertaining show. Come out with high hopes, and have a great time with us.”

You can buy tickets for the show in person at the M-Shop box office or online at MidwestTix for $5 for students, or $10 otherwise, with a $2 upcharge the day of the performance. The show starts at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.