The Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble began about 1983 (not 1909, as they often claim) when Elliott Adams and Petra and Bub Sullivan started playing together as a trio at the Sacramento Ragtime Society sessions to explore harmonies and Elliott's sheet music collection. Over the years the group has expanded to its present size and instrumentation.
The Porcupine repertoire ranges from folk rags to tangos, cakewalks, classical rags, marches, waltzes, one and two steps, plus many songs. In addition to having performed on public radio, in community concerts including several Stop and Smell the Roses, fairs and the state Railroad Museum, they are regulars at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee Ragtime Corner, the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, and the Sacramento Trad Jazz meetings. The group especially loves playing at the West Coast Ragtime Festival - since 1989 - for the great camaraderie and the elegant dancers. The Porcupines have entertained at the Sacramento City Library Galleria and the Stockton Caesar Chavez Library. In July '07 The American Rag ran a featured interview, and April '08 marked a first appearance at the Redding Jazz Festival.
They have four CD's ("Quills Up!", "Live!", "Quilling Me Softly", and, their latest, "Pig Ankles") on the Miracle Records label ("If it's good, it's a miracle!").
Performers