The Elm City Strugglers
Based out of Waterville, Maine, The Elm City Strugglers perform a dynamic selection of rags, blues, breakdowns, waltzes, and other old-time dance music. These range from hard driving numbers to slower sentimental pieces that befit their old-fangled primitive elegance.
The band features Nick on fiddle, Harry on guitar, and Terry on bass.
Nick has been playing music for over four decades throughout the country. As a recognized Master Traditional Artist by the NEA, he focuses on traditional music of central Appalachia and the deep south, but has played everything from Klezmer to Indian classical music. Last year he won the fiddle contest at East Benton Fiddler’s Convention.
Harry has been making and repairing violins in Waterville for the past 28 years. During that time he has also played with several bands including “The Yankee Soul Revue” , “14 Strings”, and “ Mes Amis”, a Django-inspired swing band.
Terry is a long-time veteran of the Central Maine bluegrass scene. He has played with “Good Clean Fill”, “Katahdin Valley Boys”, “Chairback Gap”, as well as the swing dance band, “The Skyliners”.
Mineola Rag
A great old-timey rag originally from the East Texas Serenaders of Lindale. Their recordings from the 1920s epitomized the ideals of primitive elegance in old-time music.
On the Road to Maysville
This tune was learned from J. P. Fraley of eastern Kentucky whose dad played this when he went to sell his tobacco crop in the town of Maysville.
Washington County
Originally the fight song for Washington and Lee University, this tune was transformed into a bluegrass favorite by fiddler Kenny Baker . It features Harry on flatpicking guitar.
All I’ve Got’s Done Gone
An African American blues fiddle number from central Kentucky, Doc Roberts learned this tune from his neighbor Owen Walker in the 1920s.
Dream Shadows
A beautiful waltz, again from the East Texas Serenaders, it captures the melancholic but poignant light of the gloaming on a summer’s evening.
Catlettsburg
A driving breakdown from the playing of Ed Haley, a blind fiddler active in the first half of the twentieth century. It’s a good example of his signature style of “slurs and insults” imbedded into a fiddle tune.
Contact us.
We’d love to hear from you!
In your message, please let us know if you would rather e-mail or talk/text over the phone.