DECATUR, Ill. (AP) - Old-time music predates bluegrass, country music and folk, but it can still be heard in the heart of Decatur.
A group of musicians, as well as hopeful musicians, meet on the third Wednesday of each month at the Decatur Brew Works, 102 E. William St., to play the special style of music. Old-time musicians play string instruments, such as the ukulele, banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin. A harmonica is often heard among the group. “But not the drums,” said organizer Phil Shils. “The rhythm is set by the banjo and sometimes an upright bass.”
Shils and The Red Wheelbarrows band-mate Jake Tolbert invite any budding musicians to join them to play Old Time music during the regular jam sessions.
According to the musicians, bluegrass songs are often led by the vocals, unlike the instrumental sounds of old-time. Old-time music grew out of the same roots as bluegrass. “But instead of solos, everybody plays the melody at the same time,” Tolbert said. “It is a collaborative effort.”
Old-time music grew out of the Appalachian mountains and other areas with the combinations of the banjo and the fiddle. “Not the violin,” Shils said.
Popular songs in the old-time genre include “Whisky for Breakfast,” “Soldier’s Joy” and “Walk Old Shoe, Heel Come a Dragging.”
“It is a very specific genre,” Shils said. “Old-time music, it’s pre-bluegrass, the music people play on their porches, in their homes and square dances, and for each other.”
The Decatur jam session averages a group of approximately 10 musicians each month. Other groups meet in Champaign, Bloomington and Springfield. “We have a great old-time scene in Central Illinois,” Tolbert said.
Much of the music originated as Illinois fiddle tunes, according to Tolbert.
“They are dedicated to the regional style,” he said about some of the musicians who join them each month. “It’s been great to learn from them, especially the Illinois traditions.”
Another uniqueness to the old-time music is the motivation of the musicians. Their enjoyment isn’t to entertain the audience.
“Because it’s not a performance, we don’t play for the applause,” Tolbert said. “It is something we are doing together. But we want people to see and join in, that’s why we don’t play at someone’s home.”
The love of music is also an attraction for anyone interested in playing in the jam session. “People like it. It’s really foot tapping stuff,” Shils said. “It’s hard to understand why we keep playing whether there is a crowd or not.”
According to the musicians, old-time music isn’t hard to play, but it can be hard to master.
“Sometime people will bring their kids,” Tolbert said. “As long as they participate, that’s okay.”
“The level of people who play are varied,” Shils said. “But all our welcome.”
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Source: (Decatur) Herald & Review, https://bit.ly/31GlGXo
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