jug band

American  

noun

1. a small group of performers who play chiefly blues or folk music on makeshift or very simple instruments, as washboards, harmonicas, kazoos, and empty jugs, the latter being played by blowing across the openings.

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jug band British  

noun

1. a small group playing folk or jazz music, using empty jugs that are played by blowing across their openings to produce bass notes

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Etymology

Origin of jug band

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jug band

At age 16, he met Garcia, 21, in Palo Alto, Calif., and they formed a jug band, shifting to electric instruments following the rapid popularity of the Beatles in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026

Weir met Garcia on New Year’s Eve, 1963, at a Palo Alto music store, and soon formed the jug band Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions with Garcia and future Dead bandmate Ron “Pigpen” McKernan.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2026

Lots of times we just jam, make stuff up, riff on old-timey jug band, jazz or Irish veins.

From New York Times ● Aug. 20, 2022

The jug band sound came from Paul King blowing into a glass bottle while playing banjo.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 10, 2020

As well as 60's psychedelia, the group's albums show the influence of jazz, bluegrass, mainstream pop and even their early days as a jug band.

From BBC ● May 8, 2017