Long John and the Tights

Long John and the Tights is an old time string band from Ithaca, New York. We play dance music, fiddle tunes and songs inspired by American country music popular before it splintered off Blues, Bluegrass and Rock & Roll.

We’re available for festivals, concerts, dances, weddings, and parties in the Ithaca area and beyond. For information and bookings call Randi Beckmann at 607 273-1383, or use the contact email address.

“The boinkiest band around” - Richie Stearns

Long John and the Tights will be playing music at these events

Listen to Long John and the Tights

I'm as free a little bird as I can be

This is from the Bound for Glory radio show on 2/4/2007.

Chitlin' Cookin' Time In Cheetham County

Bound for Glory radio show on 2/4/2007

John Brown's Dream

This is from the Bound for Glory radio show on 2/4/2007.

June Apple

This is from the Bound for Glory radio show on 2/4/2007.

North Carolina Breakdown

This is from the Bound for Glory radio show on 2/4/2007.

Grey Eagle Jig

Live at Red Newt - 4/2/2012

Lady of the Lake

Live at Simply Red Newt - 4/2/2012

Photos of Long John and the Tights

Rongo Days Porchfest 2016 Porchfest 2016
Porchfest 2016 Jim on Uke Porchfest 2016
Long John on Fiddle Porchfest
Rongo Getting Wild at Hopshire Hopshire with Jeff

Long John and the Tights Band Members

Photo by Steve Gallow
  • John Hoffmann fiddle and vocals
John Hoffmann, is the fiddler for New Cut Road as well as UpSouth, and Long John & the Tights. John played banjo for The Tompkins County Horseflies in the early 1980’s before he segued to fiddling.  John has garnered a number of awards for his playing at the Mt. Airy,... more...

Photo by Donna Levy
  • Randi Beckmann contact, guitar, and vocals
Randi Beckmann, is the guitar player for New Cut Road as well as UpSouth and Long John & the Tights. Randi began her musical career playing classical flute and attended music school at Ithaca College. Randi happily switched to the Irish flute in the 1990’s and after some arm-twisting began... more...

Photo by Jack Hirschorn
  • Steve Arkin banjos
Steve Arkin grew up in New York’s legendary Washington Square music scene, playing both old-time and bluegrass music in early bands with Jody Stecher, David Grisman, Maria Muldaur and other outstanding musicians. In 1964 Steve played banjo with Bill Monroe (who, in James Rooney’s book, Bossmen, was quoted as saying ”it takes backing... more...

Photo by Janet Cotraccia
  • Sally Freund bass
Sally Freund, is the bass player for Long John and the Tights. Back in the 1980’s Sally danced her way into the hearts of old time musicians when she won 1st place in the dance competition at the Galax Fiddlers Convention. With her roots in dance, she has gone on... more...

Photo by Janet Cotraccia
  • James Reidy website, banjo uke, tenor guitar, and vocals
I started playing banjo uke with the Boston old time band The Chicken Chokers in 1989. On through the years with old time music: The Primitive Characters, Up South, Long John and the Tights, and now New Cut Road. Then there were the other genres: psychobilly with Twang, blues with... more...

Long John and the Tights Contact

Contact Long John and the Tights through this email address.