Hometown Homegrown FREE Long Island Show

Help us lose those mean old winter blues!
We will be doing a FREE show at the

Port Jefferson Public Library

2pm Sunday February 28th

100 Thompson Street
Port Jefferson, NY 11777

(631) 473-0022

The Homegrown String Band

Diggin' the Snow

Took a Break From Shoveling to Take a Few Photos
&
Play a Few Tunes

Life is Hard, But It's Good!

Click to listen to "Life is Hard" and other Homegrown ditties! 

Photo by Rick Jackofsky 

Hard to Describe

Post modern, neo traditional, psychedelic, acoustic, oldtime, family style, high energy, string band music?

The music of The Homegrown String Band doesn't fit neatly into any radio station format or record store bin. While we play traditional music and instruments, our music is not frozen in some bygone time. The tradition of American roots music is a tradition of change and we are carrying on that American tradition by using the tools at hand and borrowing from various musical genres to create something new and unique. Newsday reporter Paul Vitello once described our music as "hard to describe." Hard to describe is one label that we are more than happy to wear. We certainly are a "Unikew" bunch that stands out in a crowd. Sometimes it is hard to convince promoters who book specific genres to take a chance on something a little different, but when they do The Homegrown String Band's high energy original and eclectic sound is always enthusiastically received by folk, blues, and bluegrass audiences around the country.

Photo by Rick Jackofsky

Interview with Erica Jackofsky

HGSB fiddler, Erica, is the featured designer on today's Knit Picks Knitting Community Blog. In the interview she discusses how her approach to knitting is influenced by her musical background.

Visit Erica's knitting website Fiddleknits.com

The Family & Friends Plan

In the past week we've had some musical guests visit the old home place. This past Sunday, and then again on Wednesday, we were graced by the presence of two fine young musicians who joined us for dinner and an evening of jamming.  Annalee's friend Tim sat in on bass while Erica's pal Chris got us rockin' with some awesome percussive patterns. Sounded pretty good. Starting to think that maybe some Homegrown Family & Friends shows could be happening in the not too distant future. You never know.

The Buttonwood Tree

Thanks to all the good folks who came up to Saratoga Springs and made our Saturday night show at Caffe Lena a huge success! We will be following it up with a quick trip to the Nutmeg State. On Friday night January 29th the family that plays together will will be making our premier appearance at The Buttonwood Tree. From what I can gather this looks like a very cool place to relax and enjoy an evening of acoustic music. Located in a refurbished century-old hotel lobby on Main Street in downtown Middletown, CT. The Buttonwood Tree is  a non-profit cultural arts center with an intimate living-room atmosphere. Coffee and Cocoa are always available, as well as a" highly-multifarious" used-book store. Come on out and let The Homegrown String Band take you on "a rollicking ride through the sounds of American music."  We will be performing two sets of high energy, original, and traditional American roots music, using at least ten acoustic instruments, as well as an exciting demonstration of Appalachian flatfoot dancing. Between sets there will be a free drawing for a gift basket containing, among other things, a Homegrown String Band CD and a pound of Deans Beans organic fair trade coffee beans. Vote for real acoustic music! Support The Buttonwood Tree and your favorite Homegrown String Band!

The Buttonwood Tree Arts and Cultural Center 7:30 pm Friday January 29, 2010

605 Main Street, PO Box 71 Middletown, CT 06457

860-347-4957

Carl Smith 1927 - 2010

Carl Smith, country music legend and father of Carlene Carter, passed away this past Saturday at his home in Franklin TN. Carl was 82 years old and had enjoyed a music career that spanned five decades. "Mister Country" tore up the country charts during the 1950s and 60s and hosted 190 episodes of the popular Canadian TV country music  show: Carl Smith's Country Music Hall. The former Grand Ole Opry member was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003. R.I.P.