At its heart, a jug band is a string band, with inexpensive or homemade instruments added for variety or attention-grabbing effect. In addition to the namesake instrument, which plays the role of a tuba, early jug bands used a kazoo to mimic a trumpet on jazz numbers, and established the harmonica as a lead instrument on blues numbers. Later bands introduced washboards and washtub basses to the rhythm section.

The first documented use of the jug comes from rural string bands around 1900, but the novelty of the jug band instruments became a winning formula for urban buskers and professional entertainers by the 1920's. The format was popular enough by 1930 to trigger a wave of commercial recordings, but receded back to the streets as swing and then R&B became the hot new styles. By the 1950's, jug band music was retro enough to capture the imagination of a new generation, and inspired musicians from John Lennon to Jerry Garcia to start their own bands.

Playing in a jug band remains an excellent way to connect with early American music, as well to explore the variety of musical genres that have arisen during its 100+ year lifespan. It's no wonder that the Portland All-Star Jug Band incorporates several generations of players and several styles of music, all connected by the same roots.