String Band Sessions

String Band Sessions podcast is back for another episode of our "Steps In Time" series, spotlighting the pros who help bring string band productions to life with their dance expertise. In this episode, host Jim Donio visits the clubhouse of the South Philadelphia String Band to chat with their choreographer Celia Criniti.

String Band Sessions podcast continues on location for our "Steps In Time" series, highlighting the essential role of movement and dance in every band's production. In this episode, host Jim Donio visits the clubhouse of 2026 1st Prize-winner, the Quaker City String Band, to chat with their choreographer Andrea Kenney.

String Band Sessions podcast is on location for our next series "Steps In Time" where we focus on an essential aspect of every production...choreography. Host Jim Donio is introducing us to the pros who teach us how to dance, starting with the only mother/daughter choreographers Dana and Riley Theil. They work with almost half of the bands in the String Band Division: Aqua String Band, Avalon String Band, Joseph A. Ferko String Band, Fralinger String Band, Hegeman String Band and Uptown String Band.

String Band Sessions podcast continues its second season with the "Rewind & Fast-Forward" series. Host Jim Donio is speaking with the Top 5 bands from 2026 about their New Year's Day and String Band Spectacular experiences, reviewing highlights from their performances, and then looking ahead to what they have planned for 2027. Last but not least, it's our 5th Prize winner Aqua String Band celebrating its highest finish in almost 40 years with Captain Austin Tilley and Drill Master Ed Maminski and then taking us from "Shamrock Shenanigans" to "Gooney Toons." Let us know what you think in the comments.

String Band Sessions podcast continues its second season with the "Rewind & Fast-Forward" series. Host Jim Donio is speaking with the Top 5 bands from 2026 about their New Year's Day and String Band Spectacular experiences, reviewing highlights from their performances, and then looking ahead to what they have planned for 2027. We're ready for our 4th Prize winner Uptown String Band with Captain Kade Radcliffe and President & Music Director Thor McLaughlin going "From Script to Screen" to an arctic adventure in the "Frozen Frontier." Let us know what you think in the comments.

String Band Sessions podcast continues its second season with the "Rewind & Fast-Forward" series. Host Jim Donio is speaking with the Top 5 bands from 2026 about their New Year's Day and String Band Spectacular experiences, reviewing highlights from their performances, and then looking ahead to what they have planned for 2027. It's time for our 3rd Prize winner Fralinger String Band with Music Director Dave Zagorski and Presentation Director Bob Theil going from "Making Waves" to visiting "Halloween Town." Let us know what you think in the comments.

String Band Sessions podcast continues its second season with the "Rewind & Fast-Forward" series. Host Jim Donio is speaking with the Top 5 bands from 2026 about their New Year's Day and String Band Spectacular experiences, reviewing highlights from their performances, and then looking ahead to what they have planned for 2027. Next up is 2nd Prize winner South Philadelphia String Band with Music Director John Simon and Presentation Director Rob Dougherty taking us from "Be-WISHED" to "Under The Bug Top." Let us know what you think in the comments.

String Band Sessions podcast continues its second season with the new series "Rewind & Fast-Forward." Host Jim Donio will be speaking with the Top 5 Bands from 2026 about their New Year's Day and String Band Spectacular experiences, reviewing highlights from their performances, and then looking ahead to what they have planned for 2027. First up is 1st Prize winner Quaker City String Band with Captain Jimmy Good and Music Director Michael "Spanky" Brown taking us from "The Joker's Funhouse" to "Quaker City's Roundup." Let us know what you think in the comments.

Season 2 of String Band Sessions Podcast continues as host Jim Donio goes on location to the Joseph A. Ferko String Band clubhouse to open up the "Ferko Costume Vault" for a nostalgic and colorful stroll down Mummery lane. Band members John Evans, Captain Scott Ratzke, Jr. and new Musical Director Adam Welwood model suits spanning more than 60 years of Ferko history from 1953's Musical Gems to 2017's We Stand as ONE, and including 1st prize-winning creations from 1982's Golden Memories of the Bowery and 1997's Fish Schtick. We see how string band costuming and materials have evolved through the decades to today's primarily character-driven designs.

Season 2 of String Band Sessions Podcast continues with the third Philadelphia String Band Association "Hall of Famers" episode. Host Jim Donio doubles down with not one, but two 2026 inductees from the Durning String Band...Captain Joe "Asti" Pomante and Past President Joe Forster. They share memories of their respective Mummers journeys to Durning String Band, including the history behind the late-1980s merger between the Durning and Garden State String Bands. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.