Danny Paisley and Southern Grass at Guitartown CT
Sunday, June 25 at 4:00 pm.
For all of you who have been asking if outdoor concerts will resume, yes! We are having an outdoor concert on Sunday, June 25 at 4:00 pm.
166 Mather Street, Hamden, CT
$40
Danny played to a sold-out crowd at Cafe Amici back in February. His band is coming back from headlining at Jenny Brook Festival in Vermont, and asked if they could play here on their way home. Yes please!
This is authentic, hard-driving, old style bluegrass, with great playing and harmonies Nobody does it better.
Summer Concert on the Lawn: On the Trail
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2023 AT 5:30 PM
We kicking off the summer with “On the Trail”!
Join us on the lawn (or in the gallery in case of rain) for a fun evening of all-ages entertainment. Bring a blanket or chair and a picnic and enjoy the music.
On the Trail is a modern acoustic band that explores everything from bluegrass to contemporary pop, from stunning instrumentals to beautiful traditional songs. The group was founded through their love of bluegrass and the band the Punch Brothers. They have already gained recognition and praise for their exploration and strong execution of the challenging music, as well as for their new original music. Most recently, On the Trail had the honor of winning the 2022 Thomas Point Beach Band Competition after participating in 2021’s Telefunken Battle of the Bands at the Podunk Bluegrass Festival. They also were selected as an Emerging Artist at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2023. On The Trail features Austin Scelzo (fiddle and vocals), Tom Polizzi (mandolin and vocals), Charlie Widmer (guitar and vocals) and Matt Curley (upright bass and vocals). Their debut self-titled EP On the Trail is also available for streaming on all platforms.
John Jorgenson Band
June 27, 7PM Ballard Park Chirp Concert Series
John Jorgenson’s J2B2 Bluegrass Band –J2B2 is an all-star bluegrass supergroup featuring four legendary, award-winning musicians – John Jorgenson on acoustic guitar, mandolin and vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; Mark Fain on bass; and Patrick Sauber on acoustic guitar and vocals – delivering bluegrass like no one has ever heard it before. The band’s undeniable live shows have received stellar reviews and have the bluegrass world buzzing. The four combine forces to form a spot-on union of impeccable musicianship, incomparable songwriting, incredible harmony vocals (a fresh twist combining bluegrass with elements of West Coast folk rock) and seasoned showmanship. This is the “high lonesome sound” of American roots music at its finest.
New England / Northeast Bluegrass, Old Time and Roots Festivals
A New Festival Emerges Sept 15-17
Introducing, Bluegrass in Heaven!
- Located on the shores of Lake George, Silver Bay YMCA has a 700-acre waterfront campus that the festival will be spread throughout.
- The Auditorium at Silver Bay was built in 1909 and will be one of the stages during the event.
- Festival attendees will be able to stay onsite in one of our many accommodations. Camping and RV attendees can utilize local RV and camping sites.
Read more and check out the Lineup here
Bluegrass Jams
Ridgefield
Nod HIll Brewery, Sunday June 25 2:30-5
Sunday, June 11 Georgetown Day Festival, Nod Hill Brewery Stage (August West Chimney Sweep)
Main Street in Georgetown, Connecticut
1 Main St, Georgetown, Redding, CT
Wethersfield
Pitkin Community Center in Wethersfield. 30 Greenfield Street. Room S-3
First and third Tuesday of each month in Wethersfield. There is a $3.00 suggested donation to cover the cost of the room. All levels are welcome. Acoustic instruments only. Wernick jamming etiquette is followed (announce your song with key, etc).
New Haven
Thursday, June 29 (Fourth Thursday) Next Door Pizza, New Haven CT
Hamden
The next Guitartown bluegrass jam is Tuesday, June 13 from 6 – 9 pm, at Cafe Amici, 1640 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. It will be in the back room where we hold the concerts. Drinks and food are available.
Burlington/Bloomfield, CT
Yankee Bluegrass Jammers, every Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m. Location is either Elton Tavern, 781 George Washington Turnpike, Burlington, CT 06013 or Auer Farm, 158 Auer Farm Rd, Bloomfield, CT 06002. To learn where the jam will be held, contact either Carl Salsedo (carl.salsedo@uconn.edu) or Andy Szpekman (andy@ahscommunications.com).
East Hampton,
Monthly on the third Sunday Dexter’s Tune, Tales, & Ales, Sunday, ⋅1:00 – 4:00pm
Easton
Second Thursday 7:30 – 10:00pm 59 Church Road Easton
East Haven
Tuesday May 2 6-9PM -East Haven (First Tuesday of the month) Shore Line Trolley Museum 17 River St, East Haven, CT 06512 Led by Libby Kingsbury
Kids Music Camps and Fun for the Whole Family!
Podunk Bluegrass Festival (CT) Aug 11-14
Kids’ Academy Registration is open! Free to children ages 7-17. Kids play the main stage on Sunday!
Again this year, Podunk is offering an instructional & performance program for young bluegrass musicians aged 7-17. Individual and group instruction will be provided.
