Old time jam in minnesota [Archive]

dj coffey

Jan-05-2007, 1:49pm

Anyone on here familiar with the old time jam at Columbia Grounds in NE Minneapolis on Sat. mornings? Is it still happening?

What tunes are common, how big a group is it, is it open to newcomers, early-intermediate players (but little jam experience)?

Joe F

Jan-09-2007, 10:12am

The Columbia Grounds jam is alive and well, and is one of the larger old time jams in the Twin Cities. #It gets going around 10 AM every Sunday (not Saturday), and usually tapers off around noon or 1 PM. #Lately, it's been a fairly large group (last Sunday I counted 17 players in all). #The music is mainly old-time, with a lot of common tunes and a few obscure ones. They tend to stick with one key for 1-2 hours at a time so the banjo players don't have to keep retuning.

I've found it to be a very friendly and open group, and welcoming to newcomers (as I was about a year ago). #Local old-time luminaries like Bill Cagley and Bill Hinckley show up from time to time. #And on top of all that, Columbia Grounds serves very good breakfasts.

I'm there almost every week, so if you go, say hello. (I'm the guy with a dark brown Kentucky A mandolin).

On Saturdays, there is another old-time jam at Artist's Grind (corner of University and Raymond in St. Paul -- the former Prairie Star Cafe). #It tends to be a bit smaller and the tunes a bit faster than Columbia Grounds, but it's still a very friendly group. It starts around 9:30 - 10:00 AM as well.