Damn Yankee String Band 

"I want to express how pleased I am with how last night went. More than one person said to me, 'You know, I'm really digging this band.' You guys made the evening really special...."  -Larry Swanson,  Steward of the Brand Vermont Whistlepig Whiskey September, 2014

The Damn Yankee String Band is based in Burlington, Vermont, and consists of Sarah Hotchkiss on fiddle, banjo and vocals, John Mowad on fiddle, guitar, banjo and vocals, and various bass players who join us for some performances. We play old time mountain music, vintage country and "hillbilly jazz", a hybrid mix of string band, country and swing music, much of it featuring John's tasty guitar pickin'!  Lively, fun music from earlier times that sounds like it was born yesterday, played by experienced musicians who definitely were not!  Knee slapping, toe tapping, good timey music, southern fried and yankee hardboiled.  Catch us if you can!

                        

We play at coffee houses, contra and square dances, house concerts, farmer's markets, and for your special occasion.  Contact us for a booking or to get more information.

“Every first Saturday in October for the last 15 years, our friends and neighbors gather to enjoy conversation and laughter while making 144 pints of autumn goodness in the form of apple butter. The process takes from sun up to sun down and the constant work of mixing the kettle filled with thick apple brew can get monotonous, but the Damn Yankee Band provided the perfect accompaniment to stir up a festive mood while we stirred up the buttery spread. The entire crowd came alive at the sound of the fun tunes and vocals of Damn Yankee!  --Many thanks from Marilyn and The Apple Butter Gang!”  Fall 2012