On Saturday, June 10 at 8:00pm, the Watchung Arts Center presents the Dirdy Birdies celebrating the band’s 33 years of tradition of Jug music. Utilizing a few true musical instruments and a variety of imaginative home-made instruments with their tight vocal harmonies make them unique and interesting. They love what they do, and you’ll love it too.

Dirdy Birdies have recently increased their repertoire, sharpened their stage performance, and expanded their circle of performing venues. Winners of many a competition and lots of accolades, this fine group of musicians have finally hit the big time, completing a World Tour in 1986.

Joe Bell is the lead guitarist, Barbara Brummer plays a Washtub bass and sings, Rich Fedorchak is a lead singer and also hums a wicked kazoo, Jack Pignatello is the jug player extraordinaire and also sings and hums a kazoo. From this small beginning they searched for other musicians to fill out the sound. They found them in Bill Huber a amazing fiddle player and Chuck Winch, a wizard on the banjo. They thought they had the perfect sound and suddenly an old friend came by and wanted to add his guitar, and Jeff Bleeke joined the Dirdy Birdies. "Well what the heck, the more, the merrier," exclaimed the original members. After several months of intensive practice, the band was ready and continued it’s World Reunion Tour.

Several underground recordings have been circulating over the years, as well as the official release of "Live at The Drayton Court Pub" recorded in the UK in 1987. The constant clamor for more from their audience, resulted in the band’s current release, "Endangered Species". In 1998, The Birdies released a documentary of the 1987 tour called "Jugs Across the Sea", which is available through Guano Home Video’s and can be ordered on their web site: www.birdies.org.

This band is not only chuck full of fun loving songs and sounds, but their humor and wit is hysterical. While the backbone of the jug band is blues, the repertoire spans a wide variety of musical styles including country dance, string band, ragtime, jazz and popular music always with a light hearted, comical flavor. Described by the Star Ledger, "The Dirdy Birdies approach is seriously irreverent and amiable fun. With washtub and washboard providing a zany beat, the members careen through songs with zestful, infectious glee, trading off lead vocals or singing harmonies."

Bring all the members of your family, Aunt Gladys, Uncle George and all those silly cousins. This is an event for everyone. The Dirdy Birdies will bring your whole family together with a swing and a giggle and even let you sing along.

Make reservations early by calling (908) 753-0190 because this concert is sure to fill our intimate gallery. Tickets are only $10 and our great seating arrangement surrounds the musicians giving them a chance to interact with the audience, which the Dirdy Birdies thrive on.