2011 | 2010 | Folk Jammers

The Folk Jammers will return to the RiverRoots Music and Folk Arts Fesetival.

The musical teaching jam coordinated by the Folk Jammers gave many attendees at the festival last year an opportunity to take the love of music a step beyond just listening to the nationally acclaimed folk musicians performing on the main stage.

The group consists of Don Pennington, Gordon Moore and John Sheckler. A wide spectrum of musical friends bring their instruments and voices to the teaching jams. The jam is held in the Storytellers Tent and continues daylong with two important exceptions. There are several breaks during the day for storyteller performances. (Times to be announced elsewhere on this website)Performers from the main stage will offer musical workshops in the tent on Saturday.

"We offer musicians of all levels an opportunity to join other musicians in a multi-style jam," said Sheckler. "It gives all the participants an opportunity for musical growth as they jam with musicians from other styles of music."

The Folk Jammers use Americana music as their primary style blending elements of blues, country, rock, Celtic and jazz. One example of their adventurous spirit is the performance of Dark Side of the Moon as a ballad on the Appalachian dulcimer.

The teaching jam was a big success at the 5th annual Ohio River Valley Folk Festival. Festival organizers gave credit to the Folk Jammers for creating an active second stage. The Folk Jammers also orchestrated a teaching jam at the First Annual Ferdinand Folk Festival last year.

Musicians of all levels are welcome to join the jam. They are welcome to bring their own instruments or take advantage of a few extra guitars, mandolins, dulcimers, banjos and percussion instruments that travel with the Folk Jammers. The unique environment of the Teaching Jam allows all who take part to be both teacher and student.

Pennington and Sheckler started The Folk Jammers because of the excitement created by the regular Friday night jams at the Thomas Family Winery in Madison. Those jams can include many different styles of music depending on who is playing on any given Friday night.

The teaching jam is an informal performance. The pace may slow when performers joining the jam are beginners. Pennington and Sheckler will stop when necessary to teach chords or rhythms. At other times The Folk Jammers will take a back seat as more advanced players strut their stuff.

Non-musicians are also welcome at the jam. There will be plenty of room for an audience, and many of the songs will offer the opportunity to sing along.

For more information about the Folk Jammers, visit: Folk Jammers Facebook page.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops preform during a workshop with the Folk Jammers in the Storyteller's Tent.