Johnny and The Apple Stompers are an Americana and bluegrass band with jazz, folk and country influences. They began playing together after Johnny Miller and Cory Grinder met in Cuyahoga Falls while both were playing as street musicians. They were unsatisfied with much of today’s music and took an “old timey” approach when starting their band to create the music they wanted to hear.
One of the unique aspects of this band is their versatility in playing other instruments and their ever-changing lineup. “We are known for having a revolving cast of musicians,” said Grinder. “It will never be the same show twice,” added Miller.
Miller and Grinder are the band’s primary members but they have many friends who play off and on with them such as Shawn Wee (fiddle, mandolin, harmonica) and Steve Gil (banjo, guitar, vocals), among many others. “They will play anything we ask them to, usually. Lots of washboard players, banjo players and all sorts of things,” explained Grinder about other players.
The two have played a wide variety of venues over the years, ranging from flea markets to weddings.
“We like being able to book private gigs, because it gives us a little bit of freedom to cater to people more,” said Grinder. “We do a lot of different types of shows. I mean, it’s interesting when you play daycares or hospitals on the same day that you play a show with metal bands.”
Johnny and The Apple Stompers’ album, “Down The Line,” is available on Spotify. Miller and Grinder also play in a honkey tonk band called Rodney and the Regulars, which also performs throughout Northeast Ohio. For more information, visit the band’s Facebook page.
