Guitar and voice for weddings and events, since 1985.
The Guitarist Locals Call Back
Musician
Jeff McCargish started playing professionally in 1985. His range goes beyond genre lines: classical, country, pop, blues, and R&B, and for years a country band called The Chiselers, known for turning unexpected songs into something new, once even a bluegrass, yodel-backed version of an '80s pop hit.
Performer
Decades of gigs have taken him everywhere from a wedding at Darby Dan Farms to a reception at a VFW hall, and he knows the difference. He reads a room and adjusts, rather than running the same set regardless of who's in front of him. That same instinct shapes every booking: take what's asked for, and make it fit.
Educator
Jeff also teaches music. When the German Village Society needed a full band for their Home and Garden Tour, he built it almost entirely out of his own current and former students, including a gifted young bassist still in high school. Some of his students have gone on to perform alongside him professionally, not just study with him.
Upcoming Public Performances
The Gahanna Market at Creekside
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • 4–7 PM
Gahanna Creekside
Gahanna, OH
Blues & Beyond: North of Memphis
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • 5PM
Natalie’s – Grandview
Grandview, OH
2026 Columbus Blues Hall of Fame
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Natalie’s – Grandview
Columbus, OH
Hear Jeff Play
Conway Twitty. Johnny Cash. Kenny Chesney for a crowd that wants to dance. A quiet classical piece for the ceremony. Blues and R&B to get a reception moving.
Jeff brings the experience of forty years of actual gigs, not a list of styles he’d like to try.
…and more on SoundCloud.
Jeff will work with you ahead of time to figure out the music that fits your day.
Jeff is a 2026 Columbus Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, recognition from the Ohio community he’s been part of since he started playing.
Where Jeff’s Live Music Fits
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Weddings & Receptions
Ceremony, cocktail hour, reception. Solo guitar, or the fuller sound of a trio, matched to the day you’re actually having, not a package.
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Private & Company Events
Home and garden tours, private parties, company gatherings. The kind of rooms where the music should be felt more than noticed.
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Solo or Live Band
Most bookings are Jeff solo or as a duo with Paul Brown (guitar) or Chris Saetti (violin). For bigger events, he can also assemble a larger band with current and former students as needed.
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Music for the Moment
Classical, country, pop, blues, and R&B. He’ll talk it through with you ahead of time so the songs are the ones that matter to you.
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As Far As It Takes
Jeff is based in Columbus, but has traveled as far as Seattle, WA for a booking.
“If it’s worth playing…it’s worth the drive.”
Booking a Venue or a Series?
You need someone who arrives ready, can read a crowd, and doesn’t need managing.
Jeff scales from solo guitar to a full band depending on the space. Click here to inquire about references and past bookings.
Natalie’s Grandview
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The Junto
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New Albany Country Club
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German Village Haus und Garten Tour ‘26
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CCAD
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Columbus Museum of Art
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Natalie’s Grandview ♩ The Junto ♪ New Albany Country Club ♫ German Village Haus und Garten Tour ‘26 ♬ CCAD ♩ Columbus Museum of Art ♫
Frequently Asked Questions
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Almost certainly. There's no real limit. The farthest I've traveled for a booking is Seattle.
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Yes. I'll talk through the music with you beforehand. For weddings, it's customary to build in a couple of requested songs, and I make sure those are there. This isn't the same as learning a whole new set from scratch, but what matters to you will be part of the day.
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Classical, country, pop, blues, and R&B. A range built over forty years of actual gigs, not a list I'd like to try someday.
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Yes. Audio samples are available here, and performance footage is on the YouTube channel: Jeff McCargish.
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It depends on your venue and the scope of the event. A formal reception and a casual hall event are priced differently. I work within your budget. Send your details and you'll get a real quote back, not a guess.
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Either. Solo guitar for something quiet and intimate, or the full trio when the room calls for more.
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No. I play for all kinds of crowds, formal to casual, and I don’t turn down work based on who’s in the room.
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Yes, I also take on students. Some current and former students have gone on to perform alongside me professionally.