String Fling

Friday, March 31, 2023
Doors at 7:00 PM | Show at 7:30 PM

Tickets: $28.25 Advance, $38.25 Day of Show | General Admission | Shopland Hall

FEATURING

Dishonest Fiddlers

JP Biondo

Little Toby Walker

The Hot Club of Scranton

The Dishonest Fiddlers

The Dishonest Fiddlers are an acoustic ensemble based in Northeast PA. Since its inception, the Americana/Roots band has performed traditional folk/bluegrass material but always prioritized original songs.

This “front-porch band” balances strong vocal harmonies and tight instrumental prowess with bluegrass inflections and jug band sensibilities.

What began as a loose rag-tag style group in 2014 has been picking its way throughout the Northeast, performing and collaborating with countless members of Northeast Pennsylvania’s burgeoning music collective.

The Dishonest Fiddlers are currently performing as a trio featuring:
Dave Brown (Harmonica/Guitar)
Shawn Caden (Mandolin/Banjo)
Jasper Paciotti (Upright Bass)

JP Biondo 

James “JP” Biondo (CABINET) grew up in Gouldsboro, PA and has been writing songs since his early teens. He has been a singer most all his life, always enjoying the voice as an instrument. JP has helped progress the band with his songwriting skill and mandolin playing for more than 12 years and is responsible for much of the original material for the band. When not working with Cabinet you can find him out solo supporting his debut full length release “Blue Radio”. With Pappy as Owl & Crow and on guitar in his new found local all star group The Mule Team.  JP will be joined by Chris Kearney.

Toby Walker

Internationally and nationally acclaimed Toby Walker has been hailed as an award winning, roots music fingerstyle guitar virtuoso and songwriter who has toured the US, the United Kingdom, Canada and Europe. Blending the styles of blues, ragtime, country, bluegrass, old-time jazz and rock, Walker has developed his own style and as such received numerous awards, including being the 1st place recipient of the International Blues Challenge Award in Memphis and the NY Music Award for best instrumental CD. Walker has also been inducted into the NY Blues Hall Of Fame.

Walker is a nationally recognized guitar instructor, having taught at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, Woody Mann’s Guitar Seminars, The Swanannoa Gathering, The New Jersey Big Guitar Camp and the Guitar Intensive in Maine. Walker also has eight instructional DVD’s on Happy Traum’s Homespun Music Instruction and has produced hundreds of instructional videos for his own website.

Toby’s passion for blues, rags, folk, and other traditional American music drove him to leave an apartment crammed full of recordings, books and instruments for the Mississippi Delta, Virginia and the Carolinas where he tracked down some of the more obscure – but immensely talented – music makers of an earlier era. He learned directly from Eugene Powell, James “Son” Thomas, Etta Baker, and R.L Burnside, among others.

“If he doesn’t get them with his phenomenal guitar playing or catchy songs, he gets them with his wonderful stories. True entertainers have an engaing spirit that puts a smile on your face. Arlo Guthrie has it. David Bromberg has it. And so does Toby. ”
– John Platt – WFUV

“Flat out… you have to hear this great musician… I’m blown away”
Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and the Jefferson Airplane

“A fingerpicking guitar virtuoso”
– Happy Traum

The Hot Club of Scranton

The Hot Club of Scranton celebrates the swing music and hot jazz of the 1920’s through the 1940’s. They play the style of music made popular by Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman and other musicians of the swing era. The Hot Club gets their name and takes on this style specifically from Django Reinhardt and his image of jazz.  The Hot Club of Scranton is Roy Williams (Lead Guitar), Nick Driscoll (Clarinet), Mark Woodyatt (Violin), Mike Williams (Rhythm Guitar) and Ian O’Hara (Bass).

The 4th Annual String Fling is sponsored by UGI Utilities and LT Verrastro. Supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.

Cash Bar and Concessions available. Cabaret style seating.
Event seating is General Admission, First-Come, First-Served, held in Shopland Hall on the 4th Floor of the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.
The seating chart does not reflect the layout for this event.

NO REFUNDS / NO EXCHANGES

Due to the nature of live performances, artists, dates, times, venues and prices are subject to change without notice.

Buyer Beware: If you purchase tickets from a non-authorized person or
outlet, you risk purchasing a lost, stolen or fake ticket that is not valid for
admittance, regardless of the event. Lost or stolen tickets may be
deactivated and thus will not be valid for entry. Anyone who purchases
tickets from a “scalper” or ticket broker does so at their own risk and in
most cases is paying a premium.

When you visit the theatre, our first priority is your care and safety. To that
end, please be aware in advance of increased security measures for all
events at our Theatre. Backpacks, oversized bags, outside food and
beverage, and weapons of any kind are not permitted in the building. Also,
upon entry, bags and coats must be open and ready for inspection by our
security team.