About the Chokers

Back in the 1980's in Cambridge, MA

The Chicken Chokers got together in 1979 for the fun of playing driving, irreverent old time string band music in little bars around Boston. We kept at it through the 80's, touring and playing at Newport, Wheatlands and other festivals, and recording one LP on Rounder Records with the Tompkins County Horseflies, and a second Rounder LP on our own. Eventually we had to put music on the back burner as careers and families took over.

Cooking again in 2006

When Chad, Stefan, and Jim wound up living in the same little town in upstate New York Chip got the idea to travel out from Boston with Paul to see what would happen if we played again. We booked a little gig in the local bar, threw a set list together, and had a great night. A few months later we spent a weekend in Chad's studio and recorded a cd of some of our old favorites. We got hired to play the Blue Heron festival and Grassroots in 2007 and had a great time doing it.

Into the Future

We'll be at Grassroots again in 2008, and we've been invited back to Wheatlands after 21 years. In the spring of 2008 The Field Recorder's Collective is releasing recordings of the Chicken Chokers shows at The Eagle Tavern in NYC in November of 1985 and at the The Great Hudson River Revival festival in June of 1986. And, as always, we'll be looking for a few good gigs.