Okie Doke
1974-1981 Duvall, WA
AKA The Okie Doke Stringband AKA The Okie Doke Band
Folk, Roots, Americana, Jug Band, Country, Blues, Skiffle
- Listed in King County Arts Commission Catalog of Performing Artists
- Toured for the Washington State Arts Commission
- Performed at Festivals, Fairs, Bars, Clubs, Taverns, Civic and Private Events from Puget Sound to the SF Bay Area
- Washington State Fair, Evergreen State Fair, Benton County Fair, King County Fair, Jefferson County Fair, Good Earth Expo
- Basements, barns, backyard decks, living rooms, hay bale stages, back street gambling parlors, street corners...
- Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
- KRAB Radio, Seattle - Multiple live shows and guest appearances
- KFAT Radio, Gilroy - Live from The Keystone Palo Alto
- KUSP Radio, Santa Cruz - Live from Festival of Saws
- NW Regional Folklife Festival 1975-1980 - Participants, Featured Performers, Workshop Leaders
- On King Noodle Records
AKA The Okie Doke Stringband AKA The Okie Doke Band
Folk, Roots, Americana, Jug Band, Country, Blues, Skiffle
- Listed in King County Arts Commission Catalog of Performing Artists
- Toured for the Washington State Arts Commission
- Performed at Festivals, Fairs, Bars, Clubs, Taverns, Civic and Private Events from Puget Sound to the SF Bay Area
- Washington State Fair, Evergreen State Fair, Benton County Fair, King County Fair, Jefferson County Fair, Good Earth Expo
- Basements, barns, backyard decks, living rooms, hay bale stages, back street gambling parlors, street corners...
- Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
- KRAB Radio, Seattle - Multiple live shows and guest appearances
- KFAT Radio, Gilroy - Live from The Keystone Palo Alto
- KUSP Radio, Santa Cruz - Live from Festival of Saws
- NW Regional Folklife Festival 1975-1980 - Participants, Featured Performers, Workshop Leaders
- On King Noodle Records
The Okie Doke Stringband
- Dan Kersten - (left) - Vocals, guitar, dobro, mandolin - Quentin Rhoton - (center) - Washtub bass - Marc Bristol - (right) - Vocals, guitar, washboard, saw |
"Minnie The Moocher" (Cab Calloway)
"Milk Cow Blues" (Kokomo Arnold) - Dan Kersten - Lead Vocal, Guitar - Marc Bristol - Washboard, BG Vox - Quentin Rhoton - Washtub Bass "Mississippi River Blues" (Jimmie Rodgers) - Marc Bristol - Lead Vocal, Guitar, Harmonica - Dan Kersten - Dobro, BG Vox - Quentin Rhoton - Washtub Bass Recorded live at The Festival of Saws Santa Cruz, CA 1980 |
We were fortunate to have many talented guest artists sit in with us over the years.
Here are a few good friends and great musicians who helped us make magic on the stage and on vinyl:
Bill Thurman - Pat Brougham - Barry Rice - Reggie Miles - Billy Hults - Johnnie Ward - Ed Littlefield Jr. - Biff Bracht - Jef Jaisun
Thank you to all! And thanks to our many fans, we love you!
Here are a few good friends and great musicians who helped us make magic on the stage and on vinyl:
Bill Thurman - Pat Brougham - Barry Rice - Reggie Miles - Billy Hults - Johnnie Ward - Ed Littlefield Jr. - Biff Bracht - Jef Jaisun
Thank you to all! And thanks to our many fans, we love you!
