Bands
Contact info for local bands. If you would like your band listed, please fill out the band listing form.
Old Time
Aarun & Jonathan
Aarun & Jonathan are a musical match made in heaven. Known for his smooth, clear voice and authentic phrasing, Jonathan “JT” Trawick continues a rich tradition of singing from deep within the Ozark hills. Just this year, Aarun placed in the Top 5 at the Texas State Fiddlers Frolics Championships and Grand Champion at Northwest Regionals.Quickly becoming known for their tight harmonies and expert performances of classics, Aarun & Jonathan carry the flame of authenticity into the future.
Jonathan JT Trawick
trawickjtt@gmail.com
971.347.6050
http://www.jttrawick.com/aarun-jonathan
http://www.facebook.com/fiddleshow
trawickjtt@gmail.com
971.347.6050
http://www.jttrawick.com/aarun-jonathan
http://www.facebook.com/fiddleshow
Caroline Oakley and the Old Time Highway
Old-Time and bluegrass square dance band. Caroline Oakley is also a dance caller, and available for private events, family dances, weddings.
The Cully Cuttups
Hard driving Old time fiddle music with a classic NW tone. It’s happy and lighthearted, but rooted firmly in the Appalachian traditional Stringband style. Fiddle, guitar, banjo and upright bass.
Eugene City Barnstormers
Old time music with an altitude. For over a decade the Eugene City Barnstormers have rolled out of Eugene Oregon exploring the corners, edges and middles of a broad social fabric that weaves together family, friends, places, in a community of interest with threads of tunes, songs and stories. The band revels in playing for energetic dancers and joyful random episodes of live music in ordinary places.
Gone Fiddling Again
A duo consisting of vocalist & fiddler; playing a variety of music
Flat Rock Stringband
Featuring Linnea Spitzer on fiddle, Brooks Masten on banjo, Robin Wilcox on bass, and Eric Bagdonas on guitar, the Flat Rock Stringband has been playing old-time tunes together around the Portland area since 2009. The band’s name can be explained by a phrase found twice in Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion that refers to how much it rains in the Northwest.
The Hapa Hillbillies
Old time hillbilly swing with a jazz attitude and a little Hawaiian flavor.
The Horsenecks
Hard-hitting Old Time and early Bluegrass Stringband music. Made up of Gabrielle Macrae on fiddle, Barry Southern on three-finger and clawhammer banjo, Brian Bagdonas on bass, and Kevin Sandri on guitar.
Gabrielle Macrae
gabriellemacrae@gmail.com
503-407-0073
https://horsenecks.net/
https://www.facebook.com/TheHorsenecks
gabriellemacrae@gmail.com
503-407-0073
https://horsenecks.net/
https://www.facebook.com/TheHorsenecks
Lauren Sheehan
Lauren Sheehan works as a soloist as well as with delightful sidemen/women, singing and playing vintage to modern songs and dance music on guitars, banjo and mandolin. Her repertoire is broad and spans blues, folk, rural American dance tunes and songs, bluegrass, early jazz, Tin Pan Alley, country and includes modern folk and some originals. Lauren is an acclaimed finger picker and known for her entertaining Arts and Humanities programs, festival performances, house shows and excellent teaching/workshops.
Lauren Sheehan
lauren@laurensheehanmusic.com
503-329-7561
Laurensheehanmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/Lauren-Sheehan-Songster-40515453306/
lauren@laurensheehanmusic.com
503-329-7561
Laurensheehanmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/Lauren-Sheehan-Songster-40515453306/
The Macrae Sisters
Sisters Joanna and Gabrielle Macrae and Marian Macrae Herrmann play old time music on fiddle, banjo, and guitar, with lots of harmony singing.
Maris Otter
Maris Otter is an old-time stringband from Portland, Oregon, featuring Brian Bagdonas (guitar, fiddle), Sean Burke (banjo, fiddle, mandolin), Andy Sheie (fiddle, guitar, banjo), and Lucas Jones (bass).
