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The Dust Busters are an old-time string band based out
of Brooklyn, New York. Its members include Eli Smith
(Banjo, Bantar, Majo, Autoharp, Harmonica and Vocals),
Craig Judelman (Fiddle, Pump Organ, Vocals) and Walker
(Guitar, Banjo, Guit-Jo, Fiddle, Vocals).
They met while playing in a
larger band with folk music legends John Cohen of the
New Lost City Ramblers and Peter Stampfel of the Holy
Modal Rounders. The Dust Busters strive to integrate a
wide range of old-time songs, ballads, fiddle tunes and
jug band blues into every performance, infused with the
old-time feeling and freewheelin’ high energy that
characterized early string bands such as The Skillet
Lickers, Dykes Magic City Trio, The Mississippi Sheiks,
and J.E. Mainer’s Mountaineers, among many others. They
are influenced and inspired by the direct fusion of
Scots-Irish and African music that took place in
Appalachia, the Western states and the Deep South from
the earliest colonial times through the Second World
War. By carrying this music forward with authenticity
and creativity The Dust Busters make it thoroughly
contemporary, meaningful and fun!
The Dust Busters have appeared at venues including Club
Passim and the Jalopy Theater. They have played at
festivals such as The Brooklyn Folk Festival and the
Clifftop Appalachian String Band Festival and appeared
on radio shows such as Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour and
Sound Check with John Schaefer, WNYC 93.9fm.
They bring back the true spirit of Old Time
Music, where every singer invented his own performance.
Besides being excellent musicians, they sing with the
high voices that echo the sounds of young artists heard
on the old 78s , evoking the spirit of the 'Golden Era'
of recording, and the mystery of their own identity. They have built their repertoire from
some of the best music of the past and they keep it
alive and lively. They have found resonance with the
intensity of rural music, while delighting in the
nuances that preserve the individual uniqueness of the
genre. This is music that will keep your mind dancing.
"The Dust Busters are reaching for new
musical highs, and they play the kind of music I want to
hear." ...John Cohen, New Lost City
Ramblers.
"A really excellent stringband! They make this old music
alive and present."
...Bob Fass, WBAI 99.5fm New York.
"Here's three of my favorite people to play and sing
with ever, kicking musical ass all over the landscape.
If you like your trad/roots benter and hotter than
normal, you'll love this!" ...Peter Stampfel of
the Holy Modal Rounders and Fugs.
"The Dust Busters have clearly been hanging out with
some of my favorite dead guys. And this is the thing:
you either fall in love with the dead guys or you don't
-- but you can't fake that sort of communion. The Dust
Busters are there -- you can hear it in their
repertoire, and in the heart with which they play. It's
a rare gift, and I'm so glad they're sharing it!"
...Rayna Gellert, Uncle Earl. |
