Since there are so many jamming and listening opportunities this month, we have suspended all our jams and classes---just get out there and pick!  Jams and guitar classes will resume in August.     
 
I have to brag about a great guy that many of us know, Michael Franz. 

Michael attended Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp this year (as did several other Reno-ites---we had a blast!), and he was the winner of a raffle for a $5,000 custom mandolin, built by Mario Proulx!  The raffle was a college scholarship fund for the son of a beloved Tennesseean, John Studdard.  John was only 43 years old when he passed away last December after a struggle with cancer.  His wife, Cindy Studdard, is an employee at the Kamp, and when Michael went up on stage to accept the mandolin---he handed it to her to keep!  What a beautiful gesture, Michael!  We always knew you were a kind and generous guy, and we are proud to know you.       
 
The 5th Annual Steve Kaufman Guitar Workshops and Concert will be held here in Reno on October 23-25, 2009.  This year, due to popular demand, Steve will offer an Advanced Flatpicking Workshop (limited to 20 students) on Sunday, as well as his All-Level Flatpicking Workshop on Friday and Saturday.  To qualify for the Advanced class, you should be able to play lead on at least 8-10 fiddle tunes at "jam tempo".  You should also have attended at least one of his other workshops, since he won't cover "basic flatpicking" in the Advanced class.  He'll expect you to play leads using "down up" strokes at a moderate tempo in the Advanced class.  If you want to learn "basic flatpicking" from the most award-winning flatpicker in the world (3-time Winfield Champion---no one else has ever won it 3 times!), sign up for his "All-Level" Workshop.  Information on both workshops is here.  Concert information is here.  We sell out every year, so register early! 

Call 775-348-4692 for details or send an email to cgray56@sbcglobal.net.

 

If you're interested in FREE admission to the Rhonda Vincent and the Rage concert on July 25, sign-up to be a volunteer for the event.  You'll get to see the show (but you won't get a seat---you'll have to sit on the lawn).  This is an Artown event, so contact Artown Manager, Prudence Wildman at 303-7360, if you'd like to volunteer. 
 
Plan ahead for Saturday, August 15, from 12-6PM, 1st Annual Old Time Music Festival at Genoa Town Park in Genoa, NV.  This is a FREE event featuring American roots music, food, local vendors and a kids music area.  The concert will be followed by an open acoustic jam session at 7PM in the Genoa Town Hall.  Scheduled performers include Gardnerville's The Country Valley Jug Stompers and Carson's The Hot Two.  California bands, The Mad Cow String Band, Julio and the Honeybunnies and The Quake City Jug Band will also appear.  Genoa (775) 782 8696  www.genoanevada.org

 

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July, 2009 Calendar