Mondays

From Dennis Cartin -- "South Of Boston" will be hosting a monthly Bluegrass and Country Jam at the "New Song Folk Club" at the "Gallery Tea and Coffee House" located in the "KrisJons Plaza" on route 18 in East Bridgewater, MA, starting at 7:30 PM the first Monday of every month. This is a Jam so be sure to bring your instruments. (Jan 2003)

Sandy's Music Old Time Jam Sandy’s Music on Mass Ave in Boston, Mondays, 8:00 pm, 617-491-2812 but the really good part is when Sandy sponsors the Banjo Orchestra nites!

For those north of Providence, it is a shorter haul to the Boston area where there is an Irish Traditional session (seisun) every night of the week. Here is a link to the Irish Music Association page (Comhaltas) where you can find the tune list for their Monday evening BOSS (Boston Original Slow Session) which precedes the Full Speed session and usually draws 40 - 60 players.

Monthly "First Tuesday" Jam at Connecticut College in New London. In the Crozier-Williams Student Center at Connecticut College in New London, CT. The session starts at 6:00 p.m. and is open to players of all skill levels. email: ctbma at ctbluegrass dot org to be placed on our email list (Steve Morse 9/2003)

Novice Old Time Fiddler's Jam Tuesdays Willimantic, CT -- The Quiet Corner Fiddlers, an informal group of about a dozen novice fiddlers, holds "Not So Quiet Fiddle Sessions for Novice Fiddlers" at members homes tuesdays from 7 - 8:30pm. The group takes turns picking traditional tunes For more information Quiet Corners

Old Time/Contra in Boston area, 1st tuesdays 6:30-8pm at Park Ave Cong Church, Arlington and 3rd Tuesdays at 1st Bapt Church 5 Magazine Street, Cambridge, 617-522-5887

Tuesdays is the sit-in practice night for the Roaring Jelly contra big band in Lexington (intermediate players who read music would be most comfortable -- for us, challenging but fun! Band leader Debby Knight is great!)

IRISH in Providence - if you would like to get an introduction to Irish/Celtic music from a friendly group led by an experienced fiddler, there is a long running Tuesday evening intermediate session at Patrick's Pub on Smith St near the RI Statehouse from about 8 - 10pm with eight to ten regulars plus dropins. Follow the unwritten Irish session rules rather than the unwritten Old Timey rules. Generally, tunes are not played slow, a series of tunes will be played together rather than a single tune, the session leader picks the tunes (with nods to good players in the circle), and keep to traditional instruments, i.e. fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, flute, whistle and bodhran. They have a tune list which is available through their listing on the Rhode Island Irish website (see Celtic)

IRISH in Fall River - if you would like to get an introduction to Irish/Celtic music from a friendly group, there is a long running Wednesday evening intermediate session at St James Pub on Purchase St in Fall River from about 8 - 10pm, led by an experienced piper, usually five or six regulars plus drop-ins. Follow the unwritten Irish session rules rather than the unwritten Old Timey rules. Generally, tunes are not played slow, a series of tunes will be played together rather than a single tune, the session leader picks the tunes (with nods to good players in the circle), and keep to traditional instruments, i.e. fiddle, irish harp, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, flute, whistle and bodhran.

Fall-River - New Bedford - Little Compton bluegrass/Old Time folks should contact Frank Silva about the excellent jams that occur almost every week in that neighborhood. There may be a regular Friday night jam -- you can get details by contacting Frank at the email address tunemakers@cox.net

2nd and 4th Fridays every month in Connecticut Jam Sessions near Hartford in Bristol CT -- Listen to old tyme favorites on guitar, fiddle, banjo, accordion, harmonica & more. Held every 2nd & 4th Friday of every month from 7:00 to 9:30 PM. Located at the Bethel Christian Church, 750 Stevens St., Bristol, CT. Sing along, dance or clap to the music. Coffee and light refreshments available. We have a large, lively audience of 100+ people! $3 admission fee ($6 for special events). All Musicians Welcome! We usually play a few group tunes then everyone gets a chance to perform a solo or in small groups (like an open mike). For further information call Ed L. (860)589-6180, Susan (860)583-9067, Ed M. (203)879-4515 or Rey(860) 628-5855.

Lots of Dances on Fridays and Saturdays (actually, almost every night!)

Summer Outdoors Jam 2005 in Saunderstown - Casey Farm Saturday Mornings 9:30 - 12N (info and directions for Casey Farm) Jon Dember has organized a little jam at the bustling farmer's market at the Casey Farm in Saunderstown, RI. (Rt 1, Boston Neck Road) -- check spring 2006 to see if it's on...

