From folk to polka in Honesdale’s Central Park

HONESDALE, PA —The Uphill String Band will be the featured group at the Wayne County Arts Council’s concert in Central Park on Thursday, July 10. It is a familiar group at local square dances and other community events, with a wide repertoire of old time country tunes and music from the ‘30s to the ‘50s. Donna Gregor plays rhythm guitar and is the lead vocalist; Joe Davis is the standup bass; Jim Sampson plays harmonica; Jeannie Wasman sings harmony, plays banjo and fiddle; the lead guitar picker is Dan Verbeke; and Judy Trudgen plays fiddle and mandolin.

A group that is new to the area will grace the stage at the concert on Monday, July 14: the River City Banjos. Their music ranges from classical to ragtime, Tin Pan Ally, Dixieland and the Roaring ‘20s.

On Thursday, July 17, Jolly Joe and the Bavarians will regale the audience with their polka music. (See www.jollyjoepolka.com.) Since “Jolly Joe” (Al Truszkowski) started the band in 1967, they have been performing up and down the Eastern United States and even in Germany. They also play on WICK-1340 am in Scranton and WPSN 1590 am in Honesdale on Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.