Edwards Farm Day Sayville, NY - June 7, 2015

Our Hostess Constance Currie of The Sayville Historical Society

One of our favorite days of the year! On Sunday, June 7th from 2-5 pm The Sayville Historical Society will host its "Afternoon on the Edwards Farm" at the corner of Edwards Street and Collins Avenue one block south of Butera's Restaurant. It is a wonderful event for young families that includes baby animals, hands-on quilting and weaving activities, churning homemade ice cream, planting seeds, grinding corn and playing old fashioned games. The Home Grown String Band will play their signature high-energy music! All are welcome. Admission is $4 per person and $15 for a family of four. Call 631 563-0186 for more information.

Jean Ritchie Passes in Kentucky at Age 92

Kentucky folk singer and mountain dulcimer player (and builder) Jean Ritchie passed away yesterday. Jean came to NY in the 1940s, she and her husband George Pickow lived in Port Washington (on Long Island) for many years. Some years ago, when we were performing at the Port Washington Library, Jean and George came to see us. I didn't know they were in the audience until I offered a free Homegrown String Band CD to anyone in the audience who knew who Lily Mae Ledford or Tommy Jarrell were. Of course Jean knew who they were, she knew each personally, and had played music with both of them. Jean had a regal and (to my eyes) larger than life presence, she would have been American folk music royalty, if there was such a thing

When the Apples Bloom in New York

Homegrown String Band 3.0 at The Darlington Arts Center May 9, 2015

The Homegrown String Band™ Trio will be appearing at the Darlington Arts Center in Garnett Valley, PA on Saturday May 9th. There will be an open mic starting at 7:30, our show starts at 8:00 pm. General Admission Tickets are $15 ($10 for members) This is a real nice intimate listening room in the Philadelphia area, check it out!

Darlington Arts Center

 977 Shavertown Rd

Garnet Valley, PA 19060

 Tel. Tel: (610) 358.3632

Email: info@darlingtonarts.org

HGSB @ T.O.B. Distinguished Artist Series - 5/02/15

On Saturday May 2, 2015 The Homegrown String Band will be rolling in to Syosset for a special performance at The Syosset Public Library. The show is part of the Town of Oyster Bay's Distinguished Artist Series. The concert starts at 7:30pm and is free to the public, seating available on a first come first serve basis.

Syosset Public Library

225 South Oyster Bay Road

Syosset, NY 11791-5897

(516) 921-7161

Spillway Dam Clawhammer Banjo Bridge

I just received this interesting handmade banjo bridge in the mail today. It was made by Don New of Wappapello, MO. He calls it The Spillway Dam Clawhammer Special. The unique design puts solid wood between each string and the banjo head. It also has a raised fifth string that keeps that string even with the other strings where the pot and the neck join, which is where most clawhammer playing takes place. So far I really like the way it plays. The thumb feels great and there seems to bit an increase in bass response and maybe a more even (mellower?) tone to the banjo.


Any fellow banjonauts (nuts) who want to check it out can see and hear it at one of our upcoming shows:

May 2, 2015, 7:30 pm at  The Syosset Public Library in Syosset, NY
May 9, 2015, 7:00 pm at The Darlington Arts Center in Garnet Valley. PA

Bridgewater Library Friends Concert Series - April 17th

On Friday April 17, 2015 The Homegrown String Band will be going over the river to Bridgewater, NJ for an evening of traditional and original American music presented by The Friends of the Bridgewater Township Library. The show starts at 7:30 pm and admission is free.

Bridgewater Township Library

1 Vogt Dr.
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 526-4016