Jonny‘s Secret Stash - Ep 48 with Bill Bielby and Gene Halton of The Newports

Bass player Bill Bielby and his friends formed a band called The Newports when they were in 8th grade in the south suburbs of Chicago.  Fast forward to an open mic at the Acorn theater in 2014:  Bill called up some of the old members of the band and his friend Jumpin' Gene Halton (on Harmonica) from South Bend and made a plan to play a few songs for old time sake.  Thanks to an article by Larry Von Ebeler praising their work that evening, they decided to keep the music going.  Since that fateful night, they have grown to a 9 member band featuring a brass section, two guitars, Halton on Harmonica, a drummer, and Bielby on Bass.  In 2019, they released their album "Live at the Acorn" and just put out a single, "Goin' Out West" (by Tom Waits); all of which were recorded in Three Oaks by local sound man extraordinaire Evan Margol.  Check out their show at the Acorn Theater on November 27.