Welcome all players and listeners that appreciate old time and bluegrass music to a weekend of playing, learning, sharing and listening with some of the best old time players in New England.
Vacationland Bluegrass Jam Camp has teamed up with the Old Time Campout to create a joint Old Time and Bluegrass Event: Strung Together, A Fine Old Time on Penobscot Bay. The Campout is held at one of the most beautiful outdoor jam spaces on the planet in Searsport, Maine.
In the Future: A Combined Old Time and Bluegrass Event
You asked for it, we deliver: jams, Jams, JAMS! Guided slow jams, intermediate and advanced jams, workshops, concerts and much more! Designated spaces will be laid out for each camp, with unlimited spots to hold you own jam.
Workshops and jam sessions are being offered this year in a more spontaneous fashion. Volunteer workshop and jam leaders will post their offerings on the big marker board in the middle of the camp. Discount offered to all music leaders (please consider giving a workshop or leading a jam during the weekend).
Jam Spaces will remain open all weekend and are not limited by the schedule or time. A room will be available to lock up your instruments in the evening.
Make your own Old Time Banjo and Singing to Two Finger Claw Hammer workshops are being offered September 13th -18th. This is a Deep Dive class led by Benjamin Foss and Sarah Grey. You’ll walk away with your own homemade Old Time banjo and an improved confidence in singing along with your clawhammer banjo! This is a pre-Strung Together workshop. Signup starts April 1st!!!!!!!!!
Saturday Night is a do-it-yourself concert/coffee house following the musicians Potluck Supper at 5:30PM. Our special guest teacher is the amazing, multi-instrumentalist Steve Roy. We are honored to have Master Old Timers including George Fowler, Art Bryan, Nate Paine, Jeff Titon, James Hyland, Bill Smith, Emily Jeffries, Benjamin Foss and Baron Collins-Hill join us for the weekend.
“A Fine Old Time on Penobscot Bay”
Events include many interesting guided jams (all levels), workshops, night/afternoon performances, recording studio, community pizza oven, group song share, singing, dancing, and lots of old time/ bluegrass jamming (beginner-advanced), all happening on the shores of Penobscot Bay. Vendors and campground cooks are always welcome.
New last year, Steve Roy and Resa Randolph led a Bluegrass camp, offering guided instrument/band sessions for beginner through advanced players, backup or lead playing, jam etiquette, bluegrass harmonies, etc.
Also, we learned how to weave your own instrument strap at our loom!
The weekend is sponsored by the Old Time Music Players and Vacationland Bluegrass Jam Camp of Maine and is hosted by Searsport Shores Ocean Camping in Searsport, ME. Come with some friends and make new ones while you are here celebrating American string band music, stories and the cultures that brought us those traditions.
All types of camping is available that weekend including tents, hammocks, RVs, safari, cabin rentals. Discounted camping rates available for participants. Volunteers are needed, and any time you can give is greatly appreciated. Bartering welcome.
Come early, stay long.
Extra proceeds will be used for musician scholarships and to help fund the instrument lending project at the Searsport Carver Memorial Library.
General Admission Tickets:
Suggested donation is $30 for the weekend, $60 for access to all workshops
Weekend includes admission for Friday, Saturday, Sunday to all performances, jams, recording opportunities and other activities. Attendance in any workshop for an additional $30 suggested donation. Your donation helps to cover costs of jam leaders, staff, tents and food stuffs. A little too rich for your blood? Ask us about volunteer opportunities or lead a jam session as your donation (Extra monies will be used for musician scholarships and to help fund the instrument lending project at the Searsport Carver Memorial Library).
Base cost for the weekend will be $30 not including camping, special workshops, lunch or private lessons. An additional $30 donation for attending workshops is suggested. Call or write to Searsport Shores for a camping spot. Campsites include hot showers, picnic table and fireplace (oceanfront & RV site upgrades available).
A donation of $10-20 on a sliding scale for the evening concerts is offered to all guests.
Please stay tuned for more updates as the date approaches.
