The Accidental String Band to Perform at Christmas Party

The forming of The Accidental String Band, as its name suggests, “just sort of happened,” said Jackie Dolby, who joined the group nine years ago. Two of the guys who were playing together on Main Street in Greenville called to a friend walking by to go get his mandolin, and Dolby was invited to practice with them during a later encounter at a store.

On vocals is group leader Doug Dorman, who retired as the vice president of human resources for the Greenville Hospital System. Steve Williams, on lead guitar and sometimes vocals, is an attorney who now works as chief operating officer at New Horizon Family Health Services in Greenville. Tom Freeman, on mandolin, is a geologist who gets called away for oil spills, said Dolby. Dolby, who plays upright bass, is semi-retired, currently working part time at Oasis Day Spa in Anderson.

Dolby only learned to play the bass at age 50, when she moved south from New York after a divorce. “I had no idea how to meet people,” she said. “I met a man offering free bass lessons.” She was roped into her first performance when someone asked her to come onstage while he got something out of his truck. “He didn’t come back for four hours,” she said. “I was so inexperienced and terrified. Now it doesn’t bother me in the least.”

The Accidental String Band, which plays Americana music, will perform at the Anderson Artists Guild Christmas party, which starts at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, at the Anderson Arts Center. For more information about the band, visit https://www.facebook.com/Accidental-String-Band-1401572923266037/.