photos by Deone Jahnke

We are a Milwaukee, WI based acoustic trio featuring: Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele, Harmonica and banjo. Our repertoire spans the breadth of many traditional styles including Old-Time, Celtic and regional instrumental dance music, Blues, Ragtime, Ballads and original compositions. We pride ourselves on being both eclectic and entertaining. All of our band members are capable of teaching instrumental workshops as well as playing for dances (when ever this is a part of the festival experience).   Both individually and collectively we have garnered many local and national awards from having been voted best bluegrass band in Wisconsin (WAMI), to Lil Revs’ national awards as a 1996 National Blues Harmonica Champion and a 2003 inductee into the Traditional Old-time Country Music Hall of Fame in Missouri Valley, Iowa.  Some of the regional festivals we have performed at include: Irish Fest (Milwaukee, WI), Wheatland Traditional Arts Festival (Remus, MI), and Cecil Bluegrass Festival (Cecil, WI) to name a few.

“A Milwaukee super-group.”

-Shepherd Express

“Frogwaters’ easy stage performance and eclectic repertoire had folks jumpin’ for joy and thirsty for more.”

-Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Marcia Theel (Director)

Click here to visit http://www.frogwater.us, the official Frogwater web site.

John Nicholson and Lil' Rev (Acoustic Blues and Old Time Duo)

John & Rev perform their toe-tappin' brand of Acoustic music all over the Midwest, from schools and libraries to festivals and brew-pubs.

Hailing from the Cream City (Milwaukee, WI), John & Rev are two award winning musicians.  Voted best acoustic act in Milwaukee in 1996-1997 by the Shepherd Express Reader's Choice Poll, as well as being voted best Bluegrass Act In Wisconsin by the WAMI organization in both 2000 and 2001 (John & Rev make up one-half of the eclectic band Frogwater).  As if this weren't enough Lil' Rev is Hohner Harmonica's 1996 National Blues Harp champion at Avoca Iowa's Old Time Music Fest. 

Expect to hear Old Time Blues, Mountain Banjo Ballads and Breakdowns, Tin-Pan Alley Standards, Waltzes, Polkas, Jigs, Reels Novelty Numbers, Ragtime, Folk-Song, sing-alongs as well as Original compositions.  Together, John & Rev play over ten different musical instruments including: banjo, harmonica, guitar, ukulele, tipple, slide/steel guitar, recorder, mandolin, and kazoo ... though not all at once!

 Combine John & Rev's broad ranging repertoire with instrumental excellence and a knack for storytelling and you've created a wonderful evening of entertainment.

 

Note:  John and Rev are two thirds of the eclectic string band Frogwater.  Frogwater is available for performances at dances, weddings, festivals, and pubs.  For more information please go to:

(click to enlarge)