Enjoy a fun-filled good time mix of folk, rags, stomps and old-time country blues as the Philadelphia Jug Band returns for a free outdoor concert on the back deck of the Mainstay in Rock Hall, MD on Saturday July 26 at 7:00 p.m. Bring a comfortable chair. The concert will move indoors to the Mainstay in case of rain or extreme heat.
The Mainstay’s free outdoor summer concert series is sponsored by People’s Bank, The Rock Hall Business Association, The Kent County Arts Council and The Mainstay.
The Philadelphia Jug Band’s slogan is “If this music doesn’t make you smile, nothing will!” They trace their roots to the second Philadelphia Folk Festival in 1963 where two high school students, members of a band called the Ridgerunners, heard Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band. They were inspired to start playing the eclectic goodtime mix of rags, blues, stomps and hollers that the Kweskin Band was known for and they’ve been playing them ever since – long enough to earn a mention in the Wikipedia article on “Jug Bands.”
According to one of the band members, “In 1963 we discovered jug band music via Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band at the second annual Philadelphia Folk Festival. To say we were transformed, not to mention transfixed, would be an understatement. It immediately became our sound”.
They have since performed throughout the Delaware Valley and further afield including performances at such prestigious venues as Philadelphia’s World Café Live. They have returned to the Philadelphia Folk Festival – now in its 53rd year – in both official and unofficial capacities every year since.
The core band is Frank Zemlan on guitar and vocals, Jim Klingler on guitar and vocals, Bob Beach on harmonica, flute and vocals, Dave Gauck on washtub bass and jug and Steve Miller, on washboard, blues kazoo and vocals. They play a wide ranging mix of country blues, folk, rags and stomps.
The Philadelphia Folk Festival remains near and dear to their hearts and at the 50th Festival in 2011, they played the main stage and participated in a blues and acoustic workshop with folk legends Tom Rush, Roy Book Binder, Dave Bromberg and Jorma Kaukonen.
It seems that in 50 years of playing jug band tunes – and they claim that any song can be a jug band tune given the right treatment – they have become the tradition bearers they once emulated.
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. For information and reservations call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
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