Jugalug String Band

Biography

	Location: New South Wales
	Contact: 02 9948 4884
	Email: Click here to send an email
	Web: www.jugalugstringband.com/
	Members: Phil Donnison, Stewart Binsted, Marcus Holden, Adam Barnard, Stan Valacos

String Bands were all the rage in the 1920’s and 1930’s, particularly in rural areas where stringed instruments were popular and more affordable than brass instruments. The bands were quite unique in their approach and their style of music ranged from polkas and waltzes to jazz, blues and novelty music. Often the instruments were cheap home-made and found instruments and included kazoos and harmonicas, washboards and washtub basses. With the inclusion of a jug as the bass instrument, they became jug bands and performed, on street corners, in dance halls, bars, jook joints and at parties. Several popular bands were recorded and the music released on 78rpm records. Many of these recordings have been re-mastered and are available again today to provide us with a fascinating musical insight into those times. The Jugalug String Band plays a repertoire of music based upon the styles of these early string bands. The music is fun and exciting and many of the bands’ instruments are unique, dating back to the early part of the twentieth century. Phil Donnison plays National ukulele, National guitar, National steel guitar, kazoo, nose flute and handles the vocals. Phil also performs with Mic Conway’s National Junk Band and has played with The Old Blokes String Band, The Original Sweaty Palms Orchestra, The Gladesville Sheiks, The Stovepipe Spasm Band and The Emancipated Rampart Footwarmers Jug Band. He and Stewart also performed with Tiny Tim. Stewart Binsted plays tenor banjo, National guitar, ukulele and jug. Stewart has played with The New Wolverine Jazz Orchestra since its inception and has a background in Jug Band music and Jazz. He and Phil established The Emancipated Rampart Footwarmers Jug Band in 1963 and they later formed The Gladesville Sheiks featuring Nat Oliver. Marcus Holden plays the violin, strohviol, mandolin, National tenor guitar, and the musical saw. Marcus also plays with Mic Conway’s National Junk Band and his  own group, The Fiddlers Feast. He performs with Diesel and the Adelaide and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. He is an arranger and recording engineer and has a background in Classical, Jazz, Country and Irish music. Adam Barnard plays washboard and traps. Adam has kept up the family musical tradition and has been involved in Jazz, Jug and Rhythm and Blues groups, playing with The Mudsteppers Jug Band, Mic Conway, King Biscuit Blues Band and currently with The Radium Club Hepsters. Stan Valacos plucks, strums, slaps and bows the double bass. He is in great demand  and performs regularly with George Washingmachine, Ian Date, Bob Barnard and Geoff Bull. He has played with Tom Baker, was outstanding in the Straight Back Fellows and won gold with The Young Olympians.