Well, winter is finally here in Western New York. We don’t put away our banjos and fiddles but the pace does change.
by Mark Panfil
BuffaloBluegrass.com has 10 bluegrass jams listed in February in the greater Buffalo area. I would recommend the longest running one, at Bennington Lanes every second Sunday of the month from 2 to 7 p.m.
You don’t have to be a player to enjoy them. They are all free and many times the level of playing is amazing!
The newest one happens every fourth Sunday of the month from 3 to 6 p.m. at Duende in Buffalo (that’s the place down by Silo City). It’s hosted by the Brothers Blue. It is an old timey jam, which means mountain music before Hank Williams or Bill Monroe. It’s great stuff to dance to!
The Bluegrass All-Stars bring lunchtime bluegrass to the Sportsmen’s every first and third Thursday of the month from noon to 2:15 p.m.. This is free, too. Tips are well appreciated, and often the guest musicians make it truly interesting!
The Brothers Blue jam.
The Sportsmen’s also welcomes the “Folkgrass” sounds of the Probables on Feb. 22 and the Irish/Old Timey/Bluegrass sounds of Cross the Pond, featuring the John Dady Trio, Crikwater and the Brothers Blue on Feb. 29.
Several indoor Bluegrass festivals happen through the winter, including the Oil City (Pa.) Bluegrass Festival on Feb. 22. The Joe Val Bluegrass Festival happens on Valentine’s Day weekend in Boston Mass.
Of course, there are several Bluegrass Cruises and many winter bluegrass festivals from here to Florida.
Here
The Bluegrass All-Starts at the Sportsmen’s Tavern.
are a couple of listening opportunities worth mentioning. WXRL (1300 AM) has been carrying the syndicated bluegrass show “Into the Blue” every Tuesday night from 9 p.m. to midnight. My favorite online radio bluegrass show is Bluegrass/Country streaming from WAMU in Washington, D.C.
So enjoy some hot chocolate or a cool drink and catch some live bluegrass in February or stay in and enjoy it on radio or YouTube (hint: search Molly Tuttle or the Gibson Brothers; you’ll be glad you did).
Meanwhile, you can catch up on every Western New ork Bluegrass at https://buffalobluegrass.com.
