Roots of the Dead

The Roots of the Grateful Dead at the Port Washington Library

 photo by Steve Gravano

Jerry Garcia, founder and “spiritual adviser” of the psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead, was an avid listener and student of American traditional music. He and his bandmates were well versed in American blues and bluegrass as well as the folk traditions of the British Isles. Like the Grateful Dead, The Homegrown String Band has drunk deeply from the well of blues, ballads, and breakdowns that have helped to shape the sounds of American popular music. At 7:30 pm on Friday, May 9th, 2014, the band will be presenting a program featuring their own original interpretations of some of the traditional and early commercial material that was featured in the repertoire of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.

7:30 pm Friday, May 9, 2014 

The Port Washington Public Library

One Library Drive

Port Washington, NY 11050

Old and New

The Homegrown String Band has always been about blending the old with the new. For the last 15 years we have been performing a mix of original songs along with original arrangements of traditional American music. Throughout our performing career the unique approach we take, to what is essentially traditional music, has gone in and out of fashion. Our music has alternately been embraced and shunned by the gate keepers of various musical genres. We try to remain true to tradition, not being influenced by musical fads and fashions, while also being open to change and evolution. American music is all about cross pollination and the exchange of ideas. The Carter Family,  Charlie Poole, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and  Jerry Garcia were all people who added their own ideas to the canon of traditional American music. Some people  may choose to latch on to the music of an individual, a musical genre, or a particular stylistic era, believing that a particular style and or instrumentation are the ultimate and final word handed down by the musical gods; we believe in continuing revelation.

Photo by Steve Gravano