Back Porch Swing Band

If you're looking for a band with a swingin' rhythm and an old timey flavor, look no further. This group combines the talents of 5 noteable musicians responsible for the tapping of thousands of feet across Ohio for the last 15 years. The band specializes in Western Swing, but plays several musical styles , ranging from Appalachian tunes, Blues, Old Country & Folk, to a lot of Swing music from the '20's, '30's, '40's. Requests from the audience are frequently honored. Dance music includes swing, jitterbug, two steps, waltzes, polkas, shaddishs, and square dances.
Included among the more than 85 shows they average each year, are several County Fairs; Sternwheeler cruises on the Ohio River; Shaker Woods & Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Fests; Burr Oak and Malabar State Parks; Concert series in Lancaster, Dublin, Westerville, Worthington, Barnesville, Youngstown, Grove City, Wadsworth, Clifton; Cincinnatti's Appalachian Fest and Tall Stacks Fest; and countless dances.
It's the hot fiddle playing of Adam Jackson from Chesterhill, Ohio that keeps those feet moving. Adam is a 3 time Ohio State Champion Fiddler, and has won championships at the Michigan , West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic States Contests. He learned his craft from Master Fiddler Kenny Sidle, who was a National Heritage award winner. Adam works as a pharmacist in Chillicothe, Oh. & teaches fiddle on the side.
Our lead female vocalist is Kris Geis, adding great lead & harmony vocals to the show. With her wonderful vocal range, she presents music from the era of Bob Wills, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. Kris teaches aerobics classes in Muskingum County where she lives with her husband & 2 children near Zanesville, Oh.
Driving the band & swinging on his upright bass is Dave Irwin. Dave also plays in several other groups in his hometown area of Columbus, Oh.
Also carrying lead & harmony vocals and the guitar work on his Gibson guitar, is Pete Shew," the man with a thousand tunes". When not making music, he raises apples, lambs, and beef with his wife on his Morgan County, Ohio farm, near McConnelsville.
Trading instrumental solos with Adam is Caleb Hutslar from Columbus on keyboard really and he really makes the band jump. Caleb teaches piano in Columbus.
Andy Merritt from Columbus on electric mandolin and swinging fiddle fills out the roster.
So, whether you're looking for a family oriented variety act, a hot dance band with a swinging dance rhythm you can't resist, or an historical anomaly that will knock your socks off, we suggest stepping out to THE BACKPORCH SWING BAND.