The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #42616   Message #2815841
Posted By: GUEST,AlHaug
19-Jan-10 - 09:45 AM
Thread Name: Help: The Philharmonious Jug Band
Subject: RE: Help: The Philharmonious Jug Band
At least one member of this band lives here in the states and has played at the Annual Battle of the Jug Bands in Minneapolis several times.

By the way the spelling is "Ffilharmonious Jug Band" (with two f's). Is it spelled "Philharmonious" on the album cover?

Here are excerpts from a note I got from member Jim Johnson back in 2006. The link below may be dead:

The original Ffilharmonious Jug Band played out of the High Wycombe,
England area from 1965 through 1969 making one LP at Pinner Studios in
London. The group played the University and Folk Club scene across
England through the late 60s appearing with such names as Jeremy
Taylor, Johnny Silvo, Steve Simpson, and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Da Band
(Please Do Not Adjust Your Set!). The band was composed of Doug Kyle
(Guitar, Kazoo, harps, banjo), Pete Ballan (Washboard, spoons and all
the percussion instruments), Jeff Wilson (Guitar, Mandolin, Washtub
Bass, kazoo, slide whistle) and yours truly, Jim Johnson (Guitar,
Banjo, Jug, kazoo, hand trumpet, Mandolin, cymbals, harps, Washtub
Bass).

The band disbanded in 1969 when: Pete left the UK to wander the earth
in search of heaven knows what and Jeff and Jim moved home to the
United States.

Since then, I have played with a number of short lived jug bands in
Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Alabama, Illinois, and New York. I have also
been very active with a number of bluegrass bands, have written,
recorded and produced the music for an underground movie, and recently
cut a CD.

Currently I am the Front Street Jug Stompers in Dodge City, KS where I
reside. When I say, "I am" I mean it. The band is me. I have revived
the Ffilharmonious Jug Stompers for the sake of this contest and hope
to pick up another couple of stray musicians to play with me at the
competition. It seems to be "that sort" of an event...   Wanna play
jug to a few good old standards? ;-)

Of the other original Ffilharmonious Jug Band members, Doug Kyle
maintains no internet presence at all. He is now a builder of high
quality, custom gypsy and jazz guitars (the "Kyle" guitar - used by a
number of descerning jazz and gypsy guitarists across Europe) and
resides in Moretonhampstead, England where he still plays guitar
and/or acoustic bass with area jazz bands.

Pete Ballan, lives in Yorkshire but is no longer involved with music.

Jeff Wilson has moved on into obscurity.

You may sample a few resent cuts of standards by the "Front Street Jug
Stompers", a.k.a. "Ffilharmonious Jug Stompers" at:

http://www.starrtech.net/~jimj/music/musicpage.html