With a deep love for all American traditional music, The Heists bring bluegrass drive, country emotion, and old time groove to their original Alaskan folk music. Known for their toe-curling country and bluegrass harmonies, The Heists are currently co-writing their first album. Erin and Andrew Heist share songs and stories from decades of experience playing the bars and backrooms of Alaska’s communities, from Bethel to McCarthy to Salmonfest to Fairbanks, and all along the Milk Run.

Erin grew up in the wilds of Southeast Alaska and her songs reflect the push and pull of the rural/urban divide of a life spent living in isolated fishing towns, mixed with an insatiable wanderlust and curiosity about the human condition. Andrew grew up outside of Philadelphia and made his way to Alaska via Portland, Oregon. Andrew’s wry sense of humor often comes with a touch of that Philly grit.

Andrew Heist cut his teeth with The Great Alaska Bluegrass band and currently plays with Taking Care of Bluegrass, Juneau’s premier bluegrass outfit, as well as outlaw country band The Getting Strangers. Erin Heist got her start playing guitar and singing for the North Country Cajun Club (with Andrew on fiddle) and has held down the rhythm section in the old time bands Sugar Shack and The Stinging Nettles. Both Andrew (mandolin/fiddle) and Erin (electric bass) have been performing as part of the backing band for Josh Fortenbery.

In 2022 Erin released her first album of original material “From the Land of Rusted Dreams”, featuring Andrew on every track. Erin and Andrew have gone on to provide instrumental and harmonic support to multiple albums, including Annie Bartholomew’s “Sisters of White Chapel”, Josh Fortenbery’s “No Such Thing as Forever”, and most recently Blackwater Railroad Co’s “A Lovely Place to Die”.

Both Erin and Andrew love their Alaska music community. Each has served as a past board president for their hometown festival The Alaska Folk Festival (Erin from 2013-2018 and Andrew from 2019-2025). And both are founding members of the Muskeg Collective, a songwriter collective and co-op label based in Juneau Alaska which also includes Annie Bartholomew, Josh Fortenbery, and Taylor Vidic.

Erin Heist is the 2025 recipient of the Kathy Kolkhorst Rudy Innovation in the Arts Award from the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council for her work on producing unique music events and community gatherings in Juneau, Alaska.