TThe
Watermelon Mountain Jug Band
“ a
truly unique mixture of music, mirth and pure entertainment ”
The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band has been entertaining audiences, young and old, since 1975. True to the original 1920’s jug bands of the South, our music comes alive with washboard, jug, kazoo, washtub bass, spoons, guitar and banjo. The band delights audiences with jug band, ragtime, country and bluegrass music with some rock ’n roll or a Spanish ranchera added for spice. Ben might even play a classical music piece. Performances have included appearances at the KIMO Theater, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Bio Park, Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, Placitas Artists Series, and with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. We also play for national and international conferences, weddings, private parties, school and community events. Our latest CD, “Old Dog New Tricks,” was released in 2004.
Members of The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band are professionals on stage as well as off. Gary Oleson (washtub bass) is a retired math teacher from Los Lunas High School. Five-time New Mexico banjo champion Ben Perea (banjo, guitar) is the band director at Valley High School in Albuquerque. JoAnn Sartorius (vocals, kazoo, spoons, jug) works with youth in Santa Fe as a social worker and counselor. Pat Houlihan (vocals, guitar, jaw harp) is a professor of English at the Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute. Barbara Piper (washboard, high-hat, percussion) is a behavior consultant for the Albuquerque Public Schools and an independent educational consultant.
The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band has been recognized as “one of New Mexico’s treasured natural resources”…“a truly unique mixture of music, mirth and pure entertainment”…“totally irresistible.” So sing along! Grab a kazoo and enjoy! It’s just too much fun to miss!
Contact: Barbara Piper
(505) 281- 5647
WMJBpiper@swcp.com
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