Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings - jams with Celtic, Irish and Scottish flavors (these are the roots of bluegrass, after all!). Sunday afternoon jams are at the Auld Dubliner Pub in SquawVillage, north shore of Lake Tahoe. Thursday evenings are at Murphy's Irish Pub at SouthShore. Email to confirm before you make the drive! bevp@inreach.com
Friday - Sunday, May 9-11 "Spring Wings" Bird Festival in Fallon featuring live music, including bluegrass pickin' at OatsPark. More info: http://www.springwings.org/
Saturday, May 10, 7:30pmPlumas Park Gym, 475 Monroe St., just off Plumas, 6 blocks south of California St. Contra Dance with live fiddle tunes played by "The Jig's Up" with caller, George Grover. The dance fee is $10.00. Sponsored by the Sierra Contra Dance Society. If you've never danced this style of "line" or "group" dance, come at 7:00 for a quick lesson. Wear sneakers! It's a blast! More info at 775-240-6117.
Saturday May 17, 3:30-5:30pm "BLUEGRASS RHYTHM GUITAR" Workshop with Orrin Star. Bluegrass guitarists have developed some of the most potent and interesting rhythm moves ever heard-but they are seldom taught in an organized way. This workshop takes a hands-on, detailed and entertaining look at them. Learn the cool bass runs and strums and how to apply them. If you strum folk, bluegrass or country music on an acoustic guitar this workshop is for you. Advance registration required. $50. To register contact Joyce via juice421@sbcglobal.net or 775-722-9877.
Saturday, May 17, 7:30pm House concert featuring Orrin Star. Don't miss this opportunity to see this former National Flatpicking champ and "Prairie Home Companion" alum who was once described as "Arlo-Guthrie-meets-Doc-Watson". At the home of Joyce and Dave Furlong, 145 Thomas Ave. Reno. More info, contact Joyce via juice421@sbcglobal.net or 775-722-9877.
Sunday May 18, "MANDO WORKSHOP DAY"Two mandolin workshops with Orrin Star. First workshop, 10:30am-12:30pmwill be WALTZ-TIME, TREMOLO & COOL CHORDS-- Learn the famous, "Ashokan Farewell", the sublime waltz whose haunting melody is a perfect tremolo vehicle and whose exotic yet accessible chord structure is very gratifying to play. $45. Advance registration required.
The second workshop will be at 2:00-4:00pm, "MAKING YOUR MANDO SING"-- One of the hurdles facing mandolinists on the road from memorizing solos to making music is learning to incorporate rhythm moves into their leads. Using the classic song New River Train, this workshop will give you a tool-kit of strums and double-stops that can be used to transform a simple vocal melody into a full-sounding mandolin solo. $45. Advance registration required. To register for either or both of these workshops, contact Joyce via juice421@sbcglobal.net or 775-722-9877.
Friday, May 23, 7:00 - 9:00 pm "Slow Jam" at Cindy Gray's house. All pickers welcome! This jam is for folks who have a basic knowledge of bluegrass music, who want to work on "hot licks" or learn new songs. We stick to a moderate tempo, but still try to keep it challenging. Call 775-348-4692 for info or directions.
Friday, May 24, 7-9pm, Comma Coffee House, 312 S Carson St.Carson City (just across from the Legislature). Celtic/American Tune Session. Focus will be on the repertoire of "traditional" Celtic/American fiddle tunes. Open to players of acoustic melody instruments such as fiddle, mandolin, hammer dulcimer, tenor banjo, lead guitar, penny whistle, Irish flute, etc. Please review the session guidelines at http://members.aol.com/cdadbayer/GUIDELINES.pdf More info: cdadbayer@aol.com
May 30 - June 1, "Bluegrass Retreat at Lost Trail Lodge" Come up the "Lost Trail" for an incredible bluegrass experience! More info at http://www.nevadabluegrassproject.org/Pages/LostTrailRetreats.html
