JAM SESSIONS

We’ve continue to receive requests from musicians for more information and locations on jam
sessions throughout the SMBA membership area.

The SMBA “Hornpipe” newsletter and website list many open jam opportunities. For beginners,
you’ll find that most jam organizers and fellow pickers are hospitable and receptive to your joining
in on the circle.

Join in, pick, and most importantly, have fun !

(As published in Bluegrass Unlimited—November or December of 2000)

The 10 Jammandments:
1. Thou shalt tune thy instrument.
2. Thou shalt keep steady rhythm.
3. Thou shalt take turns choosing songs and announce the key. The vocalist always chooses the key.
4. Thou shalt not speed up.
5. Thou shalt signal who has the solo.
6. Thou shalt listen to others. If you can't hear the lead, you are playing too loud.
7. Thou shalt welcome others.
8. Thou shalt not steal other musicians from an active jam.
9. Thou shalt try new material. Original and different tunes are okay occasionally.
10. Thou shalt be considerate of pickers

Unspoken jam rules:

1. Better musicians play what the others can play.
2. It is up to the better musicians to adapt to what the beginners can do - not the other way around.
3. Great jams are self-defeating and temporary.
4. Everyone wants to join the better jam - it can get too big and out of hand.
5. Bass players are not allowed to sit down.
 JAM SESSIONS
MONDAY
1:00 to 3:30 PM—Every Monday
Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation Ctr
1000 Claremont Road, Carlisle, PA
$1 donation goes to residents activities.
FMI: Dick Gow 717-649-1436
Mary Wohler 717-249-2529
7:00 to 10:00 PM—Every Monday
Dutch Country Restaurant
2nd Floor—946 Baltimore St., Hanover, PA
$3.00 per person / Open mic format
FMI: 717-632-1616
TUESDAY
6:45 to 9:45 PM— Every Tuesday
The Church of The Open Door
The Church of the Open Door—Just off Rt 74 on
Loucks Rd., North of the West Manchester Mall.
This Gospel Music jam welcomes performers of all
levels, including those with electric instruments.
Pedal steel and electric guitars are welcome. A mi-
crophone is provided for vocalists. Visitors are al-
ways welcome. Attendance continues to climb each
week.
FMI: Ken Runkle 717-792-0302
7:00 to 10:00 PM— Every Tuesday
Pine Hall Lutheran Church
1760 West College Ave., State College
FMI: Alan (Scott) Krug 814-883-0287
E-mail: askrug@comcast.net
Professional sound system provided. Alan publishes
an e-mail newsletter of bluegrass happenings in
northern PA. For your copy, write to Alan at;
askrug@aol.com
:00 to 9:00 PM— Every Tuesday
RLH Guitars
30 North Main St., Red Lion, PA
FMI: Randy Hake 717-244-9981
E-mail:appleseed008@aol.com
A sound system provided. RLH is also hosting blue-
grass shows. For more information and scheduling,
contact Randy.
8:00 to 11 PM—1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Washington House BG Jam
Main Street, Sellersville, PA (Bucks County) This is
a high level jam.
FMI: Jim Simpson 215-659-8623
ps3@verizon.net) for details. Or see
http://www.washingtonhouse.net/
 JAM SESSIONS

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
7:30 PM— Every Wednesday 7:30 to 10:30 PM—Every Thursday
Doylestown Jam The Lower Windsor Township
German Hungarian Sportsman's Club Municipal Bldg
1622 Hilltown Pike—Hilltown, PA 2425 Craley Road(also Rt. 624), Craley, PA
Outside in nice weather, inside otherwise. (Craley is 2 miles south of East Prospect, York
All playing levels welcome. County
FMI: Ben 215-249-9354 FMI: Ebert M. Blymire 717-246-2904

7:00 to 10:00 PM—Every Thursday

Franklintown Fire Hall Jam
2 miles south of Dillsburg on Rt194—
$2.00 Admission

6:30 to 10:00 PM—Every Thursday

Greencastle Antrim Senior Center Jam
500 Antrim Church Rd.,
Old exit 5 off of Rt I-81

5:30 PM—Every Thursday

Centerport Jam
Kitchen open at 4:00 PM—Music begins at 5:30 PM
FMI: Betty Neftzinger 610-488-1920

6:30 to 11 PM— Every Thursday

Hugh Mason's Country & Bluegrass Jam Chap-
lin's, The Music Cafe, 66 North Main Street, Spring
City, PA 19475.
See chaplinsthemusiccafe.com for details

7:00 to 11:00 PM Every Thursday

Craley Bluegrass-Old Time Country Jam
2425 Craley Rd., (Rt 624), Craley, PA

Third Thursday
Coffey Music
31 East Main St. Westminster, MD
www.coffeymusic.com 410-876-1045
410-848-5003
 JAM SESSIONS

FRIDAY
7:00 PM—Every Friday Every Friday - Please call ahead
Beck & Benedict Hardware Jam At Lorne G. Seifert Construction Company
Walnut & 3rd Sts., Waynesboro, PA 65 Carlisle Rd., Dillsburg, PA
FMI:Dick/Della Boschert 717-762-4711 Rt 74 approx 1/2 mile south of Northern High
See “Upcoming Bluegrass Events” section of this School, on the left. Building in rear.
newsletter for bluegrass shows held at the Beck & FMI: Lorne Seifert Jr. 717-502-1905
Benedict Hardware Theatre, featuring two great 717-773-5522
bands each month.

