Jonas Friddle is a singer, songwriter and Old-Time banjo player whose songs have received The John Lennon Songwriting Award, First Place in the Great American Song Contest and a nomination for Album of the Year in the Independent Music Awards. His tunes bear the marks of a musician who has done his time in pub sessions and square dance halls, and his writing is full of imagery, honesty and humor.
Friddle was raised in the mountains of North Carolina and learned to play guitar on a yard sale Harmony six string. He was already writing songs by the time he got to Kentucky at age eighteen. There, the bluegrass pickin’ and old-time dances turned him on to the power and joy of traditional folk music. He added a mandolin, fiddle and banjo to his arsenal and got a job slapping bass with the college bluegrass band. After serving his time in higher education, he spent a year traveling around the world playing music in pubs and living rooms. In 2007 Jonas landed in Chicago, started the Barehand Jugband, the Sleepy Lou Old-Time duo and began teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Since then he has released multiple studio albums under his own name and with the folk supergroup “The Majority.” During that time his music has won multiple awards and been featured online at American Songwriter, Huffington Post and Paste.
Recent years have brought Friddle’s focus back to songwriting and with the release of his latest album “The Last Place to Go” he puts out his best songs yet. A collection of sung stories backed by the sound of drums, fiddle, dobro, electric guitar, bass, organ and trumpet.
Jonas Friddle Trio Members
The Jonas Friddle Trio includes Anna Jacobson and Andrew Wilkins. Here’s a sample performance from White Oak Savanna for you to enjoy:
What Others Say About Jonas Friddle
Their sound is at once huge and intimate…Their enthusiasm is infectious. I was grinning like an idiot and bouncing along before I realized what was happening to me. ~ Erica Elam, The Chicago Reader
The electricity from the band took the crowd by force. I couldn’t help but smile and clap along at the songs. Not only did the band play well – but they all looked ecstatic doing so. ~ Pete Kosmal, Midwest Action
just…stunning. They felt like home and I love them for that. ~ Samantha, Folk Hive
...good music with an inventive and creative twist… ~ M.V. Casey, Banjo Hangout
Find out more about Jonas Friddle here:
- Website: https://jonasfriddle.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonasFriddleMusic
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Friddle
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/barehandedproduction
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/520ITCsGsBGygf6deJiAK0
Sundays on the Square – celebrate music & summer outdoors
Sundays on the Square in 2022 run every Sunday, June 26 – Sept 4, except for July 17 (the Woodstock Folk Festival is always scheduled the third Sunday in July).
Enjoy some great bands from 5:00 – 7:00 pm (noon – 7:00 pm on the opening Sunday, June 26). We gather on the historic Woodstock Square, Cass & Van Buren Streets, Woodstock IL 60098. Shows vary, some with one and some with two acts, featuring local, regional, and national talent.
Restaurants on the Square are usually open on these evenings with carry-out items, but please confirm with specific places. Of course you can bring your own food items and picnic on the Square. Also, be sure to bring chairs!
Sunday evenings on the Square are always a memorable part of summer in the Woodstock area. Watch this website for updates and specifics on the bands. Better yet, subscribe to our email list if you aren’t already on it!
Upcoming July performances
- July 31 – Arranmore
Donations cheerfully accepted here (left column)
These FREE summer concerts are brought to you by Off Square Music, the Woodstock Opera House, grants with support from the Illinois Arts Council, Arts & Culture for Woodstock and Hotel/Motel Use Fund — as well as your generous donations. It truly takes a village (and a state, and a few cities, a couple of guys with wagons and an ice cream vendor).
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