News Events Grassifieds Scene About Contact
About Contact
Home News Events Grassifieds Scene About Contact
Local Bluegrass & Stuff
Concerts | Jams | Gigs | Festivals | Quarantainment

Click here to see details about Victoria Bluegrass Association Events

Non-VBA Concerts, etc.
Sunday October 22 2:00 - 5:00pm:   Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar with Sue Malcolm
at Beacon Community Services SHOAL Activity Centre 10030 Resthaven Dr Chapel Room
Cost: $30.00 for Sidney Acoustic jam members, $35.00 for non-members to be paid at the door.
Join us for a fun 2-hour workshop followed by a jam. More info: Sue Rowed


Back to Top
Regular Jams in the Victoria Area
Sundays 1:00 - 4:00 pm:   Sooke Bluegrass Open Mic
at Sooke Legion Branch 54 Sooke; Eric and Mary host this long-standing music event. Cozy and inviting, bring along a tune to share. Acoustic instruments only. Admission: free, but buy a drink or food

Sundays 3:00 - 7:00 pm:   The Loft's Sunday Afternoon Jam
at The Loft Pub; Bring your own instrument and mic - drum kit, bass/guitar amp provided. Admission: free, but buy a drink or food

3rd Sunday of the month 3:00 - 7:00pm:   South Cowichan Acoustic Jam (Cobble Hill)
at the Stu Armour Hall; Admission: free?

Sundays 2:00 - 6:00pm:   Country Jam (Duncan)
at the Eagle Hall; 2965 Boys Road, Duncan. Not loud, but PA and drummers are used. They also have a Rock jam on Friday night, and an Open Jam on Saturday afternoons. Admission: free, but buy a drink or food

Sundays 7:00pm - midnight:   Bluegrass Jam (Cumberland)
at the Cumberland Hotel; Admission: free, but buy a drink or food

Mondays 6:30 - 8:30 pm:   Spiral Groove
Oldtime music jam at the Spiral Cafe, 418 Craigflower Rd, Victoria; Admission: free, but buy a drink or food;

Mondays 6:30pm - 8:30pm:   Gigi's Unplugged Open Mic
at Gigi's Cafe; Admission: free, but buy a drink or food

Tuesdays 7:45 - 9:45 pm:   Victoria Bluegrass Association Weekly Gathering

Wednesdays 7:00 - 9:00 pm:   Sidney Acoustic Jam
at Beacon Community Services SHOAL Activity Centre 10030 Resthaven Dr Auditorium A; Acoustic Instruments only please - all levels of players welcome; Admission: $3, or $20/yr with a paid-up SHOAL membership; More info: Susan Rowed 250-208-3007 or Kathy Watson 250-656-7982

Wednesdays 6:00 - 9:00 pm:   The Loft's Wednesday Night Jam
at The Loft Pub; Bring your own instrument and mic - drum kit, bass/guitar amp provided. Admission: free, but buy a drink or food

Wednesdays 7:00 - 9:00 pm:   WestCoast Acoustic Song Circle
at Sooke Legion Branch 54 Sooke; Share songs and stories in a non-judgemental low-pressure soiree. All acoustic instruments and genres welcome. Piano available too. Admission: free, but buy a drink or food

Thursdays 7 - 10 pm:   Bluegrass Jam (Qualicum Bay)
at the Crown and Anchor Pub; Admission: free, but buy a drink or food; More info: Sharon Klassen 250-951-2055

1st Friday of the month 7 - 9:30 pm:   Victoria Fiddle Society Monthly Jam
(except July & August); at Wheeley Hall in Esquimalt United Church 500 Admirals Road Victoria, BC; All musicians, all ages and skill levels are welcome; Break-out space for advanced fiddlers; Admission: VFS members Free, $5 for drop-ins.

1st and 3rd Friday of the month 7 - 11pm:   Emporium Open Mic Night (Brentwood Bay)
at the Brentwood Bay Village Emporium; All attendees, whether performers or audience, must have a seat at a table. Tables are reserved online ($10 per seat), and in advance so that performers and their guests are guaranteed an opportunity to perform - and a place for them and their guests to sit.

3rd Friday of the month 7 - 10pm:   Coombs Country Opera (Coombs)
at the Rodeo Grounds (site of the bluegrass festival); Admission: $5; More info: 250-248-1009

3rd Friday of the month 7 - 11pm:   South Cowichan Music Jam (Mill Bay)
at the Malahat Legion; Admission: free, but buy a drink or food; Hosted by the band Turnip the Beet

