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SpYder Stompers

The SpYder Stompers cook up a tasty spread of foot-stompin’ pre-war acoustic country blues, ragtime and string band classics. The members are vocalists and multi-instrumentalists and the quartet team up leading tunes out of music genres which were popular during the first half of the 20th century.


The original trio, the SpYder Stompers, have been performing together for more than 30 years and held a monthly performance spot for decades at the Barking Spider Tavern in Cleveland's cultural University Circle. The group includes Kevin T. Richards, Jack DiAlesandro, and Ray DeForest.

Instrumentation includes acoustic guitars, fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, washboard, banjo, penny whistle, flute, harmonica and acoustic bass. All of the artists are vocalists. Performing over a thousand gigs over the years, they were featured at the Brooklyn New York Folk Festival in April 2014 and performed again at the famous Brooklyn New York Jalopy Theater in 2015.

From outdoor concerts and festivals to school assemblies and libraries, (the) SpYder Stompers are guaranteed fun!

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Repertoire

The SpYder Stompers and Sugar Pie perform their own special blend of country blues and ragtime tunes showcasing early 20th century music.


Pre War country blues tunes include:
  • Didn't He Ramble (Charlie Poole)
  • Ain't Nobody's Business (Mississippi John Hurt)
  • Girlish Days (Memphis Minnie)
  • St. Louis Blues (Bessie Smith)
  • King Edward’s Blues (Blind Willie McTell)
  • Joliet Bound (Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie)
  • Stomp That Thing (Frank Stokes)

Old time fiddle/whistle tunes and ragtime pieces include:
  • Angeline the Baker
  • Elk River Blues
  • Water Bound
  • The Dallas Rag
  • Buck Dancer's Choice
  • Shuffle Rag
  • Jackson's Cow Cow Stomp
  • New Camp Meeting in Georgia

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These guys and gal know what they're doing, and they obviously enjoy playing together. Hearing them do it will put you in good company.
Review: Rambles.NET.