Sign up for our mailing list: makersguildme@gmail.com. Reserve your campsite now by calling Searsport Shores at 207-548-6059. Make sure to mention you’re coming for the jamming weekend to get a discount.
For Festival & Camping details call 207.548.6059
2021 Schedule
Friday:
2-5 PM: Check-in, reception, & informal picking time.
Free to all: Introductory Old Time music session hosted by “Bound To Have a Little Fun”. Learn a few tunes, how to jam together and listen to an Old Time band up close. 3-5 PM for this session. Promises to be a great introduction, refresher or warm-up session for Old Time Music. Get your groove on!
3PM Old Time Banjo workshop:
5-6 PM: WELCOME (Snacks, orientation, etc) Hoping you can all arrive by this time. The pizza Bar is open! Please bring your favorite toppings to share and we’ll do the rest!
6:30-7 PM: Performer & Teacher Previews (Volunteer instructors will post their offerings)
7-9:30 PM: Opening Concert – TBA with the Strung Together Band followed by Square Dance A celebration of Old Time Music at it’s best!
Square Dance at Center Stage with Pat Danscen at the Kitchen Garden. Sit by the fire, make music, make friends, eat chips, enjoy music by and with friends.
9:30 PM: Small Group Jams Pick a spot in the center of things or seek a quiet spot to make music. Indoor spaces are identified on map.
Saturday:
8:30 AM: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (fresh from the oven), Juice and Bacon $
10-12 AM Jams and Bluegrass Workshop begin. Please check the marker board for what’s happening and where.
12 PM: Potato Bar Lunch. Baked potato with all of the toppings. Apples and home baked brownies for dessert. $10 donation is suggested.
1-4 PM: Jam Sessions & Bluegrass Workshop continue. Volunteer jam leaders will be on hand or feel free to begin your own. Plenty of space to work with others on particular songs as well.
2-4 PM Cider Making in the Demo Tent. We’ll crank up the press to sweeten up the day.
5:30 PM: Potluck Supper. Bring your favorite dish or foods to share. Grill and warming oven will be fired up in the Kitchen Garden if you wish to use it. Meat from the smoker will be served to compliment the dinner. Bring your favorite dish or drink to share. Potluck cookout!
7-9 PM: Saturday Evening Coffee House. One or two and off. Sign up with new or familiar combinations to play up to two pieces. Instructor bands to perform….. Followed by campfire and studio jams.
Sunday
8-9:30 AM: Waffles w/ Jam $
9:00- Sunday morning community sing, in the round by the beach. Led by all community leaders and participants, old-time and bluegrass.
10-12 PM: Jam tents open. All invited to play Reveille on your harmonica, key of C
10-12 P.M. Bluegrass players that are participating in the workshop practice their chops with the group!
12:00 PM: Final Slow, Fast Jam and Fancy Food Bar – Join a Jam with many or a few. Share a tune, technique or song that grew out of one of the workshops or just sit with other great people and play. The Fancy Food Bar Brunch will be presented at noon, always a treat you won’t forget. This light brunch is included with your weekend pass.
1 PM Until It’s Over: Old Time Community Shape Note Singing Session
Goodbye and Cleanup 2-2:30
Other Information
Jam Tunes May Include: , Cluck Old Hen (A Modal, maybe we’ll pluck the E & A strings a bit), Snowdrop, Bonnie on the Rhine, Twin Sisters (A Modal)
Red Rocking Chair
Sail Away Ladies
Angeline the Baker
Down by the Willow Garden
Bury me Beneath the Willow
Starch and Iron
Bully of the Town
Diamond Joe
Shady Grove
Wind and Rain
Cannonball Blues
What Does the Deep Sea Say?
Hard Times
Wildwood Flower
Cuckoo Bird
Amazing Grace
etc, etc, etc.
Campout Recording Studio: A recording studio will be set up for the weekend open to anyone wanting to record a tune with new or old friends.
Workshops begin at 10 AM: The first 12 players are seated in a circle on chairs. Extra players or people that just want to observe are welcome to stand around the circle to listen in. Slow Jam and Fast Jam Tents are open to all. Players choice. Many of the playing sessions will be led by an old time player. Anyone willing to teach please get in touch.
Lock up storage room available for all instruments.
Other Workshop Possibilities include:
Playing for contra-dancing A fun workshop focused on matching tunes to dances and/or general contra repertoire.
Meat & Potatoes- Old Time Tunes everyone should know (bring any instrument).
A sign up board (time, space, topic) will be set up at registration for anyone willing to offer other workshops, wanting to partner with someone to learn a tune, or just to organize a jamming circle.
Old Time & Bluegrass Tunes by Key/Tuning
Some of the tunes being shared during the weekend are listed below. Tunes with * have a lesson & sheet music at http://www.mandolessons.com
Undecided Key
Black Mountain Rag, Lazy John, Mrs. Macleod’s (Hop High Ladies), Rocky Mountain Goat
D Tunes
Angeline The Baker*
Arkansas Traveler*
Cherokee Shuffle*
Coleman’s March*
Dry And Dusty
Ducks On The Millpond*
Eighth Of January*
Five Miles From Town
Flop Eared Mule*
Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss*
Johnson Boys
Julianne Johnson*
Liberty*
Molly Put the Kettle On
New Five Cent Piece
Over The Waterfall*
Pig Ankle Rag*
Sal’s Got Mud Between Her Toes
Sam and Elzie
Soldier’s Joy*
Spotted Pony*
Twin Sisters*
Whiskey Before Breakfast*
Cross A Tunes
Dance Boatman Dance
Grey Eagle
Grub Springs*
Half Past Four
Jim Shank*
June Apple*
Kitchen Girl*
Little Billy Wilson
Red Haired Boy*
Red Prairie Dawn
Road to Malvern
Sandy Boys
Say Old Man I Want Your Daughter
Waiting for Nancy
Ways of the World
Standard A Tunes
Bill Cheatham*
Boil Them Cabbage Down*
Bull At The Wagon
Cherokee Shuffle (or D, really)*
Cluck Old Hen*
Cold Frosty Morning*
Cripple Creek*
Hangman’s Reel
Ida Red
Liza Jane*
Old Joe Clark*
Sail Away Ladies
G Tunes
Barlow Knife
Big Sciota*
Biscuits and Gravy
Blackberry Blossom*
Bound to Have a Little Fun
Elk River Blues
Girl I Left Behind Me*
Golden Slippers*
Grasshopper Sitting On a Sweet Potato Vine
Jenny Lind Polka
Josie-O
Old Beech Leaves*
Possum Up A Gum Stump
Pretty Little Gal with the Red Dress on
Red Wing (The Union Maid)*
Turkey In The Straw*
Sail Away Ladies (or Modal AEAE)*
Seneca Square Dance (Waiting For The Federals)*
Shoot the Turkey Buzzard
Shove That Pig’s Foot A Little Closer To The Fire*
Tombigbee Waltz*
Whiskey Before Breakfast
C Tunes
Billy In The Lowground*
Mustache Wax
Bluegrass Tunes Chords
Blueridge Cabin Home 1-4-5
Boil Them Cabbage Down 1-4-5
Bringing in the Georgia Mail 1-5
Bury Me Beneath the Willow 1-4-5
Dark Hollow 1-17-4-5
Darling Corey 1-5
Don’t This Road Look Rough and Rocky 1-4-5
Dooley 1-4-5
I’ll Fly Away 1-17-4-5
In the Pines 1-17-4-5
Long Journey Home 1-4-5
Man of Constant Sorrow 1-4-5
My Homes Across the Smokey Mountains 1-5
New River Train 1-17-4-5
Nine Pound Hammer 1-4-5
Old Home Place 1-27-37-4-5
Pig in a Pen 1-4-5
Reuben’s Train 1-5
Rocky Top 1-4-5-6m-7
Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms 1-17-4-5
Salty Dog Blues 1-2-5-6
Sitting on Top of The World 1-4-5-6m
There’s More Pretty Girls Than One 1-4-5
Will The Circle Be Unbroken 1-4-5
Working on a Building 1-5
Worried Man Blues 1-4-5
