Armed with an acoustic guitar and repertoire of standards and surprises, Ted Hammock is one of the most prolific and popular performers along the shore.
The 31-year-old of Stafford Township plays more than 100 shows every summer, mostly on Long Beach Island, often with two gigs a day. He recently started playing outside his home turf, too, adding shows in Cape May and Belmar.
His sets include many of the best-known crowd pleasers, such as "The Joker" by Steve Miller Band; "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band; new songs, from acts like Gotye and Neon Trees; and songs from artists such as Citizen Cope, Dispatch and G. Love that people don't expect to hear at a bar.
Sometimes he plays in a duo or with a larger band, but he says the solo acoustic shows are special.
"Just stripped down, one man, one acoustic guitar, that's my favorite thing," he says. "I feel like that's the purest form of music I can put out there."
Hammock also has two original CDs available on iTunes, much of it in the same style as the music he performs.
And, yes, Hammock is his real last name.
"Common question," he says. "It's like my parents knew."
Learn more and hear Hammock's music:
Upcoming shows: Thursday, Aug. 2: Plantation, Harvey Cedars, 9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 3: Daddy-O, Ship Bottom, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 4: Terrace Tavern, Beach Haven, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 5: The Sea Shell, Beach Haven, 10 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 6: Lobster House, Cape May, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 7: The Sea Shell at 4 p.m. and Calloways, Stafford, 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 8: Buckalew's, Beach Haven, 9 p.m.
