Maria Muldaur  –  “America’s First Lady of Roots Music” –  is joining the faculty of the 2017 Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Workshop, and will return to her roots: Jug Band Music, lighthearted “Good Time Music for Hard Times”.

Maria is best known world-wide for her 1974 mega-hit “Midnight at the Oasis,”which received several Grammy nominations, and enshrined her forever in the hearts of Baby Boomers everywhere; but despite her considerable pop music success, her 50-year career could best be described a long and adventurous odyssey through the various forms of American Roots Music. During the folk revival of the early ’60s, she began exploring and singing early Blues, Bluegrass and Appalachian “Old Timey” Music, beginning her recording career in 1963 with the Even Dozen Jug Band and shortly thereafter, joining the very popular Jim Kweskin Jug Band, touring and recording with them throughout the ’60s.

In Port Townsend, longtime collaborator Chris Burns will join her on piano. Together they will teach blues vocals, and in the afternoon they will be joined by the Crow Quill Night Owls and do a Jug Band Lab.

The Crow Quill Night Owls are a band that plays jug band, jazz, and string band music of the 1920’s and 1930’s. were formed in 2007 by guitarist Kit “Stymee” Stovepipe and tenor banjoist Windy City Alex. They’ve since added Baylin Adahere on washtub bass.