This is bourbon country – as we all know (and love). Bourbon is like Louisville’s magic liquid: it draws people in, it keeps people here, it creates all sorts of jobs, and it fosters all sorts of creativity – and not just because alcohol can be good for the creative spirit (please drink responsibly, people). In movies about the “Olden Days,” grizzled men will pass around one of those big whiskey jugs (and exactly why don’t we still drink whiskey out of those anymore, by the way?). At the turn of the 20th century, in a state already soaked through with amazing traditional and folk music, these jugs, once emptied, provided the inspiration for a whole new sound – and the jug band was born.
Now, Louisville celebrates this unique form of music every year with the National Jug Band Jubilee, which takes place on the third weekend in September. That’s a ways off, but for anyone interested in the subject, the Filson Historical Society hosts journalist Michael L. Jones as he gives a presentation on his recently released book, Louisville Jug Music: From Earl McDonald to the National Jubilee. Odds are you’ve seen Jones’ work; along with serving on the board of directors for the annual Jubilee, he has also written for The Courier Journal, LEO, The Jeffersonville Evening News, the Louisville Defender, and Highlander Newspaper.
This event takes place on Thursday, January 8 at 6:00 at the Library at Oxmoor Farm, located at 720 Oxmoor Avenue. Admission is free for members of the Filson Historical Society, or $10 for nonmembers. Complete details, as well as online ticket sales, can be found at the FHS website.
Image courtesy of the FHS website.
