Folk-Friendly Gatherings

People appreciate music and instruments when they get a chance to sing and play along with other like-minded folks.

Though there are many music festivals for spectators, this page will focus on events where you can "learn by doing."

And especially on FUN!

Focus on Learning and Participation

I learn an instrument most quicky when I have the chance to play with other people in the room. And I have met many others who learn best the same way.

There are lots of "festivals" that are really just concerts, and everyone who's not on stage is just an audience member. If I included all of those, this list would be unmanageable in a heartbeat.

This list will emphasize events with planned clinics, jams, and other ways to get folks playing and singing along. Having a concert series and saying you're allowed to jam with other attendees in the parking lot doesn't count.

To keep this list relevant, I've taken down a few that folks told me I "must" include because, on review, their pages say nothing about clinics, jams, or other interpersonal learning opportunities. I've even left off my favorite festival to attend (no, I won't tell you what it is.)

If you discover that an event that used to be concerts only has started to offer planned clinics, jams, etc. as well, please let me know, and I'll include them.

That said, you still need to check the schedules for each year carefuly. Sometimes one person is doing all the clinics and if he or she drops out, there won't be any clinics next year.

Scheduled vs Ongoing

Since I began this list, I have been contacted by several dulcimer, autoharp, and Bluegrass clubs, that meet monthly or even weekly, as well as venues that host several events throughout the year. So I have sorted the scheduled events for each state by calendar date and put the ongoing or sporadic events in a separate section below that.

So when you check your state's listing, look for both - there may be an ongoing event in your backyard that you would benefit from.

Note for Festival Hosts - If you know of or sponsor an event that features learning opportunities for traditional acoustic instruments, and you want to get on this list please use This Page and put the links to your event in the comments. If your event web page or Facebook page does not specifically mention clinics, scheduled jams, or other learning opportunities, please include an explanation of the learning opportunities you offer in your comments.

Also, please be sure to maintain your online presence. A number of fine, ongoing events are hard or impossible to find online because the organizers have let the domain name registration run out or some such. Even if you aren't using the domain for updates any more, please leave your web page operational so it can provide general descriptions, links to your FB page or whateve, and contact information. I don't like having to put "???" in my chart, and potential attendees would probaby like having at least one reliable source of information.

Note for Attendees: Because I won't likely have time to change all the dates every year this page is up, I am providing only the general timeframe for each festival. Please scan the list early and contact the hosting sites to be sure you don't miss a good one.

Plan Early and Thoughtfully

A good proportion of these events operate on a shoe-string or are organized by one or two individuals. Even though lots of folks may show up and lots of good stuff may happen, personal illness or someone forgetting to update their web page may be an issue. In the eight weeks since I started this page, two ongoing festivals I included have shut down permanently without any warning. Sometimes the page stays up for months.

Or the festival may be just fine, with organizers planning for another season, but they forget to update their web page or contact information, so you can't really tell until you track the organizers down to be sure.

Request a clinic schedule before you plan any trips or send any money. It will be provisional, of course, but some festivals offer different clinics every year, and you should have reasonable assurance that there will be something there for you.

In addition, some festival pages list jams or clinics in the general information, but don't list any in their schedules. If you hope to attend a clinic or jam, be sure you contact the festival organizers before you plan a trip. Maybe get the name(s) of the clinic instructor(s) to make certain they plan on being there.

Obviously, we can't guarantee that any event listed will meet your expectations, or even happen as scheduled. Most of them will, and the people organizing them are all trying to do their best, but things happen.

That said, when a well-planned event comes together, fun, fellowship, learning, and great music ensue!

Above All Else, Be Kind!

Almost everyone involved in these events is unpaid, and even if they're paid, I guarantee they're significantly underpaid. They're doing it because they love the music and they want you to love it, too.

I attended one massive week-long event with all volunteer labor, where half of the volunteers had bailed after the schedules were sent out and out-of-town visitors had all reserved hotel rooms. The folks who hung on to make certain out-of-towners still had the best experience possible were constantly barraged with demands and undeserved complaints from attendees.

I spent the week reminding fellow attendees that the people they should be mad at were the folks who weren't there. The folks that were still hanging on, wearing multiple hats, and taking no end of abuse deserved our thanks and praise.

If you want events like the ones on this page to continue, recognize the contributions of those volunteers who do their best to pull a good experience for you together year after year.

And volunteering yourself probably wouldn't do you any harm.

Finally, have a great year of music, no matter where you travel or spend your time this year!

So stay tuned!

Other Countries

Other Resources

Instrument-Specific - If you are interested in a specific, relatively uncommon instrument, such as tenor guitar, autoharp, Appalachian dulcimer, or accordian, do an online search for clubs or gatherings in your area. As an example, many cities have dulcimer societies that are beginner-friendly, but - unfortunately - their contact information changes so fast, I can't keep track. There are also online lists of dulcimer clubs, but they are seldom up-to date. (Note: If you're going to join a dulcimer club, look for dulcimers that have the 6 1/2 and 13 1/2 frets in case they like to play in tunings and keys that a classic dulcimer doesn't support - most clubs do.)

Many instrument-specific clubs have monthly, or even weekly meetings, where you may or may not get help as a beginner. But quite a few offer a once-a-year event with clinics specifically targeted to beginners. Again, ask for a clinic schedule before you register.

One example of a dulcimer club and event listing is the Dulcimer Player News Festivals and Workshop Guide. Like me, they're often working from partial or outdated information, so give them a break if you click on something and the link doesn't work. You can often search from the event name to find updated information.

Folk Jams, Hootenannies, etc. - "Hootenanny" is a term from the Folk Revival era, in which people showed up with whatever instrument they could play, took turns leading a song, and joined in where they could on other folks' song choices.

Once again, weekly or monthly events may leave total beginners "in the dust," but some of the organizations who sponsor these also sponsor annual get-togethers or mini-festivals that include events for beginners.

Sister Sites

Other sites we started to keep this site from getting too big to be useful include:

• CreekDontRise.com is a repository of articles about Folk music and the instruments on which it has been traditionally played.

  The "Acoustic" page includes a long list of articles including maintenance and playing tips on all sorts of traditional acoustic instruments.

• HarpersGuild.com - An extensive reference page for autoharps, with much information on customizing and maintaining them. Information about bowed psalteries, zithers, and related instruments is included.

• RiverboatMusic.com is a buyers' guide for acoustic and traditional instrument from a musician's point of view, focusing on the uses, reliability, and practicality of various instruments, and not just the marketing hype about the shape of the fret markers or whatever.

  For instruments like dulcimers that have mostly small manufacturers or cheap imports, we try to tell you what to look for, irrespective of brand.

• Momma Don't 'Low includes a free e-mail newsletter that discusses all of those topics above and more. We plan to include other features as time permits.

  Note - If you wish to sign up for our newsletter and ask a question at the same time, please click on the Momma Don't 'Low newsletter button to learn more and to get a link to our signup form.

• PaulRaceMusic.com is the "landing page" for Paul's own musical endeavors, plus many memoirs and blogs about music and the music business.
  
  

• ClassicTrainSongs.com describes railroad songs that every train lover should know. Or at least know about.

• SchoolOfTheRock.com has articles about Christian music, Christian music careers and performance, Christian living in general, and vintage saxophones, another of Paul's interests. This site has separate newsletters, etc., by the way - there isn't a lot of overlap with the Momma Don't 'Low(tm) newsletters.

For information about other music collections and projects, check the links at the bottom of this page.

Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you come away with some great ideas for "sharing the joy."

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race

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