The
String Dusters
American Acoustic Music
The String Dusters draw inspiration from the deep well of American music - the blues of Jimmie Rodgers, the bluegrass of Bill Monroe, the folk songs of the Carter Family, the hillbilly boogie of the Delmore Brothers, and the early honky-tonk sounds of Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams. Add plenty of old-time fiddle tunes, a few cowboy songs, and some new, original tunes by band members and friends, and the result is a sound that is familiar, yet uniquely their own. The String Dusters play timeless classics as well as little-known songs rescued from obscurity, and their music is popular with all age groups from children to senior citizens. Formed in 1993, they are all veteran musicians, with more than a century of performing experience among the members. They enjoy playing music together, and that enthusiasm shows every time they are in front of an audience.
They have entertained audiences in upstate New York and neighboring New England at events such as First Night Saratoga (1998-2002, 2005, 2007), The Speculator Fall Festival (2003-2005), The Upper Hudson Bluegrass Festival (2006-2007), The Chilson Bluegrass Festival (2004-2006), The Schenectady Stockade Walkabout (2003-2007), the Waterford Tugboat Roundup (2005-2009), the Cohoes Canal Park Concert Series (1996-2007, 2009), the Schenectady Kids’ Arts Festival (2001-2009), Music on the Green in Wells (2002, 2004, 2006), the Schoharie River Center (2002, 2005), the Altamont Fair (1997-2003, 2005-2007), the Schaghticoke Fair (2000, 2005), First Night Fulton County (2006), The Lake Luzerne Concert Series (2007-2009), and the ABL Bluegrass Roundup (1994-2007, 2009). They have performed at concert series in Waterford, Rensselaer, Voorheesville, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Gloversville, Glens Falls, Fish House, Scotia, and Palmer, MA. They have also appeared at the Chandler Arts Center in VT, the Schenectady Museum, the Waterford Museum, the Chilson Bluegrass Festival, the Oak Mountain Bluegrass Festival, the Albany Bicentennial Grand Ball, First Night Albany, and dozens of small clubs and coffeehouses, including Café Lena in Saratoga, Monaco's in Ballston Spa, the Back Door Café in Glens Falls, and Borders and Barnes & Noble Books and the Mother Earth Café in Albany.
The String Dusters are often asked back wherever they play. They played a regular monthly engagement at the Ambition Coffeehouse & Eatery in Schenectady for more than six years, and monthly at the Moon & River Café since it opened in 2004. During the summer they have appeared regularly at the View at Indian Kettles in Hague, the Knox Country Store, and the Eagle Mills Fun Park in Broadalbin. They have appeared on radio and television, filmed a short segment for the "I Love New York" campaign, and have received nominations as "Bluegrass Band of the Year" from the Northeast CMA.
The String Dusters are: Bill Healy, banjo, mandolin, guitar, and dobro; Neil Yetwin, guitar; Barry Weinstein, fiddle; and Fred Woodward, acoustic and electric bass.
Booking: We are available for public and private events of all types. Please contact us at 518/495-1067 or 518/399-3675, or by e-mail at stringdusters1@aol.com.
CD MVSD-3: String Dusters at the County Fair. $10.00
Upcoming Shows in 2010:
Tuesday, January 5 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, February 2 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, March 2 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, April 6 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 11 - Glenville Senior Center, Worden Road, Glenville. 2:00 pm
Saturday, July 18 - Wells Town Pavilion, Wells, NY. 4:00 pm
Saturday, September 11 - Thurman Fiddlers Jamboree, Thurman, NY. 11:00 am - Noon
More to Come! It's never too early or too late to contact us for an engagement. We would love to play at your public or private event.
Comments & Reviews:
6/9/2009:
"Thank you all for performing. You are a tradition as long as I can stand to do this. I love it." - Karen Johnson, Schenectady Kids Arts Festival
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July, 2005 letter from June Jenkins in central New York:
"Dear Bill,
Just wanted to say that your band is the most enjoyable to listen to that we have heard in the past several years. To have two different (but very pleasant voiced) singers, a fantastic fiddle player & a good bass man all in one group is a rare, wonderful sounding combination!! Sometimes a bass player seems to be overlooked - but what a difference whether he is there or not. All in all a great sounding band."
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From the December 2005 ABL Newsletter:
The String Dusters Open the Show
by Deb Smith"...They were well practiced when they played their one hour set at the Parting Glass for the ABL on November 20th. (I believe Bill said it was their 62nd show of 2005!) ....
They obviously love to play their music, and their years together have resulted in a relaxed stage presence and smooth performance. Their skillful use of the single mic makes their show visually interesting, and produces a sound that is pleasant to listen to technically. I really enjoy their selection of songs.
There are several aspects of String Duster music that place them in my "favorites" list. One of their specialties is those cowboy songs that they do so well. At this particular show, we were treated to Neil’s "Colorado Trail." An excellent fiddler is reason enough to search out a band. We heard plenty of Barry’s fiddle at this show. As well as his show pieces, "Listen to the Mockingbird" and "Orange Blossom Special,"we got to hear a couple of traditional pieces, "Whiskey Before Breakfast" and "Ragtime Annie." The highlight fiddle tune for me was "Hell Among the Yearlings." I’ll be sure to request that the next time I hear them. The ultimate reason that I enjoy this band is that I am a big fan of Bill’s voice - especially on those old Jimmie Rodgers tunes like "California Blues." Put it all together, and you’ve got a group I continue to enjoy listening to, again and again...."
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Shows in 2009:
Tuesday, January 6 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, February 3 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm .
Sunday, February 22 - Rhythm & Roots Series, First Presbyterian Church, 16 W. Fulton St., Gloversville. 4:00 pm
Tuesday, March 3 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, April 7 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, May 5 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Friday, May 29 - ABL Bluegrass Roundup, McConchie's Campground, Galway. 6:15 pm
Tuesday, June 2 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 6 - Schenectady Kids Arts Festival. Jay St., Schdy. 1:15 pm
Tuesday, July 7 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, August 4 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Thursday, August 6 - Lake Luzerne Town Park. Luzerne, NY 7:00 pm
Tuesday, August 11 - "Music in the Park." Onderdonk Park. Hampton Ave., East Greenbush, NY. 6:00 pm
Friday, August 21 - Cohoes Caretakers Concert Series. Canal Park, Cohoes. 6:30 pm
Tuesday, September 1 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Sunday, September 13 - Waterford Tugboat Roundup. Canal Park, Waterford. 12:00-3:00 pm
Sunday, October 4 - Bronk Museum. Coxsackie. 1:00-3:00 pm
Tuesday, October 6 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Sunday, October 25 - ABL Concert. The Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs, w/ Don't Give Up Your Day Job. 2:00 pm
Tuesday, November 3 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Tuesday, December 1 - Moon & River Cafe. 115 S. Ferry St., Schdy. 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 6 - Glenville Senior Center Christmas Party. Worden Road, Glenville. 2:00 pm
Meet the String Dusters on the next page!
Check our Photo Galleries on the next pages
For more good bluegrass music, go to www.dorothyjanesiver.com
Check our listing and others on iBluegrass.com
For more stuff, go to www.bluegrassworks.com
For more traditional music, try www.oldsongs.org
See the new site for the ABL at
www.adirondackbluegrassleague.com
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