By Staff
NILES - Take a journey through time with the sounds of The Time Travelers String Band, a three-member group specializing in Americana, Bluegrass, and early Jazz.
Historic American melodies are blended with contemporary songs and story telling.
The Time Travelers will be performing this Sunday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Cafe, located at 219 N. Front St., Niles, as part of the Niles Bluegrass and Americana Concert Series.
The group has performed at concerts, festivals, schools, promotional events, restaurants and coffee houses. Members are: Tom Heminger on banjo, guitar and mandolin; Rick Schpok on guitar and Dobro; and Andy Knapp on bass. All members sing lead and harmony.
Tom Heminger grew up in a family of bluegrass musicians. His grandparents, parents, uncles, and cousins played bluegrass and country music in Ohio and Indiana. Tom decided to play banjo when he was 12-years-old after seeing a Flatt and Scruggs concert. Doc Watson, Chet Atkins and Jimmie Rogers are some of Tom's other early influences.
For the past 35 years, Tom has played with various groups in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Rick Schpok is originally from Dowagiac and has been a guitarist for groups in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas. He started his first bluegrass band in 1970 with his brothers playing banjo and bass. Rick has played in bands featuring bluegrass, western swing, country and jazz.
He has played with The Mason-Dixon Line, Crystal Canyon, Road Dust, The Shiftless Bums, The Sweet Potato Band and Whiplash.
Andy Knapp has been playing acoustic bass in folk and bluegrass groups around Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois for 30 years. Andy's father was a musician, playing bass with jazz and dance bands. Andy's favorites are Duke Ellington, Doc Watson, David Grisman and John Hartford.