Bluegrass pickers… come join us for a FREE Bluegrass Jam Campout at Severn Dam – an hour east of Calgary.
“Pickin’ On The Prairie” is a fun no-stress weekend for beginners and beyond. Come play and connect with others who play and enjoy bluegrass music.
New to Bluegrass Jamming?
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Come out for this FREE weekend of camping and jamming.
Schedule
Come out for the weekend, one day or just one jam. Your call.
Friday May 24
5 pm – Happy Hour Social @ host’s camp (look for the happy face flag)
6 pm – Dinner (at your own camp)
7 pm – Easy Jam / Introduction to Bluegrass Jam – then moving into an open bluegrass jam
Saturday May 25
10 am – Songs From Elsewhere Bluegrass Jam
- Many great songs have become part of the bluegrass genre. We’re playing the bluegrassified songs of Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, Don Gibson, Fred Eaglesmith, Bee Gees, Jim Croce, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Grateful Dead, Everly Brothers, Hank Williams and others. (see Note 1 below)
1 pm – Open Bluegrass Jam
- New Grass Revival, Nashvile Grass, Billy Strings, Carter Family… all bluegrass music welcome
5:30 pm – Potluck Dinner
7:30 pm – First Generation of Bluegrass Jam
- The bluegrass music of Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Stanley Brothers, Reno & Smiley, Jim & Jesse, Mac Wiseman, Osborne Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Country Gentlemen, Doc Watson, Carter Family, and more. (see Note 1 below)
Sunday May 26
10 am – Gospel Bluegrass Jam
- We’ll kick off the last jam of the weekend with Will the Circle Be Unbroken. (see Note 1 below)
Note 1: Theme Jams
Bring a song or two (or more) in the theme of the jam. The jam will continue as an open bluegrass jam if / when we run out of themed songs for that jam.
Note 2: Enjoy!
You choose when and for how long you play at any jam and/or how many times you jam.
Quiet hours are 10 pm – 8 am.
Saturday Potluck
Saturday at 5:30pm plan to enjoy the potluck social.
Based on the first letter of your last name, please bring a dish of your choice to contribute to this social meal.
- A to H – Veggies or Side Dishes
- I to Q – Main Dishes
- R to Z – Appetizers or dessert
Please identify any possible allergens (or better yet avoid them).
Location
Severn Dam Reservoir – an hour and ten minutes east from downtown Calgary, The closest town is Strathmore, which is 30 minutes away.
Jamming
Instruments: Acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele, banjo, fiddle, dobro and acoustic or electric bass
- Music stands and fakebooks and iPads/tablets welcome
- No jamming experience necessary
- No pressure to lead a song
- No band scramble
- No open stage
- Bring a jam tent (if you have one)
- Bluegrass Jam etiquette in effect
Camping
Free dry camping for tents and RVs at Severn Dam
- On site pit toilets
- No potable water on site
- No RV dump on site
- Dogs and cats welcome. Pets must be leashed, in a pen or crate at all times. Pet waste to be cleaned up immediately
- Propane fires are welcome
- No wood fires
The Jam Campout location is held in an open field. If it rains or has recently rained heavily, the Jam Campout is cancelled for this year. Check back on this page if there has been weather and you want to know if the event is going ahead.
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Bluegrass Jams 101
Information for those new to bluegrass jams.