The Vaudevillian are Jitterbug James & Norah Spades, a husband-and-wife duo from Saugeen Shores, Ontario, who play washboard, resonator guitar, banjo, harmonica, and musical spoons like they’re trying to revive the entire Prohibition era in a single set. Their jug band ragtime blues pulls dancers out of their chairs and keeps them there – rowdy, joyful, and impossible to resist.
Now on their 11th anniversary “Ballyhoo Bunny Tour,” this award-winning pair has performed at festivals, theatres, and concert halls across Canada, the United States, Europe, and the UK.
At Deep Roots they’ll be your Friday night main stage hosts, playing a short set of their own before shepherding the evening’s festivities – and returning Saturday afternoon for a family show at the Festival Tent in Waterfront Park.
Don’t miss their hands-on Washboard Workshop Saturday – they’ve taught over 6,000 participants so far, and they’re just getting warmed up.
Here is a rendition of the Hokum Boys song “They Caught us Doing It” (1936).
Big thanks to Bradley Hofstede @hoff_steady for filming this video.
☞ 1930’s Jugband Ragtime Blues
“The jugband tunes from the award winning 1930’s duo,
The Vaudevillian consists of the old fashioned gentleman, Jitterbug James & sweet & sassy Norah Spades.
This ragtime duo brings you dancing numbers from the prohibition period!
Thank goodness PROHIBITION IS OVER!
In addition to performing at Festivals & Theatres around Canada, The USA & Europe, they host interactive Washboard Workshops and interactive Musical Spoon Workshops all across the country and to date have taught over 2000+ participants.
