Founded in 1995, the core group consists of Sherri Farley, Skip Sittig, Joy (Sittig) Ortiz, and Jim Johnson. Their diverse music ranges from gentle waltzes to driven bluegrass, intermingled with smooth vocal numbers and novelty arrangements. Located in north-central Illinois, the band performs throughout Illinois and surrounding states. Appearances (performance highlights) have included the Chicago Botanic Gardens, the grand opening of the Chicago Museum Campus, downstate bluegrass festivals, and much in between. Their first instrumental CD, Shade Tree Recollections, was titled in honor of all the songs learned and friends made at jams beneath old shade trees. Their newest CD, This Place in Time, includes some vocal favorites by Skip and Joy. Often called “happy” and "soothing," the band's flavor of dulcimer music is best described as “old fashioned, toe-tapping fun.”

Sherri's love of dulcimer music grew from a Christmas recording of handcrafted mountain instruments. In 1990, she purchased a mountain dulcimer and familiarized herself with playing in the traditional mountain style. Attending a dulcimer festival a year later, she came upon the larger, multi-stringed hammered dulcimer and was taken with its beautiful tones and visual playing patterns. Sherri was awarded an Illinois Arts Council Master/Apprentice grant to study the Hammerd Dulcimer. Her distinctive style is evident, as are the curious flexible corset stay hammers and obscure right bridge tuning method she uses. An accomplished performer, Sherri has been called a "true artist" and her presentations reflect her enthusiasm for this distinctive art form.

An active supporter of HANDS (Hammers and Noters Dulcimer Society), Sherri co-organized annual spring fund-raising concerts benefiting the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival. In the bluegrass community, she assisted with monthly jam sessions, and formerly served on the board of directors of the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association.

One of the greatest surprises and pleasures the music has brought into her personal life is the circle of wonderful people and ensuing friendships. She is reminded of her first major bluegrass festival, where a friend commented on how much he enjoyed returning to the festival year after year. "It's like a family reunion," he said, "except you like everyone!" An anecdote Sherri enjoys sharing is to pass along a WARNING! she read in one of her early dulcimer books. It warned, "Dulcimer playing is addictive!" ...something to which she readily agrees, but quickly adds that as addictions go, one could do worse.

An original member of the group, Skip Sittig's versatile talents lend much to performances, including guitar, bass, vocals, and whatever he makes up off the top of his head. Skip's bio coming soon...

Joy (Sittig) Ortiz,  has been playing bass since her sophomore year in high school. Taught by her father, Skip Sittig, Joy's lessons consisted mostly of jamming with bluegrass musicians at the monthly Harding Bluegrass Jam while Skip called out chords to her. She is accustomed to the fast-paced drive of bluegrass music as well as the diversity offered by Sherri Farley's band. Through the course of the past several years, Joy has played (in alphabetical order) bluegrass, blues, Christmas, classic rock, cowboy, gospel, old-timely, originally composed, plain old rock, polka, praise and worship, punk rock, Texas swing, and waltzes, as well as others she cannot remember off the top of her head.

In her spare time, Joy enjoys sewing, reading, and polishing her boots. She received her Associates in Design from the College of DuPage. Joy utilized her design talents by creating her own wedding gown when this past summer, she was wed to Brandon Ortiz. The couple happily resides in Ottawa. (See wedding photos.)

Jim Johnson, the newest member to our group is Jim Johnson, an extremely accomplished flat-pick guitar player. Jim's bio coming soon...


 

Performance Highlights

* Concert performances have included many memorable places including the Chicago Botanic Gardens at Christmastime, the beautiful renovated Sandwich Opera House, Lombard's Maple Street Chapel, the Sandwich Fair, and an appearance on WTTW-Channel 11's Center Stage Program.
* Open House entertainment for venues small and large, from specialty shops to the grand opening of downtown Chicago's Field Museum Campus. The band's melodic background music provides a special ambiance for special events at historical sites, village celebrations and Christmas walks.
* Festival appearances include the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival, Northern Illinois folk festivals, and downstate bluegrass festivals where the band has shared billings with bluegrass legends Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Jimmy Martin, and Rhonda Vincent.
* Private engagements such as club or corporate banquets, parties and weddings.