The Shoe String Band

Old Time Winter

2012-02-09T10:42:00.000-05:00

The groundhog says that winter is still planning to have its way with us but the daffodils coming up in the yard say something different, as do the birds who are singing more everyday.
Like the birds in winter, a few of us like our bull fiddle player, TerriLu, fly off to warmer climes WAY down South in Tasmania, but for those who remain, the oldtime music scene turns inward and passes the time meeting new folks, playing new tunes, and keeping the music going.
We're fortunate to have a number of oldtime music jams happening in the Hudson Valley as these provide an opportunity to meet new folks and learn new tunes. If you ever find yourself thinking, "hey, that looks like fun, I'd like to learn to play oldtime _______ (fill in your instrument of choice)" come on out to a jam sometime and see what it's all about. Some of the regularly scheduled open jams include:

1st Wednesdays at 7:30 at New World Home Cooking, hosted by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
1st Fridays at Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights includes a super potluck dinner beforehand starting at 6:30
2nd Tuesdays Oldtime Jam at Keegan Ales in Kingston, hosted by the us, The Shoe String Band. Come for the music, stay for the beer and peanuts or vice versa.
Capital District Oldtime Jam 3rd Thursdays hosted by the Pine Hills String Band at the Irish Mist in Troy.

Always best to check ahead as jams are occasionally cancelled or rescheduled due to weather or other constraints. Other oldtime music jams and events are frequently posted in these facebook groups and in the Hudson Highlands Old Time Hoot Society so have a look, join one or all and come on down!

Dude, Nice Pants!

2012-01-09T14:22:00.001-05:00

Jeff, Terry & Jim playing Little Boy, Where'd You Get Your Britches.

Loose Shoes

2011-12-15T19:59:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn Rod & Gun Club is one of our favorite spots for old-time music and fish tales. A couple of Loose Shoes, Jeff and Terry played some tunes last Sunday night after the Slow Jam led by the wonderful Hilary Hawke. Here they are, rockin' a good ol' Ernie Carpenter tune called Shelvin' Rock:

Cold Frosty Morning

2011-12-04T22:22:00.002-05:00

Nothing like hot old-time tunes to keep you warm on these cold, frosty mornings.
~ Jeff, Terri & Lonesome Oscar

- Appalachian Roots Music

2011-11-16T16:25:00.001-05:00


Shoe String Roots Music

Gonna keep it local again this weekend at Market Market Cafe in Rosendale. Jen & Trip do a great job in the kitchen but don't take our word for it, check out this review in the NY Times!

Beyond that, we're keeping busy recording some new old-time songs and tunes, you can have a listen and get a free download a right here.

Looking ahead to 2012, our calendar is already filling up. We're available for holiday parties and nothing will warm you up better than a square dance with live music for your community organization, social group, or non-profit fundraiser. And if there's a wedding or other life event on the horizon for you or your friends or someone in your family, the Shoe String Band would love to hear from you and let you know what we could do to set the tone for a memorable day. You can see some pictures, read what others have said about us and listen to some tunes on our Events and Weddings page. Drop us an email and we'll get right back to you with what we can do for you.

Where's my Shoes??

2011-11-01T19:40:00.000-04:00

In answer to this my mother would say, "They're right where you left them!" Man, that really annoyed me!

It's getting pretty chilly out now so you really need your Shoes and lucky for you we're gonna tell you where to find them. Here's the short list of where we're going to be playing in the next month or so.

And if you can't make it to any of these events, here's a few upcoming oldtime jams that at least some of us will likely be part of. Grab your banjo, gitbox, ukulele or whatever and come on out and play a few tunes.

7:30 PM Wed. Nov. 2 @ New World Home Cooking Rt. 212 between Saugerties and Woodstock. Hosts Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
6:30 PM Fri. Nov. 4 @ Hilltop Farm in Yorktown Heights. Hosts Liz Slade and Jim Garber. Yummy potluck dinner precedes
7:30 PM Thu. Nov. 17 @ Irish Mist in Troy. Host Janet Foster

Find us on facebook for more information on this or other oldtime music happenings.

Main Street New Paltz

2011-10-23T10:01:00.000-04:00

With a few hours to kill before the wedding gig, 3/5's of the Shoes took advantage of the warm October sun to entertain the crowds on Main Street.

Spud's in the Tater Patch

2011-10-22T20:31:00.009-04:00

Terry "Spud" Dignon bustin' down in front of The Main Street Bistro in New Paltz.

Summer's winding down but the Shoes are still stepping out!

2011-09-13T16:32:00.010-04:00

The Shoe Strings had a big time last Saturday night at The Brooklyn Rod and Gun Club. These folks have it all going on, hope to get back there sometime soon!

Upcoming events: catch us next Saturday Sept 24th at high noon, at the Phillies Bridge Farm Project Fall Festival. These folks also know how to do it up and the events of the day include, children’s activities, farm tours, visits with the farm animals, and farm-fresh food in addition to live music by the Shoe String Band.

And next Sunday, 9/25 we'll be playing at Saunderskill Farms in Accord, one of our most favorite places to spend a summer afternoon. Fresh local fruit and produce, not to mention home-baked treats and our vote for the best CIDER DONUTS in the Hudson Valley. Y'all come!

Your summer won't be complete without a day at the Fair!

2011-08-16T11:41:00.000-04:00

The Shoe String Band is heading out to the Altamont Fair this Sunday, August 21. We'll be playing right after the poultry crowing contest, from 1:30 until 4pm or so. This is the last day of the fair so we hope to see you there!

Click here for Directions to the Altamont Fair

Big Times in West Virginia!