Back to Top
Regular Gigs
Let us know if you have a regular gig in the Victoria area.
Back to Top
Bluegrass, Old-Time & Folk Festivals in 2023
Confirmed dates for British Columbia, Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest
Jan 12-1524th Portland Old Time Music GatheringPortland, OR
Jan 27-29Winter Music FestivalFlorence, OR
Feb 17-19Olympia Old Time FestivalOlympia, WA
Feb 17-20Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Winter RetreatPort Orchard, WA
Feb 23-26WintergrassBellevue, WA
Mar 03-05Bluegrass On The BeachLake Havasu, AZ
Apr 13-16Walker Creek Music Spring CampPetaluma, CA
May 04-07Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Spring RetreatPort Orchard, WA
May 11-14Willamette Valley Old-Time SocialEugene, OR
May 17-21Red Hot Strings WorkshopPort Townsend, WA
May 19-21Hixon Bluegrass and Country JamboreeHixon, BC
May 26-2951st NorthWest Folklife FestivalSeattle, WA
May 26-28Juan de Fuca Festival of the ArtsPort Angeles, WA
Jun 02-04Tenor Guitar GatheringAstoria, OR
Jun 08-11Idaho Bluegrass Music CampWeiser, ID
Jun 08-12Sacajawea Bluegrass CampoutPasco, WA
Jun 09-11Folk 'n Fiddle FestivalSidney, BC
Jun 09-11Kluane Mountain Bluegrass FestivalHaines Junction, YK
Jun 11-14California Bluegrass Music CampGrass Valley, CA
Jun 15-1847th Grass Valley Bluegrass FestivalGrass Valley, CA
Jun 16-18Cowichan Valley Bluegrass FestivalCowichan Lake, BC
Jun 16-18Wenatchee River Bluegrass FestivalCashmere, WA
Jun 17-19Keremeos Bluegrass JamboreeKeremeos, BC
Jun 18-24Lady Of The Lake - June WeekCouer d'Alene, ID
Jun 21-25National Oldtime Fiddle Contest and FestivalWeiser, ID
Jun 23-25Campbell Bay Music FestivalMayne Island, BC
Jun 27-Jul 02Voiceworks - A Workshop for SingersPort Townsend, WA
Jun 30-Jul 02Summerland Bluegrass FestivalSummerland, BC
Jun 30-Jul 02Smithers Midsummer Music FestivalSmithers, BC
Jun 30-Jul 02Fossil Jam CampFossil, OR
Jul 02-08Dulcimer Week in the WallowasWallowa Lake, OR
Jul 03-09Festival Of American Fiddle Tunes
also check out the alternative Mule Barn Campsite		Port Townsend, WA
Jul 07-09Bluegrass From The Forest FestivalShelton, WA
Jul 07-16Harrison Festival Of The ArtsHarrison Hot Springs, BC
Jul 08-14California Coast Music Camp - Week 1Placer County, CA
Jul 09-14Walowa Fiddle Tunes CampWalowa, OR
Jul 09-15Blaine Harbor Music FestivalBlaine, WA
Jul 14-16Vancouver Island MusicfestCourtenay, BC
Jul 14-16Shady Grove Bluegrass FestivalSundre, AB
Jul 14-16Vancouver Folk Music FestivalVancouver, BC
Jul 15Chemainus Bluegrass FestivalChemainus, BC
Jul 15-21California Coast Music Camp - Week 2Placer County, CA
Jul 20-23Northwest Autoharp GatheringNorth Bend, WA
Jul 21-23Islands Folk FestivalDuncan, BC
Jul 21-23Darrington Bluegrass FestivalDarrington, WA
Jul 21-23Hard Times Bluegrass FestivalHamilton, MT
Jul 22Arts On The FlyHorsefly, BC
Jul 22-28Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 0Port Orchard, WA
Jul 24-28BC Fiddle 'TreatGavin Lake, BC
Jul 26-30GorgegrassStevenson, WA
Jul 29Legion Bluegrass FestivalPowell River, BC
Jul 30Savary Island BluegrassSavary Island, BC
Jul 29-Aug 04Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 1Port Orchard, WA
Aug 03-06PickathonHappy Valley, OR
Aug 04-06Coombs Bluegrass Festival
plus they have early camping before
and post-festival camping after		Coombs, BC
Aug 04-06Blueberry Bluegrass FestivalStony Plain, AB
Aug 04-06Filberg FestivalComox, BC
Aug 04-06Kaslo Jazz FestivalKaslo, BC
Aug 04-06Winlock PickersfestWinlock, WA
Aug 05-11Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 2Port Orchard, WA
Aug 06-12Lady Of The Lake - Dance S'MoreCouer d'Alene, ID
Aug 10-12Subdued Stringband JamboreeBellingham, WA
Aug 11-13Blue Waters Bluegrass FestivalMedical Lake, WA
Aug 11-13Mt St Helens Bluegrass FestivalToledo, WA
Aug 12-18Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 3Port Orchard, WA
Aug 12-20Centralia OldTime Music CampoutCentralia, WA
Aug 13-18FiddleworksCreston, BC
Aug 13-19BC Swing CampSorrento, BC
Aug 14-20Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old TymeNess Creek, SK
Aug 17-20Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUESSalmon Arm, BC
Aug 20-25NimbleFingers Workshop - Week 1Sorrento, BC
Aug 24-27Picking PartyRainier, WA
Aug 26NimbleFingers Music FestivalSorrento, BC
Aug 27-Sep 01NimbleFingers Workshop - Week 2Sorrento, BC
Aug 27-Sep 01Summer Acoustic Music In The PinesPort Orchard, WA
Aug 30-Sep 04Zigzag Old Time Music CampoutRhododendron, OR
Sep 01-03Tumbleweed Music FestivalRichland, WA
Sep 02-03North Cascades Bluegrass FestivalFerndale, WA
Sep 07-10American Banjo CampPort Orchard, WA
Sep 11-17George, Washington Bluegrass FestivalGeorge, WA
Sep 15-17Keremeos Bluegrass JamboreeKeremeos, BC
Sep 20-25Berkeley Old Time Music ConventionBerkeley, CA
Sep 22-24Tygh Valley Bluegrass JamboreeShaniko, OR
Sep 29-Oct 01Sisters Folk FestivalSisters, OR
Oct 06-08Lady Of The Lake - Fall WeekendCouer d'Alene, ID
Nov 03-05Wood Stove FestivalCumberland, BC
Fossil Festivals
Probably moribund, future dates not confirmed
Mar 2018Victoria Django FestivalVictoria, BC
Jul 2018White Swan Music FestivalFraser Lake, BC
Jul 2018Bluegrass JamboreeCastlegar, BC
Aug 2018Pasture Picking and Music FestivalNorthport, WA
Apr 2019East Van Oldtime SocialVancouver, BC
Aug 2019Bannock County Bluegrass FestivalPocatello, ID
Jun 201916th Siskiyou Folk and Bluegrass FestivalLake Selmac, OR
Aug 201912th Annual Oregon Bluegrass Assn Picker's FestRhododendron, OR
Sep 2019Simcoe Mountain Music & Dance WeekendGoldendale, WA
Oct 2019The Acoustic Music WorkshopCamp He Ho Ha, AB
Nov 2019Dare To Be Square - WestFort Flagler, WA
Feb 2021Victoria Trad WeekendVictoria, BC
Feb 2021Roche Harbor Irish Music RetreatRoche Harbor, WA
Apr 2021Parksville JamFestParksville, BC
Apr 2021Mountain Fever Bluegrass CampLac Le Jeune, BC
Apr 202123rd Country Bluegrass JamboreeQuesnel, BC
May 2021Vancouver Island Music Workshop - Spring RetreatNanoose, BC
Jul 2021Beyond Trad Summer WorkshopParksville, BC
Aug 202113th Princeton Traditional Music FestivalPrinceton, BC
Sep 2021Vancouver Island Music Workshop - Fall RetreatNanoose, BC
Nov 2021Walker Creek Music Fall CampPetaluma, CA
May 2022Islands Celtic FestivalErrington, BC
Jun 2022Susanville Bluegrass FestivalSusanville, CA
Jul 2022Steamboat Mountain Music FestivalEdgewater, BC
Jul 2022Northwest String SummitNorth Plains, OR
Sep 2022Perseverance Folk FestivalCumberland, BC
Sep 2022Chillbilly FestivalFernie, BC
Sep 2022Prospect Hotel Music FestivalProspect, OR

