About 9th Illinois String Band and the way to it...

The Story of the 9th Illinois String Band

The 9th Illinois String Band has a very interesting history. It´s roots have been linked to the traditional bluegrass in a Flatt & Scruggs style, that time played by David Koucký and Jan Osička.

After this band having been dismished unfortunatelly, David Koucký has to think about the future of it.

As far as, there are many bluegrass oriented bands here, the final selection has been clear. For a moment, for the oldtime music only.

The previous oldtime banjo playing experience, tought by Jan Bican, brought to David Koucký a great benefit. Consequently, the band named The Hillbillies has been founded. They have extended themselves by a violin player and performed concerts over a year.

David personally has found his interest also in a re-enactoring Amecican Civil War (ACW) , so that they have participated in several ACW events as well. During this period however, one idea has appeared, to play a bit more specific music. Than, such a kind of music might be more specific and memorable owing to the specific period and ACW, too. That´why the band´s invitations for the prestigeous fests have been comming soon.

This is a starting moment of the 9th Illinois Band, linked to 9th Illinois Cavalry Regiment of historical military heritage. The band playing in the historical uniforms, is bringing back the time-related music of the ACW, both in the Czech Republic, but also abroad.

The support of the 9th Illinois Cavalry Regiment is continuous and essential, too. Starting with the battle flags, by issuing own first CD, and also by a videoclip last year, all these media introductions are helping to the band on all the fests. There are the other concerts abroad ahead, and also the second CD issue.

The band activity is continuing and performances number is increasing steadilly. The music, sensitively played in respect to the history and authencitity, is worth to hear. The band composition is to be seen below:

The frontman is essential - Dave Koucky.

What colorful history he has – you may see on his pages:

For example a bit of statistics:

Country music band: "The Trappers" – contrabass player.

Bluegrass bands: K.T.P., Bleufern, Flastr, Bluegrass shadows, Naboso Praha, Děda Mládek Illegal band, Bluegrass cwrkot a hosting in the US origin band Country Gentlemen.

He has got an award by the Czech Republic Bluegass Association –  „The best contrabass player of the year“ and 3 times „The best violist of the year“.

He had famous music lectors for playing 5-string banjo - Honza Bican (Old Time style) and Milan Leppelt (picking).

He  entered the Jaroslav Jezek Academy of Music Arts in Prague, where he has studied contrabass under prof. Kořínek leadership.

Consequently he has founded his own band „Bluegrass friends“, which has been renamed few times later on. The „Hillbillies“ was the last appropriate and specific name of the band before it has been definitively fixed  in 2021 to „9th Illinois String Band“ as a commemoration of the American Civil War unit, in which surely also 3 Czech origin soldiers have fought.

We are feeling the pure roots of bluegrass, i.e. the American folk music from the period of the American Civil War approximatelly (1861-1865). This is called the Old Time music – full of energy, direct approach, simplicity and of a truth of its expession. We are introducing all the band members below, and we hope you will enjoy this music..

By his heart and soul, the  9th Illinois String Band frontman

David Koucký – contact phone: +420 775 141 275

And the other members of the 9th Illinois String Band:

Jan Osička – contrabass. Universal and long-term partner.

  Miroslav Šigut - banjo, singing, blacksmith, horse rider and most of all a person with a heart in the right place.

Ladislav Bouška - guitar, vocals. Leader of jam sessions.

As a guest at events - battle reenactments:

  mjr. Duffy - Vladislav Dušek - "horse" djembe, brumle, vocals

Program for 2025

ACW Saloon - February 15th - re-enactor ball 9th ​​Illinois Cavalry Regiment

And where we performed:

Videos from the concerts are here.

Filmed video clip based on the motives of the story of the song Lorena. Its premiere was on July 30, 2022 at an event in Gižyn.

The link is here.

The site is still under construction. There will also be song samples.