Water Street Hotshots Play Woodwalk Aug 25

Water Street Hot Shots. Submitted.

The Water Street Hot Shots are experts at performing blues, rags, hokum, and novelty tunes in the style of the 1930s jug bands. They’ll take the stage as part of the Woodwalk Concert Series Aug. 25, 7 pm.

Michael Lee Ammons grew up just a mile away from the Paramount Records studio in Grafton, Wisconsin, where so many great blues artists recorded, and seems to have gotten this music by osmosis. His excellent guitar work on National Resophonics plus a variety of vintage guitars anchors a band that includes fiddle, mandolin, bass, an assortment of jugs, washboards and kazoos. Ammons’ love of history permeates his music and brings it to life. The Hot Shots’ approach to the classic blues of the 1920s and ‘30s is reverent and fun and they present acoustic blues as contemporary, living music rather than museum pieces. Band members include Michael Lee Ammons, Rich Higdon, Tim Dekker, JR Fenner and George Reynolds.

The show starts at 7 pm with house band Small Forest opening. Call to reserve an outside table if you want to bring your picnic dinner at 5:30 before the show. Drinks and treats will be for sale. Tickets are $20 cash only at the door. Woodwalk Gallery is at 6746 Cty G, a bit south of Egg Harbor. Call 920.629.4877 or 920.495.2928 for reservations.