Banana Slug String Band

The Banana Slug String Band has spent over 40 years proving that the fastest way to learn about ecosystems is a good song and a well-timed puppet. Based out of Santa Cruz, the four-piece (Doug “Dirt,” “Airy” Larry, “Solar” Steve, and “Marine” Mark) started out teaching outdoor education in the California redwoods and never really stopped, they just added guitars. Since then, they’ve performed for over 2 million people across 40 states and 5 countries, released 12 award-winning albums with titles like Dirt Made My Lunch and Decomposition, and played Strawberry Music Festival nearly 40 times. Their live shows blend folk, blues, reggae, and rock with puppetry, sing-alongs, and full-body costumes. Yes, including a talking redwood tree! Don’t let the kid-friendly format fool you: grown adults have been known to leave humming about the water cycle.

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