The Muddy Basin Ramblers are a jug band based in Taipei, Taiwan. The band was started in 2002 by David Chen, who started to learn country blues and fingerpicking on the guitar when he moved to Taiwan.

The band members are all friends and fellow expats who used to spend their free time in the mountains surrounding Taipei, jamming or just making a large racket to escape (or celebrate) chaotic Taipei.

Eventually Dave roped his friends into his musical explorations into early 20th century American music, arming them with pots, pans, kazoos and utilizing their talents on various stringed and brass instruments.

They started out learning a few Robert Johnson songs, and then moved on to classic recordings by the Memphis Jug Band and Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers. They added a jug and a washtub bass to the instrument mix, and presto, they had a jug band!

Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, MC George Willard "Slim" Thelin III is one of the MBR's "utility men" -- he sings, tapdances, plays the jug, kazoo, harmonica, and trombone all while providing the required comfort and hospitality for the most demanding of audiences.

The mild-mannered Conor Prunty never fails to incite a near-riot with his harmonica playing. Like many a musically-inclined Londoner before him, Conor was hooked by early blues recordings he heard as a 2-year old and hasn't looked back since. He has lived in Taiwan for over 10 years. Conor also plays ukulele and washtub bass.

Scotland native Sandy Murray is the "elder" of the band, but he's also the one who's youngest at heart. Sandy plays the tenor and soprano saxes, clarinet, mandolin, guitar, and resonator ukulele. Sandy is a guerrilla copy editor in "real life."

Classically-trained violinist Zoe Moffat honed her fiddling skills with old-time string band Tarrybush before joining the MBRs in 2006. The British Columbia native also sings and plays guitar and mandolin.

Trumpet/Baritone player and washtub bassist TC Lin grew up in Florida, and has lived in Taiwan since the late 80s. When he's not fighting bad karaoke with the trumpet or slapping mad bass riffs on Taiwanese plastic, TC spends his time on photography and making films. Check out www.poagao.org to find out more.

Percussionist Tim Hogan from northern California keeps our time straight or makes it crooked when needed. He plays the washboard, snare drum, or whatever is in his bag at the time.

Lead singer and "jug band conductor" David Chen grew up in Chillicothe, Ohio, and plays the guitar, mandolin, banjo, and ukulele every moment he can spare. He has lived in Taiwan since 1997. Contrary to popular belief, David is not a police officer.