When we first started the Strung Out String Band our banjo (and accordion) player was the inimitable Ilan Moss. Ilan moved to Paris many moons ago but fear not, the years of drinking pastis while listening to chanson have not lessened his skills in American music. In fact, while travelling the back streets of Paris (or some other French town) he crossed paths with Robert Crumb. Yes, that Robert Crumb. You may not know it but R. Crumb is a lover of American folk music and a great player as well. Throw some bass and fiddle into the mix and you have The Melody Sheiks. Their new record was recorded in France and was just released on Arhoolie. Pick up a copy.

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We’re not entirely sure why a fan would post a 40 second clip of us playing just the end of a song but someone did just that. This video was taken as we busked outside at Meatopia on a beautiful July day on Governor’s Island. Watch the video to hear (and see) the last 40 seconds of the Strung Out String Band playing Katy Kline.

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Last summer our fiddle player Nate Landau sat down for a brief video interview about the Bibb County Hoedown, old timey music and busking at the Union Square green market when the bottom fell out of the tech bubble in 2001.

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Following up on the recent video we posted of an old-timey house party we found this video from 1964 featuring Bascom Lunsford dancing and playing music on the porch of a friend. Great music and great clogging.

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The Strung Out String Band’s very own banjo player Robby O’Sullivan is a YouTube star! He was recently interviewed about playing Soldier’s Joy on the banjo and how he got involved in New York City’s Old Time Music scene.

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If this doesn’t seem like one of the best house parties you’ve ever seen you probably shouldn’t be visiting the Strung Out String Band’s website. Many of the people in this documentary footage are related to one of our band members. Can you guess which one?

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Gotta love all girl banjo orchestras from the twenties! Well, we do anyway.

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