The Speakeasy Boys play traditional and non-traditional acoustic bluegrass and old-time music in their own unique zesty river-hobo style. The sound is very much like what you would hear at a jam circle - tunes played in a rustic, upbeat fashion, where each musician has the opportunity to play a tune and there are plenty of 'breaks' (solos) - and the repertoire is a mix of original, rare and classic bluegrass, old-time, country, gypsy swing, blues and folk numbers.
The line-up consists of two guitars, mandolin, banjo, washtub bass, fiddle, harmonica, lapsteel, and a homemade tin-can contraption (affectionately named Jeb Junior) that is played with a pair of spoons. The musicians are a blend of varying styles and musicial backgrounds, so lots of different sounds and influences can be heard in their music.
The Speakeasy Boys started out as a group of local musicians who simply liked getting together and playing music. Every Sunday, they would meet up and pick along the banks of the Potomac River near Packhorse Ford, located outside of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, or at a nearby house dubbed "the Speakeasy" (hence the band's name).
After a while, they decided to perform in front of an audience, instead of the usual barrel fire of barbeque chicken and fish. In 2003, they moved their jam to Ed’s Taproom, a local pub in Shepherdstown, where they played every other Tuesday night for nearly a year. Nowadays, they play a wide variety of venues, including pubs, clubs, theaters, festivals, parades and private parties, and have been featured artists at the Watermelon Park Fest, the Purple Fiddle, Opequon Creek Music Fest, and Cactus Flats.
The Speakeasy Boys are all about having fun and wherever they go, it's a party! For more information, visit their website at: www.speakeasyboys.com.
