Two Bits String Band

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A $Grand$ Estes Waltz (John Guay)

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Released: Jun 10, 2001

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A $Grand$ Estes Waltz (John Guay)
3:34
4,941 plays
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Pointe-au-Pic/Beatrice wPascal Gemme
12:07
10 plays
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En Fumant Ma Pipe/Edmond Pariseau
6:03
11 plays
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Mairi's Wedding wDavid Kaynor
5:27
15 plays
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St-Ann/Bergeville wDavid Kaynor
7:31
19 plays

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General Info

Genre: Acoustic / Folk / Roots Music
Location Easton, Un
Profile Views: 41749
Last Login: 5/20/2013
Member Since 9/10/2007
Website www.reverbnation.com/twobitsstringband
Record Label We're poor but well fed
Type of Label Indie
Bio
Two Bits (John Guay on hammered dulcimer and Vonnie Estes on piano/pump organ) is an evolution of the 'Gigue-a-Bit' contra dance band when Patty Rutins, fiddler, was unable to attend events. We have been lucky so far to have played traditional dances with the great fiddlers David Kaynor, Pete Sutherland, Yvon Cuillierier, George Wilson, Jill Newton, Laurie Indenbaum, Lausanne Allen, Pascal Gemme, Malcolm Sanders, Barbara Lubell, Colin (the reel) McCoy, Yannig Tanguy and Bernd Neumann along with multi-instrumentalists Steve Fry, Maurice Mercier and Charles Fisher. With Steve and Betsy Fry, Barbara Lubell and Maurice Mercier we are known as Set Americain and play mostly Quebecois tunes for dances. As Tenpenny Bit we are joined by Nancy Bakemeier on fiddle and Barbara Stewart on bodhran. We also play most Thursdays with 3 others as the Parting Glass Celtic Roots (Doug Rodriguez/bodhran, Charles Fisher/woodwinds/percussion, Maurice Mercier/accordeon/Cajun tie, Dave Jones/union pipes, Diane Jones, Nancy Bakemeier or Jeff Haas/fiddle, Joel Rosenberger/banjo/mandolin) in Saratoga Springs, NY. On most Wednesdays we join the Saratoga Pan-Celtic Players at the Parting Glass Pub. When 'Pete Sutherland and the Panamaniacs' (Pete, George Dunne on accordeon and flute, John and myself) would play for Adirondack barn dances we usually wore that certain style of hat. As part of 'Daylily/Dudley Nightshade' we concentrated on a colonial American repertoire with Terry Klein on fiddle and Gail Griffith on concertina (and as dance caller). Vonnie also plays with Gail as part of the English country dance band called 'Heartsease". Once in a great while we were honored to play with fiddler George Wilson at contra dances as part of the Brunswick, NY Chamberpot Orchestra, and with Bliss (fiddle and flute) and Robbie McIntosh (bass) as part of the Cambridge, NY Dance Orchestra. As well as sessioning locally (see our Big Lite Road Manager - Paul O'Donnell's site at http://www.CelticTreasures.com or click on our top friend, Saratoga Pan Celtic Session - for the schedule) we jam in New England and around the province of Quebec whenever we get the chance. PS - The "$Grand$ Estes Waltz" I've uploaded is one that John wrote for my parents' 51st wedding anniversary (and our 1st) in 2001. Other tunes John has composed include "Gail's Golden Jig" (played on the Youtube video of Totally Very Beginner's Contras) for our dance caller friend, "Lydia's Wedding" for John's daughter and "Kyle's Carey"for our folk singing friend. Hope you enjoy listening to our music! Vonnie.. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Members
John Guay plays hammered dulcimer/spoons/feet and maybe in the future hurdy-gurdy along with his wife, Vonnie Estes, who plays piano and pump organ
Influences
Bill Spence taught John how to play the dulcimer. We think Bill has the most dance friendly method of any we've heard; and he can work miracles with some of his students. Dwight "Doc" Murphy (RIP) started informally teaching Vonnie and many others how to accompany trad tunes back when he lived in our area and we all attended contra dances together. He was a very patient and forgiving professional musician and teacher. We have also been long time fans of all musicians we have listed as top friends - and many more... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ....
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