Saturday, June 13th, 2009
The time has come to look forward by looking back.

The Ramona Bowl brings you 4 musical acts with deep roots in early country & washboard jazz, the music of the wanderlust hobo. These groups are all from out of town making a special stop in Hemet just for your pleasure!

Starting the evening at 5pm, Old Brown Shoe is an authentic & heartfelt string band recreating the honest pre and post war country folk sound. Special guest Tom Marion is a guitarist extrordinaire on the LA early jazz revival scene. He is currently a featured member of Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys & has recorded with a bevy of acts since the 1970's including Robert Crumb's Cheap Suit Serenaders. Old Brown Shoe specializes in brother duets from the '30s through the '50s, filled with sweet harmonies and rhythm that will get those old brown shoes of yours a tappin'.

At 6pm Captian Jeffrey & The Chumbuckets will take the stage with their Westrn Swing & Rockabilly twangs. High energy & humor along with sensible musicianship. These boys have been making a big name for themselves on the roots music scene worldwide & are sure to be a crowd pleaser!

7pm will bring the fabulous Hollywood Hotshots from Los Angeles. Brothers Ralph & John Reynolds (grandsons of 1930's actress Zazu Pitts) bring a comic washboard rhythm sense to their brand of early jazz. John has been a proliffic performer since the late 1970's having performed with Cab Calloway, Julie Andrews, & hosts of others. His group, The Yacht Club Boys, toured many enthusiastic countries in the 1980's & he is currently also a featured guitarist with Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys. The Hotshots have been seen backing up Seth MacFarlane (of Family Guy infamy) & Grammy winners The Ditty Bops. This 5 peice jazz orchestra will shuffle & shake the smile right on your face!

The final act of the night, at 8pm, is Hobo Jazz, the namesake of Hobofest & a popular southern California group for 7 years running. Playing the music of the contermporary 1930's hobo country jazz man, Hobo Jazz mixes fresh original songs with unique interpretations of songs from years gone by. This 3 piece combo entertains with their unique blend of talent, humor, & a certain whimsy that one must see to understand. They've performed at Festivals across Southern California & they're the only act to have played The Ramona Bowl before.

The plaintive vagabondish alure of the hobo dates back to the 1890's when men & boys took to the roads. Seeking adventure or to relieve the family of having another mouth to feed, the hobo has been a symbol of hard economic times. Given the current tides of fortune the hobo has once again become a relavant symbol. Not a beggar, not a thief, but a resourceful spirit with an insight into life that we can all learn from. The acts we have chosen to perform for you all exemplify this idea, joy in tricky times, a sparkle of light in the dust storm. We hope you enjoy the show.