Cory Seznec (guitar, banjos, harmonica, freedom boot, vocals),
Michael Ward-Bergeman (accordion, shackles, freedom boot, vocals)
Special Guest: Paul Clifford (percussion, freedom boot, vocals)
Influences
Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, Alan Lomax, Pietro Frosini, Taraf de Haidouks, Champion Jack Dupree, Rev Gary Davis, Fats Waller, the West African griots, The Delmore Brothers, Chuck Darling, Gus Viseur, Eddy Lang, Boubacar Traore, Doc Watson, The Boswell Sisters, Ali Farka Toure, Blind Blake, Clarence Ashley, Fred Cockerham, Huun-Huur-Tu, gritty and funky folk music from around the world, etc....
The Groanbox Boys are the rambunctious London-based American musicians Cory Seznec and Michael Ward-Bergeman. Their music is steeped in the 1920s and 30s, and played like the old greats with the peculiar mixture of sex and God to match. Seznec and Ward-Bergeman play their own unique brand of foot-stompin', sweat-drippin-from-the-ceiling, old time American blues, folk, rags, and mountain songs on accordion, acoustic guitar, gourd banjo, open-backed banjo, piano, harmonica, and shackles.
Fences Come Down CD can be purchased on CD Baby: CLICK HERE
Smokestack Trilogy CD can be purchased on CD Baby: CLICK HERE
Listen to the Groanbox Boys May 27th, 2008 performance on Mary Ann Kennedy's Global Gathering on BBC Scotland: CLICK HERE
Read the May 27, 2008 review of the Groanbox gig at the Tall Ship in Glasgow that appeared in the Herald: CLICK HERE
Read the April 30, 2008 article that appeared in the Independent: CLICK HERE
Read the April 26, 2007 feature that appeared in the Independent: CLICK HERE
Daily episodes from the Groanbox Boys' May 2008 UK Tour
Brilliant!! Last bit of video (jam) is decidedly hazy in my recollections - think the malts and the Black Isles had had their effect. Hope the recording went well. Just missed you in Edinburgh but sent along one of my friends Brian who said the show was fantastic Hope to meet up some time cheers for now Bruce
ha cheers will have a look watched ur video diary on your myspace and i have to say its quite funny but i did no u had been so far and every were i think ur a really insperation and u should keep it up ! my favourite song by the way is wham bam and i loved the remix !
hi saw u guys in thirsk u were brill and me and my mate have sat and drank loads of beers to try and make a freedom boot like yours ha gud luck guys keep on going !!
Wow! From the Albert Hall to The Tin Hut at Gartly. Amazing night guys, love the music, love the boot and will be making one following the instructions on your site! My wee boy (the youngest by far in the room last night!) had a fab time and is over the moon with his signed photo.
Hope you have a good time under the yew tree - wish I could be there for that moment!
just wanted too say your gig in thirsk on friday, was amazing, you've really inspired me to play more blues guitar, and finally make a go at my banjo after having it for years and not using it. oh and thanks for the add :D:D
Very real thanks via the virtual straight line across the Big Pond and the Great Divide. Greetings from the left coast of Canada in appreciation for the very fine tunes here.
