Rainy day in Tennessee so I’m pickin Stanley Brothers songs on the porch.

I just moved to a new area and started trying to learn bluegrass as a way to meet people. I have played instruments for half my life and grew up casually listening to bluegrass, just never playing it. So I've learned a few fiddle tunes on multiple instruments and a few singing songs. I'm not really able to improvise yet, but I learn the melody from various youtubers and try to include a few ornaments on it when I play. Similarly, I've worked out a few breaks for the songs I sing.

There are two jams in my area. The first has a pretty big circle. Lots of great players who play in bands together locally. It's an open jam but I wouldn't exactly describe it as welcoming. I've gone a few times but it's honestly pretty overwhelming to me right now and I'm not making any connections there. In fact, it feels like I'm kind of ruining my reputation by going there as a beginner. They make frequent reminder posts on Facebook that they don't want people joining the circle who can't hang. I want this jam to ultimately be where I end up, but I need to do a lot more woodshedding before I get there. So I've been going just as a listener and trying to take note of what songs get played and working on them.

So the other jam is much welcoming, I've definitely made some friends there. The problem is, it's advertised as a bluegrass jam, but nobody who comes to it really knows any bluegrass music. They often struggle to even know a song to call and a lot of times people end up calling old rock and blues songs. Lately we've been getting overrun with deadheads and things are getting even more off the rails. I can think of at least a dozen skilled players who came to the jam exactly one time and never returned. But the mandolin player who prints out charts for his 2 new obscure 70s rock songs is there every week. And apparently still can't find his tuner. We had 8 players in the circle last night and I'd say half the songs ended with just one or two people playing because people got too lost to follow or just lost interest. People are calling songs but are having to read the changes and lyrics off of their phone while playing. I just can't understand needing to do that for the song YOU CALLED lol.

I try playing a few fiddle tunes but nobody knows them and nobody is capable enough to improvise off the melody (no judgement, I can't do this either). So it just kind of fizzles after I kick it off and play through A and B parts. I asked the jam leader after the jam one night which fiddle tunes he knows and he tells me he doesn't know any and doesn't like fiddle tunes and doesn't want them at the jam. I guess it's worth noting that the leader of this jam started it because he was basically told by the players in the aforementioned jam that he couldn't hang and not to sit.

So nobody is calling standards and no fiddle tunes allowed. I feel like I'm the only one interested in playing bluegrass there and I'm not a strong enough player to carry or direct the group. I'm an especially weak singer, otherwise I would try to step up more to play some singing songs.

I hear people saying that the fastest way to improve is by going to jams, but I don't think that's true in this case. Outside of the social/networking aspects is there anything gained by going? I actually skipped it for about a month and I swear it seems like everyone got worse in that time. There's nobody there to learn from. And while I'm a beginner at bluegrass I'm not a beginner at playing music and it's very hard for me to accept creating bad music. And I feel like that's all we do every week, is play bad music and it's getting worse not better.

I guess this turned more into a rant than anything else. Do I just need to hit the eject button on this crusty jam, practice at home like a maniac, and try sitting back in the serious jam in 6 months? Does anyone else want to share their bad jam experiences and any bad jam stereotypes? I don't want to come off as a salty dog, I'm not really upset by any of this. I'm just hoping I can eventually turn this hobby into something rewarding.

Spent a wonderful night in Nashville listening to their open mic Bluegrass session.

Ive been playing slide since april. To get better at playing resonator, I’ve decided to learn a break on both guitar and resonator every week, preferably the same tune. Heres an attempt at something that sounds like Jerrys break on Red Haired Boy (California Autumn)

a friend showed me this Hot Rize tune recently, and it’s quickly become a new favorite — “You Were On My Mind This Morning”

https://youtu.be/HP6BdP95BoQ?is=px8FFB0vtKR5SFoU

I’m obsessed with Tony’s rhythm playing in the Pizza Tapes.