Orchard Mountain String Band
Orchard Mountain String Band is a acoustic quintet based out of Salem, Oregon. The music is upbeat and infectious, and the players are all veteran musicians and performers. The band members are: John Adams, master of claw-hammer banjo (John is also co-host of the radio program, “Up in the Hollar”, old time music monthly on KMUZ) ; Jim Hockenhull, a five-time winner of Oregon’s Old Time Fiddle Championship; Dan Hill on mandolin-banjo, whistles, “tenor fiddle”; Debo Kerr guitar and vocals; and Louanne Fugal on upright bass. We use The Willamette Heritage Center in Salem as our home base; drop-by on a Wednesday morning and you likely will hear us playing down the hall, out front of the Book Bindery, and watch our Facebook page for upcoming events, or to inquire about bookings!
The Piney Gals
The Piney Gals perform traditional songs and fiddle tunes dug from the roots of American folk music. Kate Lichtenstein (the Barn Owls) and Charmaine Slaven (Squirrel Butter, the Tallboys) started singing together in 2017 on their back porches and living rooms, and found that their voices, taste in repertoire, and sense of humor meshed well together. We think you’ll enjoy the music that these two ladies of old-time music have arranged.
Charmaine Slaven
206 335-4274
https://www.facebook.com/pineygals/
Possum Six Pack
Old Timey string band – fiddle music from the South – with occasional Cajun and modern songs thrown in.
Dave Robison
westforkdave@gmail.com
503 312 1186
http://westforkdave.wix.com/possum6pack
https://www.facebook.com/PossumSixpack
westforkdave@gmail.com
503 312 1186
http://westforkdave.wix.com/possum6pack
https://www.facebook.com/PossumSixpack
Old Barn Preservation Society
We’re a Portland-based old time string band that’s been together since 2014. We play tunes in the corner at the Liberty Glass tavern in North Portland the third Wednesday of each month, and we’re open to a wide variety of other gigs — dances, farmers markets, parties, baby showers, meteor showers, vision quests, etc. We keep it loose and holler a lot.
Squirrel Butter
Husband and wife duo, Squirrel Butter, performs traditional and original music influenced by Appalachian, early country, jug band, and blues artists from the late 1800’s through 1950’s.
Charmaine Slaven
charmaineslaven@gmail.com
206-335-4274
http://www.squirrelbutter.com
https://www.facebook.com/squirrelbutter/
charmaineslaven@gmail.com
206-335-4274
http://www.squirrelbutter.com
https://www.facebook.com/squirrelbutter/
Bluegrass
Half-Grass’d
Half Bluegrass, half Old-School Country, Folk and Blues… Americana.
The Hillwilliams
Traditional and original bluegrass featuring high lonesome harmonies and hot picking and fiddling.
JT & Rowdy Mountain
Known nationally for his authentic singing style and powerful mandolin playing, JT Trawick leads his brand of driving bluegrass music not for the faint of heart. Featuring the type of tight harmonies and hot fiddling bluegrass is known for, JT & Rowdy Mountain deliver a top notch performance blending standards with their original material. This is a show you have to see to believe.
Jonathan JT Trawick
trawickjtt@gmail.com
971.347.6050
http://www.jttrawick.com/jt-rowdy-mountain
http://www.facebook.com/travellinarkansawyer
trawickjtt@gmail.com
971.347.6050
http://www.jttrawick.com/jt-rowdy-mountain
http://www.facebook.com/travellinarkansawyer
Lost Creek
From Portland, Oregon, Lost Creek sings and twangs about happiness and heartache in the bluegrass style. For years they’ve delighted audiences at festivals, pubs, dances, and weddings throughout Oregon and Washington.
Misty Mamas
This Portland/Vancouver band has been together since 2005. We enjoy singing and playing bluegrass, oldtime, folk and gospel music. Our specialty is honing the vocal harmonies characteristic of these genres. We play in local concert venues, festivals and other events.
April Parker
aprilsparker@juno.com
503.780.9770
http://mistymamas.com https://facebook.com/mistymamasband
aprilsparker@juno.com
503.780.9770
http://mistymamas.com https://facebook.com/mistymamasband
Mountain Honey
Acoustic music inspired by bluegrass, with driving banjo and high lonesome harmonies. Linda Leavitt (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Dee Johnson (vocals, bass), Greg Stone (vocals, guitar) and Mike Stahlman (vocals, banjo).
