The Newfangled Four
American barbershop quartet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Newfangled Four is an American barbershop a cappella quartet, based in the Los Angeles area of Southern California.[1] Formed in 2012, the quartet won the Barbershop Harmony Society's collegiate championship (the Harmony Foundation Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest) in 2013.[2][3] In the 2020s, the group placed in the finals of the Barbershop Harmony Society's International Quartet Contest, including sixth place in 2023 and fifth place in 2024.[4][5]
- Joey Buss (tenor)
- Jackson Niebrugge (lead)
- Marcus Carline (baritone)
- Jake Tickner (bass)
The Newfangled Four | |
|---|---|
| |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Barbershop, a cappella |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | Official Website |
History
The quartet formed in the fall of 2012 and has been associated (through its members' participation) with the Westminster Chorus and Masters of Harmony, two ensembles in the Barbershop Harmony Society community, also based in the Los Angeles area.[1][6]
In July 2013, the quartet, made up of Joey Buss, Jackson Niebrugge, Ryan Wisniewski, and Jake Tickner, won the Barbershop Harmony Society's collegiate quartet championship at its international convention in Toronto, Ontario.[3][7] Later in 2013, the quartet won the Far Western District Quartet Contest (district finals) at the fall convention in Bakersfield, California.[8]
By the mid-2020s, the group's original baritone Ryan Wisniewski had left the group, replaced by current member Marcus Carline.[9]
Members
Competitions and awards
The group has competed in collegiate, district, and international contests supported by the barbershop contest system.[2]
| Year | Contest | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Contest (finals, Denver) | 8th place[10] |
| 2024 | Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Contest (finals, Cleveland) | 5th place[5] |
| 2023 | Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Contest (finals, Louisville) | 6th place[4] |
| 2013 | Harmony Foundation Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest (international collegiate finals, Toronto) | 1st place[3] |
| 2013 | Far Western District Quartet Contest (district finals, Bakersfield) | District quartet champion[8] |
In 2020, The Newfangled Four were awarded "Quartet of the Year" by the Barbershop Harmony Society.[11]
Style and repertoire
Coverage of the group's live performances and promotional descriptions has emphasized comedic stagecraft, including slapstick humor and offbeat comedy, alongside barbershop harmony singing.[1][6][12]
The Barbershop Harmony Society has published arrangements written for, or associated with, the quartet. For example, the society stated that Theo Hicks's arrangement of the standard A Cottage for Sale was originally arranged for The Newfangled Four before being offered through the BHS music catalog.[13]
Media and appearances
In 2017, The Newfangled Four appeared on the Hallmark Channel program Home & Family, as reported by the Barbershop Harmony Society.[14] That same year, the Barbershop Harmony Society also highlighted a BuzzFeed segment in which quartet members coached BuzzFeed staffers through forming a barbershop quartet.[15][16]
Performances
The quartet has performed at various events, including:
- March 12, 2026: Barbershop Music Festival 2026, Barbershop in Germany. Wuppertal, Germany[17]
- March 11, 2026: Voices of Champions, Holland Harmony Barbershop Singing. The Hague, Netherlands[18]
- March 9, 2026: Concert with Herrenbesuch. Munich, Germany[19]
- February 28, 2026: Elkader Keystone Chorus, Elkader, Iowa[20]
- February 13–14, 2026: Los Angeles A Capella Festival, The Contemporary, A Capella Society. Los Angeles, California[21]
- January 16, 2026: Barbershop Harmony Society Midwinter Convention. Pasadena, California[22]