Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Battle of the Jug Bands Coming to Logan Square

By Paul Biasco | September 24, 2015 5:36am
 A jug band in action
A jug band in action
View Full Caption
Jack Norton

LOGAN SQUARE — You'd never imagine the types of items that will soon be making music during the Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands.

Washboards, washtubs turned upside down into a bass, cigar box guitars and actual jugs have been featured in years past.

"It's just fun to see what do people come up with this year for their 15-minute shot," said 44-year-old Ted Dawson, a member of Mr. Mayor and the Highballers.

Mr. Mayor and the Highballers will be one of nine jug bands performing Oct. 9 at the Logan Square Auditorium during the eighth annual event.

"We model the music we play based on these old bands from Memphis, Cincinnati and New Orleans in the '20s and '30s," Dawson said.

He called the music "genuinely American" and a mix of blues from the south, jazz from New Orleans and mountain music from the east.

"It's genuinely American and it's funny," Dawson said. "There's a lot of songs about moonshine and getting drunk."

There will be jug bands from five states represented at this year's battle, including Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana and New York.

Chicago-based Mr. Mayor and the Highballers is performing as an opening act, but the band is not eligible to compete for the prize this year because it's a former winner.

Tickets to the event are $15 and are available at the door, 2539 N. Kedzie Blvd.

Proceeds from the battle will go to the Old Town School of Folk Music.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: