There will be multiple opportunities for festival goers to jam, busk and play with others at the festival IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC 2022. The festival is 12noon – 11 pm on Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1, 2022. Feel free to bring out your guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin or bass and pick a tune or three. We’ve got the chairs and some shade — you bring the tunes!
There are facilitated jam spots lead by professional musicians performing on festival stages. Banjo player Tray Wellington is leading a jam early Saturday afternoon. Tray says, “…my focus will be on playing songs that are fun and make sure everyone feels welcomed.” While Tray plans on calling a lot of familiar tunes he says he hopes everyone learns something new as well. “I also want people to walk away with new songs, new ideas for their instruments and most importantly, new friends.”
In addition to the facilitated jam tents there are will also be chairs out for you to gather and play. You can plan on the courthouse steps, at the feet of the Sir Walter Raleigh statue and even in the bed of a brand new Chevy Truck. Chevrolet is back as a festival sponsor and this year is setting up a jam spot in the bed of one of their shiny new trucks. The Chevy Jam Spot will be on Davie Street.
Of course, you will likely find people gathering for tunes and jamming on park benches, street corners, at the campgrounds, in the Raleigh Convention Center, in hotel lobbies and suites. But we’ve also got these designated spots that are reserved for people who want to play.
PineCone WOB22 Warm Up Bluegrass Jam (facilitated by Russell Johnson from Diamond Creek)
MON 09.27, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, TransferCo Food Hall Ballroom, 500 E Davie St., Raleigh, NC
Open Jamming and Busking Spots (no facilitator)
FRI & SAT, all day, at the Sir Walter Raleigh Statue outside the Raleigh Convention Center
FRI & SAT, all day, on the steps of the Wake County Courthouse on Fayetteville Street
FRI & SAT, all day, at the Chevy activation on Davie Street
FRI & SAT, all day, inside the (air-conditioned!) Raleigh Visitors’ Center (500 Fayetteville Street)
FRI & SAT, 6:00 – 11:00, WOB Open Jam Tents on Market & Exchange Plazas
WOB Open Jam Tents (facilitated, with scheduled leaders)
Market Plaza (227 Fayetteville Street)
FRI, 1:00 – 3:00 – Dan Bui (from Twisted Pine)
FRI, 4:00 – 6:00 – members of Gangstagrass
SAT, 1:00 – 3:00 – old time jam with fiddler Earl White
SAT 4:00 – 6:00 – Youth Jam with members of Fair Black Rose and the Loblollies
Exchange Plaza (225 Fayetteville Street)
FRI, 12:00 – 2:00 – members of the Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
FRI , 3:00 – 5:00– Hank, Pattie & the Current
SAT , 12:00 – 2:00 – Tray Wellington
SAT, 2:30 – 4:30 – ukulele strum along with Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (ukes provided!)