Ruby Theater, Chelan WA. Okie Doke became a quartet in 1978 with the addition of Larry VanOver, who continued with us through 1979
L to R: Dan Kersten-Dobro; Larry VanOver-Vocals & Guitar; Quentin Rhoton-Washtub Bass; Marc Bristol-Guitar
L to R: Dan Kersten-Dobro; Larry VanOver-Vocals & Guitar; Quentin Rhoton-Washtub Bass; Marc Bristol-Guitar
"Milk Cow Blues" from our BIG 7" Vinyl EP KN1001 - Recorded by Neville Pearsall, Seattle - 1977
Dan Kersten-Vocals & Guitar; Marc Bristol-Washboard; Quentin Rhoton-Washtub Bass; Larry VanOver-Mandolin
And Featuring Bill Thurman-Guitar and Barry Rice-Accordion
Dan Kersten-Vocals & Guitar; Marc Bristol-Washboard; Quentin Rhoton-Washtub Bass; Larry VanOver-Mandolin
And Featuring Bill Thurman-Guitar and Barry Rice-Accordion
Not all of us wore cowboy hats all the time
Photo by Tom Matthiesen, Duvall, WA - 1978
Left to Right: Quentin Rhoton, Larry "Mr. Jug" VanOver, Marc Bristol, Dan Kersten
Photo by Tom Matthiesen, Duvall, WA - 1978
Left to Right: Quentin Rhoton, Larry "Mr. Jug" VanOver, Marc Bristol, Dan Kersten
The Keystone, Palo Alto, CA
The Wind Blew Inn, North Bend, WA
|
The Place, Seattle, WA
|
|
|
|
The Keystone, Palo Alto, CA - 1980
Left to Right: Kersten, Rhoton, Bristol
Broadcast live on KFAT Radio, Gilroy, CA
Left to Right: Kersten, Rhoton, Bristol
Broadcast live on KFAT Radio, Gilroy, CA
Opening for Dan Hicks and His Acoustic Warriors - The Rainbow Tavern Seattle - 1978
Left to Right: Kersten, Rhoton, VanOver, Bristol
Photo by Eddie Rodriguez
Left to Right: Kersten, Rhoton, VanOver, Bristol
Photo by Eddie Rodriguez
Opening for The David Bromberg Band - Montana's, Seattle - 1979
Yes, there was a mechanical bull. Yes, some of us rode it. Very briefly.
Left to Right: Kersten, VanOver, Bristol, Rhoton
Photo by Eddie Rodriguez
Yes, there was a mechanical bull. Yes, some of us rode it. Very briefly.
Left to Right: Kersten, VanOver, Bristol, Rhoton
Photo by Eddie Rodriguez
At The Tumbleweed Motel somewhere in the High Desert. Can't remember exactly where.
No room service, no luggage cart, no ice. Just tumbleweeds...
No room service, no luggage cart, no ice. Just tumbleweeds...
A Recent Performance
Okie Doke Reunion - July 9, 2022 - "Seattle Zoo" - Club Tolt Stage, Carnation WA - Henley Hennhaus Memorial
L to R - Dan Kersten-Lead Guitar & BG Vox / Quentin Rhoton-Washtub Bass / Marc Bristol-Lead Vocal & Rhythm Guitar
Forty one years since our last performance together!
L to R - Dan Kersten-Lead Guitar & BG Vox / Quentin Rhoton-Washtub Bass / Marc Bristol-Lead Vocal & Rhythm Guitar
Forty one years since our last performance together!
Footnote: Okie Doke was created in 1974 when founding members Bristol, Rhoton, and Kersten were brought together by neighbor and fellow musician Pat Brougham. In 1978 the band became a quartet with the addition of Larry "Mr. Jug" VanOver. Larry left and the band became a trio once again in 1979. Kersten left the band in 1981 to pursue other musical interests, and Rhoton exited thereafter as well. Bristol retained the Okie Doke name, keeping it alive, and gigging with it for many years, staffing the band with a rotating cast of many outstanding and well known local players. All this while fronting the File Gumbo Zydeco Band and later, Honky Tonk Sweethearts with his wife Gaby. They remain very active.
Marc is also a published author and was the founder and editor of the widely acclaimed paper-and-ink roots music magazine Blue Suede News.
Marc is also a published author and was the founder and editor of the widely acclaimed paper-and-ink roots music magazine Blue Suede News.
Thanks to Marc Bristol for contributing archived content on this page
