At a bluegrass festival, the stage show is half of the event. The other half happens in the campground, where players sit in circles and pick late into the night. To join one, walk the campground with your instrument, listen for a circle at your level, wait for a break between songs, and ask if the jam is open. Most are.
How campground jams work
Jams form around a campsite: under a canopy, beside a camper, or around a lantern. Some are planned by a group of friends. Many start when two players sit down and others drift in.
Jams run in the afternoon between stage sets and pick up after the last act ends. The busiest hours are late at night.
There is no schedule and no sign-up. You find a jam with your ears.
Walk and listen first
Take a full lap of the campground before you sit down anywhere. Carry your instrument in its case or on a strap.
Listen for three things.
Speed. Fast, clean playing means an advanced circle. Slower songs with pauses between them often mean a friendlier one.
Style. If players trade solos and sing, it is a bluegrass jam. If everyone plays the tune together for a long time, it is an old-time jam. Read bluegrass vs old-time music.
Size. A circle of five or six is easier to join than a circle of fifteen.
How to join
Stand a few steps back and listen to a whole song. Do not play yet.
When the song ends, catch someone’s eye and ask, “Mind if I join?” or “Is this an open jam?”
If they say yes, find a spot on the edge. Tune away from the circle first.
If the circle is a band at practice or a tight group of friends, they may say so. Thank them, listen for a bit if you like, and walk on. There is another jam fifty steps away.
An open case, an empty chair, or a wave from a player are all good signs.
Start in the outer ring
Big jams have an inner circle that leads songs and takes breaks, and an outer ring that plays along. Start outside. Play soft. Watch how the songs move around.
If the group hands you a turn to pick a song, they have invited you in. Take it or say “pass.”
Read bluegrass jam etiquette for the rules that apply in any circle.
Find a jam at your level
A jam far above your level is a great place to listen and a poor place to play. Sit behind the circle and learn.
For playing, look for these.
The slow jam. Many festivals schedule a slow jam in the daytime, often led by a teacher. Check the program. Read what a bluegrass slow jam is.
Workshops. Festivals often hold instrument workshops with the stage acts. They are a good place to meet players at your level.
Daytime jams. Afternoon circles tend to be slower and smaller than the midnight ones.
Your own jam. Sit at your campsite and play. Players walking by will stop. Two guitars and a song list is a jam.
What to bring
A chair with no arms. Arms get in the way of a guitar or a banjo.
A small light or headlamp. Keep it pointed down.
Warm layers. Nights get cold, and cold hands are slow.
A tuner, a capo, spare picks, and spare strings. Stores are far away.
Water.
A short list of songs you can lead, with your keys.
Read the full list in what to bring to a bluegrass jam.
Take care of your instrument
Heat, cold, damp, and dew all move your tuning. Check it often.
Do not leave an instrument in a hot car or in direct sun.
Put it in the case when you walk away, and keep the case where you can see it.
Night air makes strings slick with dew. Wipe them down before you put the instrument away.
Campground manners
Quiet areas. Many festivals mark a quiet camping area. Do not start a jam there at night.
Walk around circles, not through them.
Ask before you record or take photos.
Listening is welcome. People who do not play can pull up a chair behind the circle. Clap. Do not talk over the music.
Go easy on other people’s food, drink, and chairs. If someone offers, say thanks. Bring something to share the next night.
Song choices for a festival jam
Call songs the whole circle can play. Festival circles are full of strangers, so standards work best. I’ll Fly Away, Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms, and Nine Pound Hammer are safe choices. For fiddle tunes, try Soldier’s Joy or Old Joe Clark.
Say the name and the key. Name any chord beyond the 1, 4, and 5. Read how to call a song in a bluegrass jam.
Sunday morning
Many festivals have a gospel jam or a gospel set on Sunday morning. It is slow and welcoming, and the whole circle sings. Read bluegrass gospel songs for a jam.
Pace yourself
A festival runs for days. Players who pick until four on the first night are tired for the rest of it. Sleep some. Drink water. Rest your hands. Sore fingertips are normal by the second day.
After the festival
Write down the songs and tunes you heard and did not know. Learn three of them before the next one.
Ask the players you liked where they jam the rest of the year. That is how many people find a regular circle near home. Read how to find a bluegrass jam near you.