Shady Grove is not just recognized for the performances from great artists but also for the jamming. Bring your acoustic stringed instruments (typical in the bluegrass, country and old time music tradition) and you will be sure to find a jam that will suit your taste and level.

The bluegrass festival tradition is participatory, in any given crowd you will be surrounded by committed amateur and semi-professional musicians that you will see later jamming in the campground until the wee hours.

A bluegrass jam, or any jam for that matter, is an event in which musicians come together to play and sing unrehearsed music with and for each other. They may, or may not, know each other in advance and have different levels of experience and playing ability, singing, or both. There may be observers, an audience of sorts, but the jam is about having fun playing music together.

Bluegrass jamming has its instruments (mandolin, fiddle, banjo, flatpicked guitar, doghouse bass and sometimes dobro… and typically, without percussion), and it’s own etiquette and songbook that allows strangers to play together within moments of meeting one another.

Key musical elements of listening, rhythm, harmony singing and improvisation can make for exciting impromptu collaborations!

Facilitated jams are hosted by musicians, who will assist in coordinating the jam. The musicians will help those who are new to jamming and are unfamiliar with bluegrass jam etiquette (see below).

Open jams can happen anywhere on the grounds provided it is not in the quiet camping zone. There are some formal and informal sheltered areas.

If you have never been to a bluegrass jam, click the button to learn more!