|
|
Shawnee Prairie...
A musical
portrait of seafarers and the past
By Elaine Bailey
Misty, a rescued gray feline, has had a busy social calendar this
week. She attended the concert in the park this past Sunday and
is now enjoying the acoustic folk music of the Ramblin’ Rovers at
Shawnee Prairie and Nature Center located on St. Rt. 502 outside the
city limits of Greenville.
The Ramblin’ Rovers created a musical portrait of pubs, seafaring
ventures, and people of the past. Numbers included: “A Roving We
Will Go,” “Billy Broke Locks,” “Whisky In The Jar,” “Johnny Jump Up,”
“All for Me Grog,” “Star of the Country Down,” “Thousands are
Sailing,” “The Scotsman,” “A Drop of Nelson’s Blood,” “Wild
Rove,” “Jack Hall,” “Meri Mac,” “Rake and Ramblin’ Boy,”
and “What Shall We do With a Drunken Sailor.”
Ramblin’ Rovers, based in Sidney, Ohio, performed ballads, sea
chanteys, and sing-alongs of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Lead singer Steve Keefer performed the ballads and sea chanteys of the
British Isles with an Irish bouzouki. Bruce Ruppert shared vocal duties
and played a mandolin or tin whistle. Adding a bass rhythm that kept
toes tapping and hands clapping, Lee Adams had an amazing performance
on a washtub. Trent Hornbacker added to the mix with his fiddle and
harmonica. Thomas Norton-Smith involved the audience with a variety of
percussion instruments, including various gourds.
The group concluded with “Ramblin’ Rover,” a folk song that captures
the philosophy of the musicians…
“But give me a ramblin’ rover,
Frae Orkney down to Dover.
We will roam the country over
And together we’ll face the world.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
