Pretty Polly

Here's a creepy murder ballad I played the day before Halloween at The Bayport-Blue Point Library in Bayport, NY. Before I sang the song I told the tale of Willy, The Cruel Ship's Carpenter, and the ghost of Pretty Polly who's undead spirit sought justice for herself and her unborn child. Freddy Krueger had nothin' on this murderous 18th century villain.

Our next show is 3:00 pm Sunday November 6, 2011 at The Newburgh Free Library

Newburgh Free Library
124 Grand Street

Newburgh, NY 12550
845-563-3601 

Pickin on a Park Bench

I guess pickin' in the park is the modern urban/suburban version of front porch pickin'; an opportunity to get out, get some fresh air, and share your music with your neighbors. One of my fondest memories of growing up on Long Island was our Sunday summer excursions into NYC during the mid to late 1960s. My dad would load the family up in the station wagon for an hour long drive into Manhattan. Once we got into "The City" we would head down to Greenwich Village, wander around the shops and art galleries, and listen to the city folk playing blues, jazz, and folk music in Washington Square. The day would usually end with dinner at Jimmy's, our favorite Chinatown eatery.

In this video I'm playing the classic American folk ballad "Wild Bill Jones" in clawhammer style on my Wildwood five string open back banjo. I guess "Wild Bill Jones" falls into that ever popular murder ballad category I mentioned in a previous post. A version of the song, as sung by Viney Norton of Big Laurel, North Carolina, was collected by Cecil Sharp in August of 1916. The first commercial recording was made in New York City on April 24, 1924, by Eva Davis, accompanying herself on the five string banjo, of course.

Sweet Sunny South

Another mini road trip comin' up! This time we head south; making return performances at two venues in Virginia and one in Delaware. On Sunday, July 19th, at 5:00 pm we will be doing a house concert at Ford's Colony in Williamsburg, VA.  On Monday the 20th at 7:00 pm, it's Music on the Steps in historic Fredericksburg, VA. The final show is on Tuesday the 20th, 7:00 pm at Stango Park in the seaside resort town of Lewes, Delaware. We're looking forward to seeing our friends from the sweet sunny south at either the intimate house concert and or one of the outdoor shows. Hope everyone is having a great summer. Next week we'll try to beat the heat and head back north to Boston, MA, and upstate NY (Oneonta & Wellsville).

The Homegrown String Band 
  Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Fine!

Photo from the Watkins Glen Old Time Fiddlers Gathering June 2010