Bob Beach plays harmonica with calm fierceness. A mouth-harp maestro who swaggers into a solo like The Marlboro Man, then quietly leaves the set while the rest of us wonder what just happened and how such a tiny instrument could possibly sound like that. 

Bob has been a working professional musician for 50 years, bringing harmonica, flute, and vocals to a broad scope of genres. A native Philadelphian,  Bob relocated to Western PA after high school and worked in bands and musical projects from 1976 to 1997 while based in Pittsburgh.  He returned to Philadelphia in 1997 where he has been a vital part of the music scene.

The Philadelphia Folk Fest welcomed Bob in 1998 as a volunteer and he became a steady performer.  Every year you can find Bob leading the official campfire open mic at the festival.

As a sideman, he has recorded or performed with national acts such as; Ollabelle, Langhorne Slim, The Avett Brothers, Pat Wictor, Sean Mullins, Kim Richey, Lizanne Knott and many more. Bob has performed regionally with the Bob Beach Trio, Mason Porter, Wyldlyfe, Hezekiah Jones, Spinning Leaves, the Cat’s Pajamas, Philadelphia Jug Band, the Youngers, Hoots and Hellmouth and others.  Currently Bob performs internationally with David Jacobs-Strain and locally with Megan Cary, Rylan Brooks, Paul Wilkinson, and many more.

Bob was a sound engineer at World Café Live music venue for 15 years and continues to book artists for the Lansdowne Folk Club, Concerts at the Beach House and other events and venues in the Philadelphia area.  

Bob Beach is a working musician who carved out his own career on his own terms, raised a daughter, stayed married 45+ years, and is still playing for the love of it, the heart of it, and the fun of it. And when he opens his box of harps and saddles up to play, every moment of his life is contained in the notes. 

Listen to this up-close interview with Bob Beach on SONGBONES Podcast to learn more.