The Saturday Bluegrass Casual is an intermediate bluegrass jam that’s been run by Kurt Newman for the last three years and counting. It’s free of charge (PWYC donations welcome) and open to the public, at the storied Tranzac venue in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto. It takes place just about every weekend from 12 to 2 pm. If this seems like the sort of thing you would like to attend, please come by.
The Saturday Bluegrass Casual Rules and Regulations
The Saturday Bluegrass casual is a fully-acoustic jam intended for people who want to play, share, and learn “traditional” bluegrass string band repertoire.
The Main Rule
Keep it fun and keep it casual.
To keep it truly casual, there are a few shared expectations and etiquette that are a common feature of any well-run jam session anywhere.
Instruments
The common string band repertoire that is played at this session is comprised of various configurations of the following acoustic instrumentation, which are always welcome:
Guitar
Fiddle
Mandolin
Dobro
Banjo
Bass (typically acoustic, however, electric bass can work well in a bluegrass context assuming proper volume levels and EQ).
All of these acoustic instruments play various roles in setting the time and rhythm in a string band ensemble. Therefore, drums and other percussion instruments are not part of a bluegrass jam.
However, there are some individual and context-dependent exceptions for other instruments not listed above. This is dependent on the player in question, their playing style, and familiarity with standard bluegrass repertoire.
Any exceptions will be granted at the sole discretion of the jam leader, Kurt Newman, or an individual he delegates as jam leader if he is absent on a given Saturday.
Calling tunes
Any attendee is welcome to “call a tune” to be played at the jam. Just keep in mind some simple etiquette:
1.) Everyone should give others ample opportunity to do the same, and priority will be given to anyone who hasn’t yet called a tune at that day’s jam.
2.) Attendees who want to call a tune should be able to “teach” the tune to others.
This means:
- You should know and understand the basic melody and chord progression (and/or lyrics) of the tune. In other words, call tunes you know.
- You are willing and able to (very briefly) demonstrate any of those to other attendees.
3.) The tunes people call should be “in the genre” of bluegrass or just work well within it. After all, it is a bluegrass jam.
General etiquette
Volume dynamics are important – they allow everyone to be heard whether they’re singing or playing instrumental breaks/solos. Practice using good tone and sensitive volume dynamics at all times. Plus…they just help us all sound better.
Anyone attending the Saturday Bluegrass Casual, whether as a participant or as an audience member is expected to abide by the Tranzac Code of Conduct, as with any other event held at the Tranzac.
If you’ve come to listen instead of play, that’s awesome. We love an audience. Just bear in mind that if you’re not an active participant, you shouldn’t be chiming in with extraneous clapping, top-of-the-table percussion, etc. while we’re playing a tune. Please do clap for us when we finish a tune, though!
The jam ends at 2:00 p.m. sharp to allow some packing-up time for us and some unpacking time for the Jamzac jam that follows us at 2:30 p.m.