Greg Stone
grgstone@gmail.com
(971) 207-3195
http://www.mountainhoneyportland.com https://www.facebook.com/mountainhoneymusic
grgstone@gmail.com
(971) 207-3195
http://www.mountainhoneyportland.com https://www.facebook.com/mountainhoneymusic
Train River
Train River is a collective of amateur bluegrass musicians in Portland, OR led by guitarist/mandolinist Jeffree White. The repertoire includes many traditional bluegrass numbers and fiddle tunes, along with more modern additions which have become standards.
Jeffree White
booking@trainriver.info
503.964.7339
http://trainriver.info
https://www.facebook.com/TrainRiver Bluegrass
booking@trainriver.info
503.964.7339
http://trainriver.info
https://www.facebook.com/TrainRiver Bluegrass
Whiskey Puppy
Whiskey Puppy is Portland, OR’s best and only bluegrass-themed performance art collective. We have been performing since 2004 and have toured the West Coast and Europe multiple times, often paid only in chew toys. We are a high-energy trio, playingboot-stomping, mule-slapping traditional acoustic bluegrass and old time music from the 1920s through the present. We do not play weddings since we learned that we can’t eat all the cake ourselves .
Cajun
The Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band
Eight piece electric band – fiddles, guitar, accordion, rubboard, keyboard, rhythm section, and vocalists. We play authentic Louisiana-style dance music including cajun, zydeco, and a little New Orleans R&B and piano. You just can’t keep from dancin’!
Country
Brad Creel & the Reel Deel
Brad Creel & the Reel Deel are a country band playing original songs and country hits from the 60’s and 70’s.
Brad Creel
brad@bradcreel.com
503-998-9465
http://bradcreel.com
https://www.facebook.com/bradcreelthereeldeel/
brad@bradcreel.com
503-998-9465
http://bradcreel.com
https://www.facebook.com/bradcreelthereeldeel/
Caleb Klauder Country Band
Original and classic Honky Tonk Country music with fiddle, steel guitar, mandolin, drums, bass and acoustic guitar. Vocal harmonies and a dance beat.
Great Auntie Lo
Vintage to modern bluesbilly and modally-wodally good time music, with a repertoire of blues, tin pan alley, New Orleans, honky tonk, country-western, bluegrass, Appalachian and jazz standards. Members include Lauren Sheehan on guitar, Bill Uhlig on bass, Steve Cleveland on piano and accordion, and Fred Ingrams on drums. Available for private events and weddings – we have yet to meet a Bridezilla that we didn’t find entertaining!
Lauren Sheehan
lauren@laurensheehanmusic.com
503-329-7561
Laurensheehanmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/Lauren-Sheehan-Songster-40515453306/
lauren@laurensheehanmusic.com
503-329-7561
Laurensheehanmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/Lauren-Sheehan-Songster-40515453306/
Honky-Tonk Rebel
Mario Carboni specializes in an extensive repertoire of honky-tonk, blues, country-western, early rock and roll, swing, New Orleans jazz, and boogie woogie, featuring two keyboards, a trumpet, a harmonica, and killer vocals. Although a mere one-man band, Mario’s big sound shows are high-energy, and his extraordinary talent does not go unnoticed. He plays to his audience, and when he performs, people are happily engaged. If there’s a floor, they dance!
The Waysiders
Drawing on the traditions of Country, Swing, Honkey-tonk, Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll, the Waysiders play a mix of classic and original early American music. Members include Gabrielle Macrae on acoustic guitar and vocals, Joanna Macrae on harmony vocals, Jamie Herrmann on bass, Barry Southern on electric guitar, and Don Lawry on drums.
Gabrielle Macrae
gabriellemacrae@gmail.com
503-896-4128
https://waysidersband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/waysidersband
Well Swung
Your favorite Bob Wills hits blended with some obscure gems and original songs. In 2015, Well Swung released their local hit, Ida Red, a cover of the Bob Wills classic. The recording was voted Top 5 in the Western Swing Song category of the Academy of Western Artists Awards.
