VIENNA —

They will present traditional jazz and dance music from the 1910s to the 1940s. Band members are Sherry Walrath (vocals), Scott Dixon (drums), Doug Walrath (keyboard), and Andy Buckland (bass). They will be joined by Mel Tukey (trumpet), Peter Lord (soprano Sax), and Stephen Walrath (bass).

Sherry Walrath said, “My mother played piano with a dance band when I was growing up in the 1940s. The band played songs from the 1920s to the 1940s and I learned the lyrics to all the popular songs from those years. I still remember all of them—and love to sing them.”

Doug Walrath started playing traditional jazz (Dixieland) on the piano in high school in the late 1940s. “And I’ve never stopped. When we met, Sherry became my music soul mate. She still is. If she can sing it, I can play it. Traditional jazz is happy, fun and danceable music. You can’t sit still or keep quiet when you hear it; you want to sing and dance. During the summer we often gather a group of musician friends at our farm and play just for fun.”

To share the music they love with others, the Walraths founded the South Strong Road Crew in 2007 and began to play at parties and local restaurants. Then five years ago they were invited to play for a dance. Dixon and Buckland joined the group for the dance and became permanent members. Often when the band plays for dances, Tukey and Lord join and the group becomes The South Strong Road Crew and Friends.

The band’s music comes from an era when people danced together and danced the whole night long. For those who want to learn some dances from the era Sherry will teach the Peabody and Charleston at the Union Hall — probably during the intermission when the band takes a break.

Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. For advance tickets, call 207-249-0876 or email viennaunionhall@gmail.com.


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