About Us
Out of the Phoenix area, The Back Porch Bandits have provided energetic, expert string-band music at concerts, festivals and public and private gatherings for over a decade. A mix of bluegrass, Old-Time, cowboy/country, folk and originals comprises their Banditgrass music, appealing to wide audiences. Available in gangs of two to five pickers, from back yards to concert halls, the Bandits will put fun in your function!
The Ringleader
Bandleader Ken Clemmer, Texas native and long-time Arizonan, plays guitar and sings lead and harmony. He played sticks in 1st-grade rhythm band and solo clarinet in college – with lots of styles in between – and has always loved the improvisational music of acoustic stringed instruments. Ken knows the lyrics to about a million tunes, including several of his originals. A sense of humor is his prized possession. Ken occasionally performs solo, and his Back Porch Bandits shows often include an array of some of the state’s finest acoustic pickers.
The Banjoboy
Josh Tharp’s license plate reads “BNJOBOY”, which doesn’t half cover it. An instrumental phenom, the Bandits’ chick maggot – er, magnet – expertly plays about anything with strings in a variety of styles. Banjo, guitar, dobro, mandolin, heck knows what all – and he builds high-grade instruments as well. (Ken’s “Little Gus” small-body guitar is a Tharp.) Josh also sings pure, clear harmony, and you’ll see him at most of the Bandits shows. Ain’t he cute?…
The Gang
The Bandits pickers’ list reads like a Who’s Who in the Valley’s acoustic music scene. At a Back Porch Bandits performance, here are some of the folks you might see:
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Jim Govern, |
Raychel Rose, |
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Joel Dowling, |
“Dr. Ron” Rutowski, |
PLEASE REMEMBER!
If your event calls for it, we can music in many styles: strolling players, Western/cowboy music, campfire/hayride entertainment, coffeehouse-style folk, and more. We have sound gear sufficient for virtually any audience or venue, or we can play “unplugged”for small gatherings.
We enjoy FESTIVALS of all sorts, CORPORATE EVENTS, CONCERTS, PRIVATE PARTIES, and more – anywhere folks are having fun. Whatever the size and location – large, small, indoors, outdoors – we have sound gear sufficient for the occasion. Reasonable rates, low maintenance. You’ll find us professional, dependable, equipped and ready. If we accept the gig, we can DO the gig.
Agent/promoter inquiries are welcome.