Hartford Contra Dance (see their Playlist) Contra Jam Sessions 5:30-7:30 pm second Saturdays at the American Legion Post, 275 Main Street, Old Wethersfield, CT just before the second Saturday contra dance Admission is free, but we gratefully accept contributions toward the cost of the hall. The jam sessions provide a great opportunity for new and experienced musicians to learn, play, and enjoy the contra dance repertoire. We play a mixture of standard contra tunes -- mainly reels, jigs, and waltzes. Players of all instruments are welcome (keyboard players should bring their own instruments). The jam is most appropriate for "intermediate" skill levels; we don't play slowly, but we're not up to full dance speed either. Participants can use sheet music or play by ear. We use an "around the circle" system to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to pick tunes. We honor the tempo of whoever selects the tune, even if others could play faster. For those who want written music, our basic references (available from CDSS or the Button Box) are: Susan Songer & Clyde Curley: "The Portland Collection" Bill Matthiesen: "The Waltz Book" and "The Waltz Book II" David Brody: "The Fiddler's Fakebook" Randy Miller & Jack Perron: "New England Fiddler's Repertoire"

Freetown MA Saturday, Freetown Fiddle & Folk Club's -- there is a fee for attendance -- Contact: Sam Ruest 508-644-3169 or sruest at comcast.net Location: United Church of Assonet Hall, 11 North Main St, Assonet.

Saturday Irish on Cape Cod -- 3 - 6pm Olde Inn, Route 28 West Dennis (Cape Cod) phone 508.760.2627 Hosted by Bill Black. - all levels welcome; plenty of chestnuts but definitely not a "slow session". Full dinner menu; non-smoking

ARLINGTON MA TRADITIONAL MUSIC SESSIONS -
occasional Saturdays THE FOX LIBRARY is at the corner of Massachusetts Ave. and Cleveland St., (East) Arlington (basement piano room) ALL ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS, MUSICAL TRADITIONS AND LEVELS WELCOME for information call 781-643-3603 to check dates Admission: $1 per person for hall rental At a recent session the tunes included: Stellas Trip, Old Mother Flanagan, Stan Chapman, Miss McLeod, Arkansas Traveller, Paddy on the Railway, Off to California, Dick Gossip, Fish inthe Kettlehole, Chasing Rabbits, Cliffs of Moher, St Annes, Wind that Shakes the Barley, Bottom of the Punch Bowl, Coleman's March, Mississippi Sawyer, Temperance Reel, Coleraine, Green Willow, Road to Lisdoonvarna, Shandon Bells, All the Rage, Irish Lamentation, Girl I Left Behind, Liza Jane, Leather Away with the Wattle, Whiskey before BReakfast

Saturday is CoffeeHouse night! Check the Listing for the MANY coffee houses in the area for their great lineup of shows.

Bluegrass Jam in the Plymouth MA 1st Sundays Carver Mass BlueGrass Check it out.

1st Sundays Foster, RI BG Jam at "Woodland Meeting House" 115 E Killingly Rd, Foster RI (formerly the Maple Glen) 2-7pm , 401 647 3838 "All instruments are welcome and experience is not a factor". Listeners welcomed. Meals and beverages are available. A popular more or less hardcore Bluegrass jam session that has been drawing folks from all over SE New England for years. (Mapquest Map). and 3rd Sundays 4pm Woodland Meeting House - On March 18 a new "Celtic" Jam was held at the Woodland Manor (formerly Maple Glen) on East Killingly Road in Foster. This jam will continue on 3rd Sundays at about 4pm. The traditional Bluegrass jam that has been at this site for many years will continue its traditional monthly 1st Sunday afternoons.) (Mapquest Map). Tunes played at the first session Mar 18 included: Banish Misfortune, Morrison’s Jig, Swallowtail Jig, The Blarney Pilgrim, Wind That Shakes the Barley, Drowsy Maggie, Julia Delaney, Glasgow Reel, Over the Waterfall, Off to California, Pipe on the Hob, Haste to the Wedding, Garrett Barry, Flowers of Edinburgh, The Hags Purse, Rakes of Mallow, Billy in the Low Ground, Saddle the Pony, The Kesh Jig, Connaughtman’s Rambles, Rights of Man, The Butterfly, Fisher’s Hornpipe, John Ryan’s Polka, Dennis Murphy’s polka, Ballydesmond Polkas, Forked Deer, Bill Sullivan’s Polka (Mickey Chewing Bubble gum), The Cuckoos’ Nest, The Merry Blacksmith, The Stool of Repentence St Anne’s Reel, The Black Haired Lass, Off She Goes, Hector the Hero, Road to Boston, King of the Fairies, Paddy on the Turnpike, Jackson’s Friezecoat, St. Antoine’s reel, St Anne's Reel, Pays du Haut, Directions: Rt. 6 west to Rt. 94, turn right on Rt. 94 north, turn left (about a mile) on East Killingly Road, go another mile, tavern is on the left."

