The Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame will hold its first induction on June 13, 2008, at the Walker Center at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC. The Hall of Fame will be housed in the second floor of the Wilkes Heritage Museum in the restored courthouse in downtown Wilkesboro. The Hall of Fame will honor those involved with any kind of music were born or who were active in the Blue Ridge area from GA to VA. Info: Nicole Thompson Perkins 336-667-3171, www.wilkesheritagemuseum.com.
The Sixth Annual Henry Reed Memorial Fiddle Convention will be held in Glen Lyn, VA (Henry Reed’s hometown), on June 13-14. There will be individual and band competitions, and Alan Jabbour will be doing a fiddle workshop again this year. Info: www.gilesmountainstringband.com/henryreed.html.
The Bluff Mountain Music Festival will be held June 14 at Hot Springs Resort and Spa, off of US 25/70, Hot Springs, NC. There’s old-time and bluegrass music, dancing, and a silent auction of local arts and crafts. Info: 828-622-7394; www.main.nc.us/bluff/index.html.
The June 20-22 Appalachian Mountain Music Festival in Waynesville, OH has changed its location from Caesar Creek Lake State Park to BiCentennial Park on Dayton Road. Info: www.appalachianmusic.org/
The Old Time Music Fete is being held in Cahokia, IL (St. Louis metro area), on Sun., July 27, at the Historic Cahokia Courthouse, featuring jam sessions under every tree, kids’ arts and crafts, and a professional sound system for the main stage (the courthouse porch). Food and drink will be available for purchase, and there will be plenty of shade. Located one block south and one block west of the intersection of IL Rt. 3 and IL Hwy. 157 (Cahokia RV Park). Admission is free. Noon to 5, rain or shine. Info: Cahokia Courthouse, 618-332-1782, www.jarrotmansion.org/calendar/calendar.htm.
Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp (motto: “It’s not just for fiddlers!”) has a great lineup of instructors this year: Alan Jabbour: Old-Time Appalachian; Richard Greene: Bluegrass; Laura Risk: Quebecois; Pete Clark: Scottish; and Ward MacDonald: Cape Breton. There will be other classes on cello, guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, harp, hammered dulcimer, and more. Info: Mark Luther, Director, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, 453 E. Wonderview Ave. #194, Estes Park, CO 80517; 303-753-6870; www.rmfiddle.com.
The International Conference on the African Origins of the New World Banjo Conference will take place July 18-July 27 in Casamance, in the Gambia. The conference program begins with a welcoming party, followed by a day of presentations, socializing, and jamming. Also included are ceremonies honoring elders, the akonting masters. Monday’s programming will be a full day of music by skilled players from the Buchundu, Balanta, Jola, Wolof, and other ethnic groups. There will be an optional trip visiting sites in the Gambia that are historical and relevant to describing the social context of music making, especially the akonting. Info: http://jpdickerson.tripod.com/2008conf/.
The Humboldt Folklife Society Festival is set for July 20-26. The event kicks off with the Annie and Mary Day Fiddle Festival. The weekends are free, family-friendly events with three stages, jamming, workshops, and children’s activities. Weeknights are concerts showcasing old-time and various genres of music, and a barn dance with old-time music. Info: Humboldt Folk Society, PO Box 1061, Arcata, CA 95518; www.humboldtfolklife.org; 707-822-5394.
The Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Championship will take place in Petersburg, IN, on Aug. 31. There will be contests for fiddle, banjo, mandolin, Dobro, band, singing, and clogging. Camping will be available. Info: 812-354-8155; e-mail; 714 E. Main St., Petersburg, IN 47567.
The John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, will present a Southern Appalachian Square Dance Weekend Oct. 24-26, featuring callers Phil Jamison and Bob Dalsemer, with music by the Red Mountain White Trash and Adam Hurt. Beginning and experienced dancers, singles, and couples are welcome to sample old-time dances from NC, TN, KY, VA, and WV. Info: 1-800-FOLK-SCH, www.folkschool.org.
The California Gold Rush Country Old-Time Jam has outgrown its old location at the Dutch Flat Hotel and has moved to the Monte Vista Inn. This is an intermediate old-time teaching jam that includes tunes and songs of Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Poole, and the Fuzzy Mt. String Band. The Inn is located at exit 145 off of Hwy. 80, about one hour east of Sacramento. Monte Vista Inn – 530-389-2333; 32106 Ridge Rd., Dutch Flat, CA; www.auburnbuzz.com/content/view/184/96/.
Every Wed. night from 9 PM to 1 AM there’s a folk, old-time, and blues jam, “Roots N Ruckus,” at the Jalopy Theater, 315 Columbia St., Brooklyn, NY, hosted by Feral Foster and featuring a stellar group of musicians. Info: 718-395-3214, www.jalopy.biz.
There’s an old-time jam in Madison, WI, at the Alchemy Cafe, 1980 Atwood Ave., every second Sun., commencing at 5 PM. The Alchemy Café is a new establishment, in what used to be called Wonders Pub. 1980 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI.
There is a well-established old-time jam that takes place at the Quarter Moon Saloon (smoke-free), 200 N. Main St, Elizabeth, IL. It occurs on the second and last Sun. each month, from 3 to 7 PM. Info: 815- 858-3878.
There’s a bluegrass and old-time jam at the Phipps Country Store every Fri. from 7:00-10:00 PM. The address of the store is 2425 Silas Creek Rd., Lansing, NC. All ages and skill levels and dancers are welcome. Info: James or Rita Wood, 336-384-2382.
Every Thursday from noon until 4:00 PM there is an old-time picking party at the Ciderville Music Shop, 2836 Clinton Hwy., Powell, TN. Info: 865-945-3595.
