van Mertsh and the driftwood bank combination is a dynamic trio featuring resonator guitar, upright bass, ukulele, mandolin, fiddle, foot drum/washboard kit, harmonica and assorted noise makers is an upbeat, crooning, vaudevillian, Tin Pan Alley jug band style outfit doing tongue in cheek renditions of eclectic, atypical, cross-genre tunes of all pop music eras from the early 20th century through today raring to entertain your private party or public event with a high energy set list suitable for all ages.
This exquisite combo is readily available for up to 4 hour shows and open to quarterly, bi-monthly, monthly and even weekly residencies with reasonably negotiable rates of $400 or less!
We had Van Mertsh out to play at our 55+ independent living community. He did a great job, and had really good energy! Our residents enjoyed his music as he played a mix of original music and classics that they knew. It is definitely a unique musical experience, and worth bringing him in!
Response from Van Mertsh and The Marshy Roots:
It was a pleasure performing for the residents at Connect55. I’d do it again anytime! Thanks Todd
Price Range: Contact for rates
Languages: English
Entertainment suitable for all ages
Hello from Van Mertsh and the driftwood bank!
This is a solo combo that offers your guests a uniquely entertaining experience with a wide range of original works and eclectic covers dynamically delivered on resonator guitar, harmonica, vocals and a suitcase/washboard foot drum kit in a performance suitable for all ages.
With decades of experience on guitar, Van Mertsh has performed at venues and festivals from coast to coast and border to border featuring a slap-tickle, claw-hammer style of upbeat Americana licks with ragtimey turnarounds inciting a wave toe tapping, knee slapping and dancing amongst the audience.
Past shows include breweries in Colorado such as O’Dell, Prost, Banded Oak and Coda as well as Finn’s Manor, Improper, The Forge, Hostel Fish, Mercury Cafe, Dazzle, Lustre Pearl and in the KC area at Replay Lounge, Lucia, Northside Social, Gaslight Gardens, Louie’s 10th St Lounge, Chartreuse Saloon, 3Trails Brewing, Transparent Brewing, Empty Nester’s Winery, Happy Basset Brewing Co., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen, Apex Aleworks, West Bottoms Whiskey Co., Fountain City Winery and many more establishments around Tulsa, Portland, Norfolk and Chicago.
Other events and festivals featuring this solo combo are Denver Art Walk, Mile High Flea Market, Boulder Denver and Longmont Farmers Markets, Skokie backlot bash, Walnut Valley Festival, Lenexa Farmers Market, International Church of Cannabis, VFW Topeka, Abdullah Shriners, an assortment of senior living facilities, and not to mention countless private parties, open mics and hours busking the streets of cities all over the country.
It would be a pleasure to add your establishment to the ever growing list of places performed. Please enjoy the videos linked below from the recent shows. Thanks for listening, your time and consideration is most appreciated, looking forward to hearing back from you soon! Cheers
https://youtu.be/nEb7SjuMqHA?si=s0EFzCyJf2ycB4ln
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https://www.gigsalad.com/van_mertsh_and_the_marshy_roots_lawrence
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I bring a battery powered amp to run my guitar and mic through which has a line out if you have a PA.
Zelle, Apple Pay, Paypal, and Venmo accepted (link hidden)
| January 09, 2025 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm | Nonprofit Event |
| May 03, 2024 • 7:00pm - 9:00pm | Birthday Party |
| July 12, 2023 • 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Cocktail Party |
| March 05, 2023 • 9:00pm - 10:00pm | Gothic Cowboy review |
| March 03, 2023 • 10:00pm - 11:30pm | Live at Lucia |
| February 09, 2023 • 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Live at West Bottoms Whiskey |
30+ originals and an eclectic mix of songs from every decade since the 1920’s
Bluegrass, ragtime, rockabilly, swing, rock
What you see is what you get in the video.
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1 Verified Booking Ben C. said “We hired Sass Monkey for a party at our house. They absolutely rocked it! Super talented and put on a great show!”
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7 Verified Bookings Steven said “These guys came thru! Great band. Played music for 30-70 year olds. Very professional! Would hire them again! Had most people dancing all night!”
Columbia, MO
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14 Verified Bookings Rebecca O. said “I had a seriously tall order in a band… I needed them to DJ and be MC; learn new songs for the dances; and set up / breakdown within a specific timeframe…”
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