What we’re about
Interested in jug band music, early blues and jazz, home-made instruments? This meetup is for fans and musicians alike - a place to find out about what's happening in the vibrant world of jug band music here in the Northeast: performances by local jug bands, jug band jams, and festivals.
What's Jug Band music, you ask?
It’s rootsy, bluesy, jazzy, and fun! With roots from Appalachia, New Orleans, and Africa, jug band music started in the south (notably Louisville Kentucky and Memphis Tennessee) in the 1920’s and 30’s. Highly popular "back in the day", jug bands such as Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers and the Memphis Jug Band incorporated a variety of conventional and home-made instruments (such as spoons, washtub bass, and washboard), and, of course, featured jug-blowing as a rhythmic backbone. Jug band music could have quietly slid into obscurity if not for a revival in the 1960’s by notable musicians such as John Sebastian, Jerry Garcia, Jim Kweskin, and Maria Muldaur. Today, the genre is alive and well, with several terrific bands playing right here in greater Boston and beyond.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- A handful of jug nuts - at the Burren !The Burren back room, Somerville, MA
Regulars of our jug band jams will recognize me and a couple of hot jazz nuts playing as The Summer Street Stompers, joining the fabulous Annie and the Fur Trappers in their Swing Out Sunday series in the Burren’s baxk room. Doors open at 7. While not quite jug band, both bands feature tunes from the same early twentieth century. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Details here!
- Jug Band Show & Jam Session with Peter Thomas & John Hicks (aka Tin Pan Haole!)Milk Street Studios, dover, NH
## Jug band friends! I'm sharing this listing at the request of jug-band-jammer Kiyoshi. Peter Thomas is a member of the Trolley Drops, a west coast jug band that pretty much does what the Jug Nuts do here in the east: Jams, festivals etc. Details on this meetup site:
Peter Thomas of the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club is coming to the area this October—and we couldn’t miss the chance to make some music while he’s here! He and I (Kiyoshi), together with John Hicks (a.k.a. Tin Pan Haole), are teaming up for a lively show mixing jug band grooves, early jazz, and a splash of Hawaiian flair.
We’ll wrap up the afternoon with a strum-along in the warm, welcoming space of Milk Street Studios. A suggested $10 donation helps cover costs and keeps the music flowing.
BYO beverage and food to share if you wish.
Videos;
Peter Thomas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygN-VMCSr0A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W82JmsTl7w
https://share.icloud.com/photos/03eqw-B3Ow8oPbXoBaZrG_Ibg
John Hicks (Tin Pan Haole): https://www.youtube.com/watchv=RD2ozHkDQJk - Jug Band Jam at the Donut Villa in Arlington! Tuesday October 14!Donut Villa, Arlington, MA
Pack up your kazoo, uke, guitar, or washboard. Bring your voice and dancing shoes too! Or grab a pint and some grub, and just listen.
Join in with the Jug Nuts -- Michael Buonaiuto, Dan Holabaugh, Tom Stewart and sometimes Jasmine Moran-- at our mostly-second-Tuesday-of-the-month open jug band jam in the back room at Arlington's Donut Villa!
We’ll display lyrics and chords on a big screen, and lead the songs (and, if you show up empty-handed, provide some home-made instruments for you to try out) as we explore this good time music rooted in the jazz and blues of the 1920’s and 30’s.
NOTE THAT OUR RECENT JAMS HAVE BEEN "STANDING ROOM ONLY"! Arrive early to grab a seat, order some food, and be ready to jam!
Donut Villa, in the center of Arlington, is a modern spin on a classic American diner - featuring breakfast all day, a full dinner menu, cocktails from classic to unique, and microbrews on tap.
Click here for a Spotify playlist of our jam tunes : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2SJoqanXcZXjtOmlXLP7Pg?si=5398190cdfff4f95
Click here for a downloadable and printable copy of our jam setlist with chords and lyrics (new songs added monthly!) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LSm1yqPM_O4tFIeHMzBvjAd5T2cgwV-BOoDNikly_Z8
- Jug Band Jam at the Canadian-American Club in Watertown! Saturday October 25Canadian-American Club, Watertown, MA
Pack up your kazoo, uke, guitar, or washboard. Bring your voice and dancing shoes too! Or grab a pint and some grub, and just listen.
Join in with the Jug Nuts -- Michael Buonaiuto, Dan Holabaugh, Jasmine Moran-( Tom Stewart will be MIA) at our open jug band jam at the Candadian-American Club
We’ll bring lyrics and chords , and lead the songs (and, if you show up empty-handed, provide some home-made instruments for you to try out) as we explore this good time music rooted in the jazz and blues of the 1920’s and 30’s.
Doors open at 7. $10 admission, $5 for club members.
Cash bar, potluck snacks, amplimentary tea and coffee.
Click here for a Spotify playlist of our jam tunes : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2SJoqanXcZXjtOmlXLP7Pg?si=5398190cdfff4f95
Click here for a downloadable and printable copy of our jam setlist with chords and lyrics (new songs added monthly!) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LSm1yqPM_O4tFIeHMzBvjAd5T2cgwV-BOoDNikly_Z8