Ed Hetzlers is the originator and manager of the fabulous fiddle web resource known as Hetzler's Fakebook. He and his wife hosts a weekly acoustic slow jam at their home in Hudson, Massachusetts every Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:00 P.M if it does not conflict withtheir performing schedule. Because it is at a private home, you must call to see if there is space that day... This jam is for fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin and mountain dulcimer players. All skill levels are welcome. The emphasis will be on Old Time fiddle tunes. Rules: This slow jam is for acoustic string instruments only. Phone number is (978) 568-9553. Leave a message if we are not home.

Falmouth, MA Fiddler's Assn Jam on Cape Cod, 4th Sundays also, they have many occasional jams and practices of various combinations of their friendly members. Check their website -- about 60 miles (1.2 hrs) from Providence -- a small but friendly and cheerful gathering of mixed level fiddlers and old-timey players. A recent gathering did: Soldier's Joy, Old Joe Clark, Liberty, 8th of January, Bill Cheatham, Jaybird, (song)Spanish lace, (song)Wyoming Home, Midnight on the Water, Little Rabbit, Ragtime Annie, Coleraine, Temperance Reel, Roxanna's Waltz, and a few other tunes. Start and Stop promptly! (that's a first compared to most sessions!

Sunday in Rehoboth at Goff Memorial Hall--a weekly Sunday night jam session of traditional music, free and open to the public. Anyone who plays an instrument and would like to sit in with a group of musicians playing for fun is welcome to do so. This session has used a round-the-circle format with a lot of tunes chosen from the Portland Collection or the Waltz books. They most often play from written music, but often rather slowly. Somewhat wider range of instruments than many sessions, with trumpet and piano. The sessions are open to people of all ages and any level of ability. 7 to 9 p.m. -- for information email at bobolinkelliott(at)yahoo.com -- Mapquest Goff Hall 124 State Rd Rehoboth MA

Bluegrass jam sessions are held informally at frequent intervals in the New Bedford, Fall River area. There are some fine singers and pickers who meet at various private homes and spots around the neighborhood ("the Smokehouse" or "The Barn" "Westport Point" etc). They are a great bunch of guys, very welcoming and hospitable. Contact them through Frank Silva by email at tunemakers (at) cox.net

(not verified) Monthly: 3rd Sunday, Cape Breton Ceilidh, Canadian American Club 202 Arlington St., Watertown, MA 3-7pm (978) 858-3792

(not verified) Twice Monthly: 1st & 4th Sunday, Student Session, Canadian American Club 202 Arlington St., Watertown, MA 2-3:30pm (978) 858-3792 Monthly:

The sessions below have not been verified -- proceed at your own travel risk !

RI Old TIme Fiddlers -- Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island decades of fiddling! Not Nashville wannabees. Not Boston yuppies.This is the hard-core, old-time music of rural New England done by a group of friends who have played since before most of us were born. Several members recently celebrated - we kid you not - their 75th anniversary. Golden Slippers and all. Their official repertory tune list includes: Crooked Stovepipe, Devils Dream, Flopeared Mule, Darling Nellie Grey, Girl I Left Behind, Golden Slippers, Lamplighters Honrpipe, Liberty, Rakes of Mallow, Road to Boston, St Anne's Reel, Soldier's joy, Silver and Gold, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Haste to the Wedding, Little Burnt Potato, and 20 or so other tunes, almost all in keys of D, G and A... A strange but neat experience!

Weekly: The People's Pint - every Sunday from 6-10 p.m. All musicians welcome. 24 Federal St., Greenfield, Mass . (413) 773-0333.

Weekly: J.P. OHanlons every Sunday from 5pm to 8pm. 9 Main St Ayer Ma 01432-1325 Phone: 978.772.9282

3rd Sunday, 2:30-4:00, Ceol Traidisiunta na h' Eireann hosts Slow Session at the AOH Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St. (Rt. 16) in Watertown .

Weekly: The Burren - All-day seisiun on Sunday, 2pm-1am. 247 Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville, MA . (617) 776-6896. This is one of the authentically Irish drop in sessions in Boston... you can hear some hard core Irish music fanatics at these sessions, or likely to be a pretty good person playing almost anytime you stop by...

Weekly: McGann's: Irish pub with seisiuns every Tuesday night. 197 Portland Street, Boston, MA . (617) 227-4059.

Weekly: The Druid: Sunday afternoon seisiuns and the best Guinness west of Galway. 1357 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA . (617) 497-0965.

Weekly: Cape Cod Claddagh Tavern, 77 Route 28, West Harwich: Session, 4-7 p.m. Saturday

Weekly: Olde Inn at West Dennis, 348 Main St. (Route 28), West Dennis: Traditional Irish music session, Sunday 7:30pm-10:30pm

Weekly in the fall/winter: Fridays, 6 - 9 p.m. and Sundays 4 - 7 p.m. O'Neill's Irish Pub and Restaurant 120 Washington Street, Salem 978-740-8811 John Rockwell and Larry Young host a traditional Irish music session. Musicans are welcome to bring an instrument and join in. The pub is smoke-free!