Old Time Music Jam

Bring your instruments and Join the Jam on the first evening of the Fest. This music jam is open to all and occurs before the evening concert. This jam session will be led by a cohort of musicians from the PFC Old Time Jam. Each week on Thursdays at 7 p.m., musicians gather at the People's Food Coop in La Crosse to share Old Time tunes from American, Celtic, and Scandinavian traditions. The participants may change week-to-week, but recent instruments have included Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Banjo, Nickelharpa, and Dulcimer. In an Old Time music jam, tunes are selected by participants with the goal of finding familiar tunes from a wide selection of traditional and contemporary artists. Each tune is typically played for 2-4 reps. For this GRFF-hosted jam, group leaders will suggest and start some tunes for the group; they will also invite suggestions from all participants with the goal of selecting tunes a majority of the group can play along on.

Basic Guidelines for the Jam - Have fun; Play cooperatively (loud enough to be heard, soft enough to be able to hear those around you); Be mindful to notice any visual or auditory cues that indicate the tune is ending; For less familiar tunes, wait a little before trying to join in - take time to identify the key or chords, or listen for the patterns, or to watch someone with a familiar instrument; To suggest tunes, bring ideas forward that you expect may be well known in old-time jam sessions.