Hailing from the mountain towns of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland, the Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers draw freely from old-time, bluegrass, jamgrass, rockabilly, and swing music to create their own brand of high energy Appalachian Bluegrass. Their goal is simple: write good songs, honor the music, have fun, and take it to the road.

Gary Antol (songwriter, guitar, vocals) and Libby Eddy (fiddle, vocals) formed the band in 2014. Since then they have released several CDs including The Lane Change (2015), White Lightning Road (2016), Live at the Blue Plate Special (2016), and Sleep Creek Harfest (2017). The powerful songwriting, mesmerizing vocals and hard-driving rhythms of the Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers have earned them a growing national following.

An enormously popular band on the festival circuit, The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers performed at the Emerging Artist Showcase at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in 2016, to high acclaim. The band has also performed at Baygrass Bluegrass, Great Blue Heron, Smoked Country Jam, Hickory Fest, and many more. Television appearances include WGN America’s “Outsiders”; Live from Center Stage in Cape Cod; and KDKA Pittsburgh. WDVX (Knoxville) has twice featured the band on their Blue Plate Special show.

The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers have opened for The Steep Canyon Rangers, Town Mountain, The Black Lillies, Pure Prairie League, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Larry Keel, Jeff Austin, and Cabinet.

Accompanying Gary Antol and Libby Eddy are Evan Bell (upright bass; formerly with the Hackensaw Boys) and Ray Bruckman (mandolin, fiddle, vocals; formerly with Grand Ole’ Ditch).