After recording and playing separately for more than 45 years,
Mike Ballantyne and Rick Van Krugel have joined forces to form the vibrant, and dynamic,
ragtime blues duo The Hokum Steamers.
These seasoned entertainers deliver good-time, authentic and definitive renditions of 1920s
& 1930s ragtime blues, hokum, jug band songs and gospel, and give their songs historical
place, time and context.
It’s great fun, and wholesome music, suitable for all.
Mike accompanies his warm, rich, bass-baritone voice with dexterous playing of both 6 and 12-string guitars;
Rick is a master musician who plays a wide variety of mandolins. He also sings, interjects and plays guitar.
Listen to the Steamers new CD,
“Doing The Cater Street Shimmy”
14 great tracks, all public domain, all appropriate for air play.
Available for download at:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thehokumsteamers
And check us out on YouTube.
Good-time music recreated from the street and medicine show musicians of the 20’s & 30’s.
When circumstances allow, the Hokum Steamers are either augmented by, or feature Carter Bannerman who sings, interjects, and plays mandolin, mandola, tenor banjo and guitar.
But, first things first: HOKUM has various meanings, not all of which are suitable in describing our music. With The Hokum Steamers, it refers mainly to types of ragtime blues and other songs.
We also sing early gospel songs — great music that is great to share with singing audiences.
The Steamers repertoire is taken from the early blues men and women, such as:
The Hokum Boys (Georgia Tom Dorsey & Tampa Red)
The Hokum Boys (Alex Robinson & Alex Hill)
Will Shade’s Memphis Jug Band
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey
Luke Jordan
Lillie Mae
Frank Stokes
Bo Carter
Papa Charlie Jackson
Jelly Roll Morton,
Blind Willie Johnson,
Hattie Hudson,
Hezekiah Jenkins,
Sam Collins, and others.
Here is a list of some of the songs that the Hokum Steamers play:
Jug Band Music (The Memphis Jug Band, 1934) [recorded as Jug Band Quartette]
Beedle–Um–Bum (The Hokum Boys, 1928)
Shout You Cats (Hezekiah Jenkins)
Please Don’t Think I’m Santa Claus (Lil McClintock)
Midnight Special (Sam Collins, 1927)
Move That Thing (Will Shade’s Memphis Jug Band, 1930)
Cocaine Blues, (Luke Jordan, 1927)
In My Time Of Dyin’, (Blind Willie Johnson, 1927; Josh White, 1933)
Big Bad Bill [Is Sweet William Now] (Emmett Miller)
Take Me To The Land Of Jazz (Lowe Stokes)
See also the songs listed in Transcribed Lyrics in the left nav. bar., most of which the Steamers also play.
‡ A NOTE TO GUITARISTS: Drop us a line if you need any of the guitar chords.
RECENT & UPCOMING APPEARANCES
Victoria Folk Music Society
Norway House
August the 7th 2011
Nanaimo Folk Connection
Hope Lutheran Church
2174 Departure Bay Road
Friday, February the 17th 2012
Highlands Folk Music
Caleb Pike Homestead,
1589 Millstream Rd., Victoria,
Saturday, May the 12th 2012
Victoria Folk Music Society
Norway House
June the 3rd 2012
Islands Folk Festival
Providence Farm,
Duncan,
July 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 2012
Steveston Folk Club
in the Murakami Boathouse
The Britannia Heritage Shipyard
5180 Westwater Drive,
Richmond.
Thursday, August 16th, 2012
Princeton
Traditional Music Festival
Princeton, B.C.,
August 17th, 18th, and 19th, 2012
Coffeehouse on Gabriola
Agi Hall, near ferry,
Gabriola Island, BC
Friday, March 29th 2013
“The Troubador” House Concert Series
Tel: (250) 591–2275
629 Stirling Avenue,
Nanaimo, BC
Sunday afternoon,
March 31st, 2013
This page last modified: May the 15th 2012
|
