The previous post titled Brooklyn Jams has been revised to inlclude new and updated information. The post is now also titled New York City Jams.

Banjo Cheer, written by John Douglas, is a fun story about a very frosty Christmas in Alberta and the cheerfulness of the banjo. It first appeared in the December 1911 issue of The Cadenza, a string instrument magazine of the time.

It was narrated by John Hartford on Tony Trischka’s Glory Shone Around CD and the text can be found online at Crossing Rivers blog.

Molly Malones in Covington hosts a weekly Jam Session at 8:30 pm. This Irish Pub often has regular music events but on Monday’s its all Bluegrass on the first floor. The restaurant is located at 112 East 4th Street.

Regular musicians attending the jam session include some of the best pickers in Northern Kentucky: Scott Risner, Jeff Roberts, and many others.

Newport’s Southgate House will host Earl’s Gone Wild, Thursday January 8, 2009 at 9:30 PM

The band featuring Scott Risner, Jeff Roberts,  Brad Meinerding, Sylvia Mitchell, John Billerman, will also play at the Southgate House January 29th at 10:00 PM when they open for the Dixie Bee-Liners.

Two great bands will be performing at City Folk in Dayton, Ohio, the same night. Dan Tyminski Band and Tim O’Brien will both be on stage on January 17.  This concert, begins at 8:00 and will be held at Dayton Masonic Center, 525 Riverview Avenue.

Mondays 7:00 pm
NYC Bluegrass Slow Jam (2wice a month)
Paddy Reilly’s, 2nd Ave and 29th Street, New York NY (212) 686-1210

Mondays 9:00 pm
Bluegrass Jam
The Underground Lounge
106th St and Broadway, New York NY
Hosted by Pete Elegant

Wednesdays 8:00 pm
Angel Band Jam
at Vin Rouge, 5th Avenue between 17th & 18th St, Brooklyn NY
for details, call Bill Duke, 917-859-5397

Wednesdays 9:00 pm
The Sheriff’s Good Time Jam
at The Grisly Pear at 107 MacDougal St., New York NY
(212) 529-3808

Saturdays from 10:00 pm
Regular Bluegrass Jam at Sunny’s Bar, 253 Conover Street, Brooklyn NY
(718) 625-8211

Sundays 5:00 pm
Regular Bluegrass Jam
at Paddy Reilly’s, 2nd Avenue and 29th Street, New York NY (212) 686-1210

Sudays 5:00 pm
Ponkiesburg Pickin’ Party
at Kili, 79-81 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn NY (718) 855-5574

The Boone County Kentucky Library Series has announced its upcoming schedule:

Friday Sept 12 @ 7:00 pm – Brendon Dawson (Blues/Folk), Main Library
Friday Sept 26 @ 7:00 pm – Peter Fletcher (Classical Guitar), Scheben Branch
Friday Oct 17 @ 7:00 pm – Raison D’etre (Folk), Main Library
Sunday Oct 19 @ 2:00 pm – Rabbit Hash String Band (Old Time), Florence Branch
Friday Nov 14 @ 7:00 pm – Revival Ridge (Bluegrass Gospel), Scheben Branch
Friday Nov 21 @ 7:00 pm – Jake Speed & the Freddies (Acoustic Folk), Scheben Branch
Friday Dec 12 @ 7:00 pm – Elizabeth Windau Jazz Quartet (Jazz), Main Library
Sunday Dec 21 @ 2:00 pm – Hills of Ky Dulcimers (Appalachian), Florence Branch

Boone Woods Bluegrass Festival, Saturday October 11 at Boone Woods Park in Burlington, KY

Sooner Acoustic Music in Oklahoma City hosts an acoustic jam every Friday night 7pm – 10pm. You can find out more by visiting their site at http://www.sooneracousticmusic.net/.

Sooner Acoustic Music is located at 709 S Air Depot Blvd, Midwest City.

Another season of the Festival of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Ky has come and gone but this year’s event was a great one. The festival featured some of its recurring favorites again this year such as:

• JD Crowe and the New South
• IIIrd Tyme Out
• Mountain Heart
• Dry Branch Fire Squad
• Seldom Scene

Friday night was featured not only JD and the New South but a lot of thunderstorms. While the crowd was down a bit at the venue, most were back at the camper listening on the radio. One of the highlights Friday night was when JD joined IIIrd Tyme Out on stage and played a few tunes with them while Steve Dilling stood back and enjoyed seeing one of his favorites play.

On Saturday the weather changed, the sun came out and so did the rag-heads. The venue was packed with lawn chairs and people of all sizes, shapes and sobriety. Saturday not only featured Mountain Heart and Seldom Scene (who always closes out the festival Saturday night) but also some new bands for the festival.

The Wilson Family featured Clint Wilson, 2006 Florida State Sr. Division Banjo Champion, and his family of very talented musicians and singers. One of their songs that was particularly well done was won written by Clint and a friend, called My Old Kentucky Home. While its not on their latest album its a good one.

Another new band for the festival is one that all of us have come to enjoy over the past few years, The Grascals. I particularly enjoyed the band’s energy and interaction with the audience. During their first set they said they’d been calling the Cornett’s to get on the stage at the Festival of the Bluegrass for the past seveal years (did he say 5?) but this year the Cornett’s called the Grascals. Why did it take so long to get this band on the stage in Lexington?

The guys from the Grascals stayed around their CD table until the last fan was gone. As I saw their bus preparing to leave, I saw Terry Eldredge still talking with friends and fans in the parking lot. These guys seemed to enjoy what they do and their fans.

A few bands were also missing from the line up this year. Blue Highway with Rob Ickes’ dobro were missed as well as Phil Leadbetter’s Grasstowne.