2nd South Carolina String Band
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Historical reenactment |
| Founded | August 1989 |
| Founder | Joe Ewers, Fred Ewers, John Frayler, Dave Goss, Bob Beeman |
| Defunct | 2019 |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Joe Ewers, Fred Ewers, Dave Goss, Bob Beeman, Mike Paul, Joe Whitney, Tom DiGiuseppe |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Number of employees | 7 (final lineup) |
| Website | www |
The 2nd South Carolina String Band consisted of Civil War reenactors who specialized in performing authentic 19th-century American music using instruments from that period. Their objective was to replicate the musical experience as it would have been heard by soldiers during the Civil War.
Established in August 1989 by Joe Ewers, Fred Ewers, John Frayler, Dave Goss, and Bob Beeman, the group began informally at reenactment events before extending their performances to include dances and public concerts. Over time, the ensemble expanded to seven members and incorporated additional instruments such as the fife, flute, and penny whistle.
The band produced six albums under Palmetto Productions. Their work was featured in Ken Burns' documentary series Mark Twain and Jazz, and they contributed both performances and soundtrack material to Ronald F. Maxwell's film Gods and Generals. In recognition of their efforts to preserve 19th-century American music, they were honored with the Stephen Collins Foster Award in 2004. The final roster comprised Joe Ewers (banjo), Fred Ewers (fiddle), Dave Goss (guitar), Bob Beeman (tambourine & bones), Mike Paul (fiddle), Joe Whitney (flute), and Tom DiGiuseppe (banjo).
Past members included Marty Grody (fife, tin whistle), John Frayler (military drum), and Greg Hernandez (fife).
Although the band officially dissolved in 2019, they reunited for a farewell performance on November 15, 2024, held at Gettysburg Middle School in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Discography
- The Monmouth Tapes (1991)
- Southern Soldier (1997)
- Hard Road (2001; a compilation combining We're Tenting Tonight (1991) and We are a Band of Brothers (1993))
- In High Cotton (2002)
- Dulcem Melodies (2006)
- Lightning in a Jar [Live] (2008)
- Strike the Tent! (2013)
- Ain't Dead Yet! (2017)
Videos
- The Monmouth Tapes (1991)
- Far, Far from Home (2000)