Check out pictures from the program!
See what parents had to say about our program!
Grey Fox Kids Academy (NY) July 14-17
– Oak Hill New York Register here
Since 1999, the Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids (BGA) has been teaching kids to play, sing and perform bluegrass music on site during the festival. The free, four-day, camp-like program consists of instrumental instruction; ensemble and harmony vocal practice; and guest appearances by musicians performing at Grey Fox. The grand finale of the program is the ‘Big Gig’ Sunday afternoon on the High Meadow Stage. Approximately 100 kids participate each year. They have fun, learn new skills, improve their playing and singing ability, grow in confidence and make friendships can last a lifetime.
Jenny Brook Kids Academy (VT) June 16-18
Ossipee Valley Music Festival (ME) Roots and Sprouts July 27-30
Kids ages 7 and up can get their musical experience by joining Roots and Sprouts, our three day program complete with loner instruments (or bring your own).
Thomas Point Beach Young Pickers and Singers (ME) Aug 31-Sept 3
TPB YOUNG PICKERS & SINGERS
Calling all young pickers & singers! Open to aspiring musicians ages 9-18* of varied skill level. Participants should have their own instrument and have at least basic rhythm skills and can play to tempo. 317 Main Community Music Center teaching artist Carter Logan, joined by members of his student group Flight 317 will offer 3 days of workshops to create an ensemble to perform on stage Sunday of the Festival. Participants should be able to attend at least 3 sessions including both SUNDAY time slots to perform. Aspiring Bluegrass vocalists who do not play an instrument are welcome to register as well. Please send questions to bluegrass@thomaspointbeach.com.
Pre-registration will help with our planning.
Tentative schedule
Friday 2-4 pm
Saturday 2-4 pm
Sunday 11-12 pm and 3-4 before 4:00pm on stage performance
* Musicians under 9 will be considered with permission
Held under the JAM TENT ON THE HILL
PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE HERE
Family Camp at Ashokan (NY) Aug 7-11
Don’t let the summertime fly by without some quality JOY with your kids or grandkids. Ashokan Family Camp is a laid-back, cross-generational escape into nature, music, arts, crafts, and interactive fun & games!
Leave the screens, to-do lists, and household chores behind and experience 3 fun-filled days and 4 starry nights of pure family goodness. Try instrumental workshops and jamming, wildlife exploration & canoeing, drumming, dance & movement games. Create hands-on art projects, hear stories, write a song, and participate in epic campfire sing-alongs.
Education
Bluegrass Jam Camps and Classes – Instruction for mandolin, guitar, fiddle, dobro, banjo, bass, and harmony singing
- All bluegrass instruments welcome
- No jamming experience necessary
- You will be jamming in the first class!
- Friendly, encouraging, knowledgeable teaching
- Hands-on learning in large and small groups
- Gentle tempos! Mistakes expected!
- Music/tab reading not needed or used
- Singing not required, but encouraged and taught
- Soloing not required! “Faking” solos taught
Do you qualify? It’s easier than you may think!
If you play guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass, or dobro… you can be part of a bluegrass jam. Only requirements – be able to:
- Tune your instrument and
- Change smoothly between G, C, D, and A (or the notes that work on bass and fiddle)
June 15 – June 17 Jam Class @ Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival
Litchfield Fairgrounds 30 Plains Rd, Litchfield ME
Jul 10 – 12 Jam Class @ Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
Oak Hill NY
August 26, 2023 Jam Class @ St. John’s Bluegrass Festival
St. John’s Bluegrass Festival 129 Ledgehill Road, North Guilford CT
Sept 28-30, 2023 Jam Class @ Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Fest
Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Fest, 29 Meadow Rd, Brunswick, ME 04011
July 3-6, 2023 Jam Class in Asheville, NC
During Creative Strings Workshop
Christmount Conference Center, 222 Fern Way, Black Mountain, NC 28711 (just 15 miles from Asheville)
October 14, 2023 Jam Class @ Fishkill Farms Fall Harvest Festival
Hopewell Junction, NY at the Fishkill Farms Fall Harvest Festival
9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
Harmony Singing Workshop – Monday June 12 7-8PM
Learn to sing perfect three part vocal harmony!
Find confidence in singing difficult baritone and tenor harmony parts
Enjoy the feeling of contributing a unique harmony to the song rather than doubling another persons vocal part.
Other Camps
Creative Strings Workshop Asheville, North Carolina July 2-7
Ashokan Bluegrass Camp July 31-Aug 4 –
Ashokan Western and Swing Week June 25-July 1
Silver Bay Bluegrass Camp Aug 21-26 (NY)
ll Bluegrass Skills Taught
9am-12:30pm: Daily classes for banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, bass…AND… Coached small jam groups, intermediate/advanced.
1:50-5pm: coaching on harmony singing (one coach per trio), classes on songwriting, basic music theory, practice “boot camp”, playing under pressure, stagecraft, and more!
Activities every evening: fiddle tune jam, open mics, karaoke, history, jamming, beautiful sunsets!
Connecticut Bluegrass Association 