Jamn-nic
Combine a Jam session with a picnic in the park and you get a "Jam-nic"
This will be our third of summer 2008 and the first two were a lot of fun, with 8 to 15 musicians coming and about 75 to one hundred of all ages coming to picnic and listen (a kind audience).
The jam is a Texas style jam, that is rather than someone inviting musicians to take a turn (which can be awkward for a new one who just wants to try and play along) there is a sign up list for those who want a turn at center stage to do their thing, and it goes in order, first come first serve and then go throught the list all over again.
There is an unusual element. There is a sign up list for audience. They get to pick a song out of the "yellow books" for the musicians to play and the audience sing along. Everyone in the audience has a yellow book with 48 songs that are folke, gospel, 60's pop, easy to sing and play. The musicians can play by ear or use musician books with lyrics and chords.
The host is Dale Evenhouse, a 60's coffee house musician. The sponsor (and much of the crowd) is Friendship Chapel. So the crowd is gentle and very friendly and please keep music lyrics family friendly.
6 to 6;30 is the picnic. Take your meat for the grill (one will be going and someone will even cook it for you if you want). Around 8 or so we have a dessert social, so take a plate of cookies etc. If someone forgets food, there is pleanty to go around and people who like to share. During the dessert social sing-a-longs end and it is just musicians making music.
Most musicians are not from the chapel. People often just wander in from the park (eevn some musicians!) It has been a fun, relaxing time for everyone. Hope you can make it!
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