The Fourth Tuesday Mermaid Jam is going strong in Philadelphia, PA. The old-time music and clogging sessions run from 8:00-11:00 PM and a slow jam starts at 7:30 PM. Mermaid Inn, 7673 Germantown, Ave., Chestnut Hill area. Info: Carl 215-699-7835.
On third Wednesdays there is a houseboat jam on the E-Z Street starting at 7:30 PM. 2143 North Northlake Way, Seattle (Fremont), WA 98103. Info: Rick 206-910-8259. www.geocities.com/whamdiddle.
Every Wed. there’s “Pickin’ Indoors,” from 7:00-10:00 PM at the Hermanson Center lobby & lounges, Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, WV. Info: 304-637-1209, www.footmad.org.
The International Buffet and Live Local Music is on Thurs. from 6:00-9:00 PM at the Elk River Touring Center, Rt. 219, Slatyfork, WV. Info: 304-572-3771, www.ertc.com.
Each Fri. and Sat., Mountain Music Weekends at the Purple Fiddle include old-time and bluegrass music. DePollo General Store, 21 East Ave., Thomas, WV. Info: 304-463-4040, www.purplefiddle.com.
On the first Sat. of the month, the North Fork Opry is from 7:00-10:00 PM at the Clinton Hedrick Community Bldg., Riverton, WV. Info: 304-227-4535, www.visitpendleton.com.
On the first Sat. of each month, the Helvetia Square Dance is held “rain, snow, or shine” from 8:00 PM-12:00 midnight, Red Hall or Community Hall, Helvetia, WV. Info: 304-924-6438, www.helvetiawv.com.
On second Thursdays the Appalachian Fiddlers Association meets at the Hansford Senior Center, 500 Washington St., St. Albans, WV. Info: Bill Bunting 304-744-0095, www.footmad.org.
On the second Sat. of each month, there’s Jamming on the North Fork, 7:00 PM at the Riverton Community Building, Riverton, WV. Info: 304-567-2741.
On fourth Saturdays there’s the North Fork Square Dance, at the Riverton Community Bldg., Riverton, WV. Info: 304-567-2827.
Each second Tues., there’s an old-time jam session, Pickin’ for Fun, at the Pendleton Nursing Home, Franklin, WV. Info: 304-249-5506.
The Mountain Music Jam, for many years at Mrs. Hyatt’s house on Brevard Rd. outside Asheville, NC, has been moved to the Western North Carolina Farmers’ Market, held on Sat. from 2:00-5:00 PM.
Info: John Roten 828-456-8661.
The Lanesboro Barn Dance at the Sons of Norway Hall in Lanesboro, MN, is in its 13th season in 2007. Dances are scheduled for Sept. 8 with guests to be announced. Info: Bob Bovee & Gail Heil 507-498-5452, www.boveeheil.com.
The Old Liberty Theater Bluegrass & Old-time Music Class teaches guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, acoustic bass, dobro, and autoharp in a cooperative beginner group atmosphere on Tuedays, 7:00-9:30 PM. Hour lesson starts at 7:00, jamming until 9:30. Acoustic instruments only, drop-ins and jammers welcome. Info: 360-887-7260; 115 N Main, Ridgefield, WA (20 minutes north of Portland, OR on I-5, exit 14).
There’s an old-time music jam every Wed. at 7:00 PM on the lawn of the 1908 Grayson County Courthouse, Independence, VA. Musicians move inside in case of bad weather. Bring your own chair or use one provided by the courthouse. Info: 276-773-2000, www.graysoncountyva.com.
An old-time jam meets every Tues. in Bloomington, IL, at the McLean County Museum of History. The session starts around 5:30. E-mail for info.
There’s a new old-time jam at the Oro Valley Public Library, Oro Valley, AZ, the last Fri. of the month at 7:00-9:30 PM. Bring your acoustic instrument: banjo, guitar, fiddle, dulcimer, autoharp, psaltry, bones, or spoons. All levels welcome as long as you love the music and want to play with others. Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Dr, Oro Valley. Info: Banjo Brad at www.PricklyPearMusic.net
The Austin Friends of Traditional Music holds a regular jam session on second Sunday afternoons, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Threadgills South, Austin, Texas. All levels, all styles, all acoustic instruments, and all voices welcome! Contact Jerry Hagins at 512-873-7543, or 512-789-4572 to inquire before coming.
There are three open old-time jams and a square dance in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, area. There’s a new jam at the Open Eye Café, 101 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro, every first Thurs. from 7:00-11:00 PM in the back room to the right of the front entrance. E-Mail for more info. In Chapel Hill, there’s a jam on first and third Wed. at the Skylight Exchange, 405 Rosemary St., from 7:30-9:30 (inside), and much later (outside in good weather). Info: www.trianglerestaurants.com/skylightexchange. There’s a session every Tues. at the Broad Street Café,, 1116 Broad St., Durham, from 7:00-10:00 PM. Info: www.broadstreetcafe.org. Donald Zepp, of Zepp Country Music, hosts an old-time jam at his shop at 4 E. Third St., Wendell, every second Tuesday from 7:00-10:00 PM. Info: 919-365-5189; http://zeppmusic.com. An old-time square dance takes place every second Sat. at the Pleasant Green Community Center, Durham. Lessons at 7:30; dance at 8:00. Admission is $7, $5 for students. Past bands have included: Joe Thompson and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Big Medicine, the Ubiquitones, the Blueridge Road Gang, and the Forge Mountain Diggers. For info go to www.ncsquares.com. |
