Host Jim Donio is taking the String Band Sessions show on the road as he visits all 14 bands in the next three weeks to get a backstage preview of their productions for New Year's Day 2026. Next up is the Joseph A. Ferko String Band with their theme "Soul Station," a nostalgic look back at the popular Disco and Soul music of the 1970s all set in a train yard. Jim chats with Music Director Matt Gibson, Presentation Director Byron Friend, and Captain Scott Ratzke, Jr. about their approach to this combo theme.

Host Jim Donio takes the String Band Sessions roadshow to the Duffy String Band for a behind-the-scenes look at "Music Store Galore." He gets a preview from Music Director Tony Ovecka, Presentation Director Sharon Crowe, and Captain Jake Kudrick about their production that will literally bring music to life...animated instruments, sheet music and more! Duffy has the distinction of the youngest marching String Band Captain in 19-year-old Jake -- who will take on the role of the shopkeeper --as well as who is likely the oldest marching musician in string bands this year...John "Uncle Jack" Christy, who will strum his banjo on New Year's Day at 88 years young!

In our final episode of the "Putting It Together" series, we get the inside track on costuming from Regal Costumes' owner Sam Regalbuto. Our previous episodes shed light on the design, make-up and music arranging components of each band's productions. We cap things off with a crash course in what it takes to bring a designer's two-dimensional vision to vibrant life. Find out what's behind the virtually 365-day process of delivering the three-dimensional spectacle in time for the curtain to go up on New Year's Day.

Host Jim Donio's next stop on the String Band Sessions roadshow is a visit with the Avalon String Band. He speaks with Music Director Joe Urzillo, Presentation Director Jeff Crompton, and Captain Bobby Gagliardi about their bakery production "Confection Perfection." All of our favorite cakes, pies, cookies, donuts, cupcakes, and more are brought to delicious life...with genre-bending melodies and of course some Philly flavor mixed in for good measure. Avalon is making sure we know that "nothing says lovin' like something from the oven."

Host Jim Donio is on the road again with String Band Sessions at the Hegeman String Band to get a glimpse into their 2026 theme "Viva Las Hegeman." Captain Kelliann Gallagher and President Ryan Echols let us in on what we can expect to see and hear as they show us how much fun a trip to Vegas can be from casinos, showgirls, magicians, and more with classic Vegas tunes blended with contemporary pop hits. We also meet the youngest Hegeman musicians -- 11-year-olds Eve and Penny -- who remind us that fostering a new generation of Mummers ensures the 125-year tradition continues for a long time.

Host Jim Donio is taking the String Band Sessions show on the road as he visits all 14 bands in the next three weeks to get a backstage preview of their productions for New Year's Day 2026. First up is the Aqua String Band with their theme "Shamrock Shenanigans," a whimsical celebration of all things Irish. Jim chats with Music Director Andrew Maminski, Presentation Director Ed Maminski, and Captain Austin Tilley about their roles and challenges leading up to the big day when they all hope the luck of the Irish will be with them.

Host Jim Donio is taking the String Band Sessions show on the road as he visits all 14 bands in the next three weeks to get a backstage preview of their productions for New Year's Day 2026. First up is the Aqua String Band with their theme "Shamrock Shenanigans," a whimsical celebration of all things Irish. Jim chats with Music Director Andrew Maminski, Presentation Director Ed Maminski, and Captain Austin Tilley about their roles and challenges leading up to the big day when they all hope the luck of the Irish will be with them.

Our final guest in the "Moms of Mums" series, where Jim Donio chats with the mothers of String Band captains, is Colleen Kudrick, whose son Jake is Captain of the Duffy String Band. Among the String Bands, Colleen is the only mother who is also a musician marching behind her son as Captain. Colleen shares the heartbreaking, and ultimately heartwarming, story of the sudden loss of her husband, Duffy's former Captain Ted Kudrick, in October 2017, which led to Jake becoming the youngest string band captain in history at age 11 in the 2018 Mummers Parade.

Our next guest in our new "Moms of Mums" series, where Jim Donio chats with the mothers of String Band captains, is Paula Tilley whose son Austin is Captain of the Aqua String Band. Paula was actually the inspiration for this series after she posted photos of Austin on Facebook with the caption..."I just love watching you do what you love!" Of course, we had to explore how much a mother's support and encouragement means to their children as String Band leaders.

Our next String Band Sessions podcast series is entitled "Moms of Mums," where Jim Donio will be chatting with the mothers of string band captains. The love, support and pride that mothers give to their families is like no other. When it comes to the Mummers, you may find a mom who enthusiastically cheers from the sidelines or at home, takes care of everyone with food and drink, pushes props as a marshall, makes costumes and sets, or is a marcher or musician herself. 

Our first guest is Joann Walton, whose oldest son Pat is Captain of the Jersey String Band. Joann also has quite a few other members of her family in the group and delights in celebrating all of them.