5:00 to 11:00 PM Every Friday

7:00 to 10:00 PM—Every Friday Ephrata Best Music Source Bluegrass, Gospel,
Arrow Horse Jam with Hank Janney, Classic Country Jam.
49 Chambersburg ST., Gettysburg, PA Doors open at 5 for jamming. Open stage runs 6:30-
FMI: Hank Janney 717-337-2899 11 p.m. There are multiple rooms available for jams.
Located at Best Source Music, just off route 272 on
Helen Ave., Ephrata, PA 17533 ( near Ephrata Hos-
7:00 PM—As listed below pital).
Bunker Hill Bluegrass &
Old Country Music Jam FMI: 717-721-7120
B.H. Fellowship Hall, Mountville Rd., Rt 72, North
of Lebanon. From Rt 22 take Rt 72 South 1 1/2
miles to Mountville Rd. From Rt 422 take Rt 72 6:00 to 10:00 PM Most Friday’s
North 6 miles to Mountville Rd. June thru Septem- Carroll Township Community Center Jam Sher-
ber jams are held on 1st & 3rd Fridays. October mans Dale, Perry County
thru May jams are held every Friday. Donations ac- Call for directions.
cepted. Good homemade foods. Small area for FMI: 717-582-2312
pickers to jam. Sign-up for 30 minute spots on stage
with sound system.
7:00 to 10:00 PM—First Friday
PA Bluegrass Academy Jam & Concert
7:30 PM—Every Friday The Old Fire Hall at 45 West Main St.,
Muse & Music Performance Series Campbelltown, PA
10 West Expresso St., Mansfield, PA FMI: Nev Jackson 717-867-4175
FMI: www.fineartsforum.org 717-533-4067
 JAM SESSIONS

SATURDAY SUNDAY
6:30 PM—Every Saturday 1:00 to 4:00 PM - Second Sunday
White Oak Campground (October thru June)
Quarryville, PA Susquehanna Folk Music Society Jam
FMI: 717-687-6207 & Song Swap ~ Fort Hunter
North of Harrisburg on Front St.
FMI:Ralph Dahle 717-652-0799
6:00 to 10:00 pm - Every Saturday www.sfmsfolk.org 717-657-8709
Grand Old Jam Bringing a small snack is optional!
2073 Orrstown Rd., Shippensburg, PA 17257
(Turn at Morris St., go 3 miles, on right before car
auction) 2:00 to 5:00 PM—Second Sunday
Pickers Free Admission (September thru May)
Visitors $3.00 Admission (children under 12 Canyon Country Bluegrass
free) Wellsboro Community Center
FMI: Robert Forrester 717-530-0248 3 Queen St., Wellsboro, PA
FMI:Call 570-724-0300
Call toll free 877-blu-gras
1:00 PM - First Saturday www.cantoncountrybluegrass.com
Sugar Run Bluegrass
Calvary Baptist Church 902 Ruskin Dr., Altoona,
PA 12:00 to 5:00 PM 2nd & 4th Sunday’s
FMI: Ron Anderson 814-940-8352 Ephrata, PA All Acoustic Jam.
Sept—May (No jam May 2006 October thru May
Best Source Music, Helen Ave. Ephrata, PA. 17522.
FMI: Michalle Garman 717-721-7120
Also see folkjams.org/map/us

10:00 AM—Second Sunday

AFBA Open stage & Jam
Hellertown, PA (just south of Allentown)
FMI: www.afbawingap.org.
Doors open at 10 a.m. Stage show begins at noon.
 JAM SESSIONS

SUNDAY CONTINUED
2:00 to 5:00 PM - Third Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM - Third Sunday
September thru May September thru May
North Bay Bluegrass Association Jerseytown Community Center
Monthly Concert and Jam Jerseytown, Pa.
Havre de Grace Middle School. FMI: Bob Knorr
Going west on Rt. 40 make a left turn onto Lewis jerseytownjam@cobrasound.com or
Lane. www.cobrasound.com/jerseytownjam
FMI: Gary Testerman 410-939-0028

1:00 PM—Fourth Sunday

1:00 to 5:00 PM - Third Sunday Rick’s Tavern Bluegrass & Country Jam
Penn’s Grove Bluegrass & Acoustic Jam 9th & Chestnut Sts Trainer, PA
Citizens League, 50 West Pitman St., Penns Grove, All skill levels are invited to participate in playing
NJ. bluegrass, country, folk, and old-time music.
FMI: 610-497-1338
From the intersections of Main and Broad Streets in
the center Penns Grove, take N. Broad St. 3 blocks
to W. Pitman Street ... go over the RR tracks, and the
Citizens League is the brick and cinder block build-
ing just ahead on the left side of the street. The
driveway is just after the RR tracks...the entrance is 2:00 to 5:00 PM - Third Sunday
at rear of the building. The bar will be operating for
drinks. Held at:
First United Methodist Church
FMI: Kevin Justice 856-299-2402
135 W. Simpson St.,
e-mail Kevin_justice@yahoo.com.
Mechanicsburg, PA
Note: this jam goes on hiatus for the summer
FMI:Jean Snyder 717-957-4609
1:00 to 5:00 PM - Third Sunday
www.sevenmountainsbluegrass.org
September thru May
New Jersey Bluegrass & Old Time
Music Association
Embury United Methodist Church Hall
Church St., Little Silver, NJ
Jamming & open stage show
FMI: www.newjerseybluegrass.com. For the December Jam only we’ll hold the
jam upstairs instead of downstairs.