Jonathan JT Trawick
trawickjtt@gmail.com
971.347.6050
http://www.jttrawick.com/well-swung
http://www.facebook.com/wellswungpdx
trawickjtt@gmail.com
971.347.6050
http://www.jttrawick.com/well-swung
http://www.facebook.com/wellswungpdx
Gypsy Jazz
Hot Club of Hawthorne
gypsy jazz and vintage swing acoustic stringband
Jugband
Mary Flower and the BBQ Boys
The BBQ Boys are a 4 piece Jazz, blues and jug band that has performed with many well known artists. Originally the Barbecue Orchestra, it was started by famed washtub bass and jug blower Fritz Richmond. The BBQ Boys are: Stew Dodge on fiddle and vocals, Spud Siegel on mandolin, Doc Stein on dobro, guitar and vocals,Mark Vehrencamp on sousaphone. They joined forces with Mary Flower as a jazz and blues infected jug band (sans jug) and have created new masterpieces of old standbys and originals adding rich harmonies and searing solos.
Hops and Honey Goodtime Band
The Hops & Honey Goodtime Band brews up an intoxicating blend of ragtime, early jazz, blues, rags and hokum from the 1920s & ’30s. Featuring Anna Sandys on vocals, mandolin and fiddle, Andrew Yeomans on guitar, Ben Sandler on upright bass, Scuff Acuff on percussion and a rotating cast of horn players.
Anna Sandys
sannadys@gmail.com
503-481-5606
https://www.reverbnation.com/hopshoney
https://www.facebook.com/HopsHoney/
sannadys@gmail.com
503-481-5606
https://www.reverbnation.com/hopshoney
https://www.facebook.com/HopsHoney/
How Long Jug Band
The How Long Jug Band plays vintage blues, ragtime and string band music on standard and homemade instruments.
Blues
Mary Flower
The internationally renowned award-winning Portland, Oregon-based singer/guitarist/songwriter is a prodigious talent whose seasoned skills have established her as one of America’s foremost roots performers. Flower combines a deep historical knowledge with a restless creativity that keeps her music evolving into new creative territory while echoing influences from Piedmont to the Mississippi Delta, with additional stops at ragtime, swing, folk, and hot jazz.
Steve Cheseborough
Steve Cheseborough re-creates the blues, ragtime and hokum of the 1920s-30s, interspersing the songs with stories, history and humor. He has the uncanny ability to turn any setting into a 1925 Mississippi jook joint.
Steve Cheseborough
chezztone@gmail.com
843.817.6065
http://www.stevecheseborough.com
https://www.facebook.com/Steve-Cheseborough-145090892229305/
chezztone@gmail.com
843.817.6065
http://www.stevecheseborough.com
https://www.facebook.com/Steve-Cheseborough-145090892229305/
Americana
Coin Club
Covers an eclectic mix of Americana and roots music.
Fine Company
Fine Company combines three voices into that classic American folk sound from the 1960’s-the tight harmonies and close blends. Think Kingston Trio, Chad Mitchell Trio, Seldom Seen. Then we add a dash of great old time songs and tunes and spice it up with some clever originals. It’s all backed with guitars, bass, clawhammer banjo and some on-stage malarkey.
The Mudbugs
The Mudbugs are an acoustic duo consisting of singer/songwriter/guitarist KG Jackson and his wife Candy on accordion. Their music can be best described as true roots music from the South. The Mudbugs create a delicious Americana music gumbo. You’ll hear a little bit of Zydeco, Country, Blues, and Cajun.
Folk
River City Ramblers
Founded in 1960, the River City Ramblers have been playing folk music since inception and continue going strong today. It’s founder, Bill Klausman, is a former member of the New Christy Minstrels, and continues to honor Randy Sparks’ Christies, and all those who brought this fantastic music to the world.
Bill Klausman
williamklausman@gmail.com
360-571-8603
http://www.rivercityramblers.com/
River City Ramblers
williamklausman@gmail.com
360-571-8603
http://www.rivercityramblers.com/
River City Ramblers