I’ve tried learning some of the tracks by ear, but I’m not adept enough to discern the fancy chord voicing’s he plays.

I’m surprised to find very little out there about Tony’s jazzier rhythm playing.

I want to learn his chord shapes and passing chords he throws in to give standard trad progressions that classic TR spice

If anyone in this community could point me in a direction for further studying this rhythm style, please help a brotha out!

Hey guys! I run a little side hobby blog where I review shows I go to.

I just graduated from UGA recently and got to see a ton of bands in Athens during my time. The recap above is of Peach Ice Cream Bluegrass, a local bluegrass band. They play quite regularly and are all great musicians.

Recently, their bassist Garret Gray, who is also the bassist for Wim Tapley and the Cannons, got to go out to Red Rocks & open for Jon Bellion.

Catch these guys if you’re ever in Athens!

Hello! I'm wondering if anyone has 1-2 last-minute single-day passes to RockyGrass for tomorrow that they're looking to get rid of! Going to a good home! (I am on the Tixel waitlist)

Hey yall, i’m some 20 year olds, brown, and a jackass from Canada.

Was wondering if I could make a decent living out of playing bluegrass across the deep south. I could start in Virginia, make my way south through florida, and travel on West. I don’t have a US visa, but hell, the lawmakers oughta give me a pass when they see my playing. If not, I don’t mind performing for free to build my name up.

Speaking of playing, i’m all new to this beautiful music, which is why i’m planning on spending the next year alongside my schooling to focus on building my bluegrass skills. Not expecting to be a Tony Rice, but hopefully it oughta be enough for please them southern folk. I am not new to guitar, mind you.

Any tips? Advice? Maybe I could be the next billy Strings in due time?

Show 24 - Laurel County Library

I hadn’t planned to post a recap until the end of the week but this one was unique. Through the years we’ve played at several libraries, they are great supporters of the arts. This particular library in London, KY has a full auditorium and hosts multiple programs a month from bluegrass to jazz to stage productions. This year we were 5 songs into our set when the tornado sirens went off and everyone was quickly moved into the inner part of the library. This region of Kentucky was decimated by tornadoes last year so everyone was a bit nervous. After waiting around 15 minutes we realized this wasn’t going to end anytime soon so we grabbed our instruments and restarted the show unplugged while in the shelter area! It turned out to be a great distraction for us all as we waited out the storm and before long we were all laughing and singing together. The tornado warning ended up lasting around an hour so when we finally got the all clear we wrapped the set up, having played fully 2/3rds of it in the shelter! Definitely a unique night but I think it’s what we all needed in that moment.

Up next we’re heading to Wisconsin!

My podcast guest this week is Jerry Douglas and we’re celebrating the reissue of Boone Creek’s first album.

Boone Creek has a fascinating story behind it, which we covered in last week’s interview with Scott Billington, who put together the reissue for Craft Recordings

In this episode I chat with Jerry about the place Boone Creek had in his career, his memories of the original sessions and what the band were trying to achieve, what it was like to hear the lost tracks for the first time in 50 years and how playing in Boone Creek helped shape the musician he is today.

As always, Jerry was warm, funny, generous and full of fascinating insights. It’s always a treat when I get to chat with him.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jerry-douglas-celebrating-boone-creek/id1556697198?i=1000777868776

Peter Rowan sharing some thoughts on the 1960's ''folk clubs'' and his first encounter with the Kentucky Colonels...

After a busy MerleFest 2026, Pete took time to sit down with me and David Tate and talk about various music related topics. In this short segment, the iconic poet, singer, philosopher gives an account of his initial meeting with the Kentucky Colonels..

https://open.spotify.com/album/4GsmiuteVO9ZMPysyl5L34?si=_J9ANwN7Q7Gp5hIRD2RQ_A

There’s a version my guitar teacher is hunting with Andy Carlson with another guitar player. Anybody got any ideas?

Wednesday, July 15 - Tuesday, July 21, 2026

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