2011-08-08T09:53:00.000-04:00

2011-08-06T19:50:00.013-04:00

On the road again...
Comin' home from West Virginia's Appalachian String Band Festival, AKA Clifftop

Next weekend!

2011-07-17T09:06:00.000-04:00

The Shoes will be kicking things off on Saturday afternoon at the Rosendale Street Festival! One PM on the Canal Family stage, y'all come by and see us!
And also, for those in the know, there's the very special Prefestivalooza Friday night, five acts including us, hosted by the incorrigible King Wayne on the new outdoor patio at the Rosendale Cafe, see you there.

Harry Smith Frolic 2011

2011-07-12T16:50:00.000-04:00

The Friday evening showers were no deterrent to music and merriment and by Saturday morning the sun was out and things really got into gear. Amazing potluck dinner, midnight reenactment and bonfire, and all that music in between. This gathering maybe my favorite music event of the season, and if you haven't been, you definitely should put it on your calendar for next year. More photos and info here!

We're an American band

2011-07-05T10:31:00.000-04:00

The Shoes had a swell time playing at the Pine Bush Farmers Market this past weekend joined by our friend Harry Sweet. Unfortunately Sunday's deluge precluded our appearance at the market in Rosendale. We'll be back at both markets on the first weekend in August, Saturday (Pine Bush) and Sunday (Rosendale).

Before then we're looking forward to playing and visiting with our friends at the 9th annual Harry Smith Frolic. If you've never been, you should try to come, it's sure to be a great weekend! Hope to see you there!

photo: rjcarter creative

Summer will be here before you know it!

2011-05-03T22:12:00.000-04:00

Coming soon to a farmers' market near you.

Spring Plow Day

2011-05-03T12:29:00.000-04:00

A perfect day for the 30th annual Hudson Valley Draft Horse Association's Spring Plow Day, entertainment by the Shoe String Band.

2011 Oldtime Festivals

2011-03-04T11:10:00.000-05:00

Still looking and feeling like winter, but it's never too early to start thinking about the festival season. Given all the time in the world and a few dollars for gas, admission and grub, one could enjoy a full summer of music.
Dates for a few of the highlights are shown here, so mark your calendar and we'll look forward to seeing you somewhere on the road! There's couple of weeks open in June to plant some beans and potatoes so there might be something to eat when you get back in September, .

Black Creek Old Fiddlers' Reunion May 27 - 30*
Mt Airy Fiddlers' Convention June 3 - 5
Old Songs Festival June 24 - 26
Ninth Annual Harry Smith Frolic July 8 - 10
Swannanoa Gathering Oldtime Week July 17 - 23
Appalachian String Band Festival aka Clifftop August 3 - 7
Galax Old Fiddlers' Convention Aug 8 - 13
Ashokan Southern Week August 14 - 20, 2011
Fiddlin' Bear aka Lake Genero Sep 2 - 5*

*dates not yet confirmed but always on these holiday weekends

Spring is on the way!!

2011-02-04T14:18:00.001-05:00

Hard to imagine looking out at all this white stuff, but the days are getting longer so soon we should be seeing something like this. The Shoes are stirring as well, after a long winter's nap, and getting ready to get out and get playing again. We've played recently at the Rosendale Winter Farmer's Market and at Taste Budd's Cafe in Red Hook, both highly recommended spots to visit. As of now, our next scheduled gig is at Keegan Ales in Kingston on Thursday evening, April 7, but we'll be out and about between now and then for sure, so hope to see you there, if not sooner.

Great Big Taters!

2010-10-04T15:49:00.003-04:00

The Shoes kicked it around at the Rosendale Farmers' Market recently. The market continues Sunday mornings until the end of October, then moves inside for the monthly (1st Sunday) winter market beginning in December. We played here a few times through the summer and will be at the winter market on January 2nd, 2011 (!?!).

Great Big 'Taters in Rosendale

Between now and then there's a lot going on, next up is the 4th annual Celebration of the Arts on Huguenot Street in New Paltz next Saturday 10/9 . It's a great festival, it's free and we'll be playing at 2 PM. Hope to see you there!

Fiddlin' Bear 2010

2010-09-13T11:31:00.009-04:00

No, not Fiddlin' Bare, a bit chilly for that now. The weather changed shortly after midnight Friday night at Lake Genero but the music was hot all weekend. And while the music is the main draw for most of us, there's a lot more going on as well, catching up with our old pals, making new friends, and, of course, always good eating. And all this for a measly 20 bucks for the weekend! Mark your calendar now for Sept. 2-5, 2011.

But now the kids are back in school and hard at it, and the Shoes are no loafers either, we're looking at a busy schedule and ready to get down with y'all, check out our schedule on our website, hope to see you soon.

Summer's winding down

2010-09-01T11:29:00.000-04:00

First of September, the Shoes are looking forward to a long weekend of music and mayhem with the extended old-time music family at Lake Genero - Fiddlin' Bear in Hamlin, Pennsylvania. If you're going, we'll see you there. If you've never been, check it out at Sixteenth Annual Fiddlin' Bear then throw your stuff in the car and get down there.

Moving into autumn there's quite a bit on the calendar, hope y'all can make it out to hear us and say hey! :

MarketMarket Cafe in Rosendale on Friday, 9/17
Unison Arts Articulture at the Hurd Family Farm in Modena on Saturday, 9/25
Rosendale Farmers Market on Sunday 10/3
Fourth annual Celebration of the Arts (COTA) on historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz on Saturday 10/9
Keegan Ales in Kingston on Thursday 10/21;

There's also our regular 3rd Tuesday old-time music jam at Keegan Ales, open to all, so put down that yoyo and pick up that fiddle, banjo, guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, ukulele, whatever, and come on down and join us.

Hope to see you soon