Is a bluegrass (or similar) festival missing from the above lists ? If so, let me know the details and I'll add it: web@victoriabluegrass.ca

Back to Top
Quarantainment, Virtual Spaciness, Broadband Busking, etc.

Thanks to the unruly teenager COVID-19, the normal music scene is pretty much shut down. But on the digital airwaves, many musicians are arranging lessons, concerts and all kinds of innovative musical events just to keep us all on the good end of the sanity scale.

Here we will list the events we know of that might be of interest to the Bluegrass community. Many of these are taking place on short notice and others are quite fluid with respect to the details, so in the interest of keeping things simple, we might not include a lot of details or even a link. Search the web for details.

Quarantine Happy Hour - archived Oldtime shows on Facebook
Home Routes Online Bluegrass Weekend Live Shows - from Winnipeg
Whiskey Sour Happy Hour - archived performances.
The Isolationist’s Guide to Mandolin - hosted by Andrew Collins Trio
Chris Coole Lessons (ZOOM) - One of the best teachers and players.
Bluegrass Lessons with Jenny Lester
Ellie Hakanson - Occasional streaming.
Get Up In The Cool - Portland's Cameron deWitt has a great weekly podcast featuring musical guests.
My Tall Tripod (YouTube) - Includes performances from past John Hartford Memorial Festivals
Taborgrass - A weekly group jam session for beginning and intermediate players in Portland, OR.
Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast - Fabulous podcast featuring the best of the best in banjo.
Bluegrass Signal - comprehensive resource page for all things Bluegrass on the West Coast, especially the Bay Area.

Support your favorite and local musicians. Don't forget the tip jar. If you know of other similar events, email us at scene@victoriabluegrass.ca and we'll post them.

Quarantainment | Concerts | Jams | Gigs | Festivals
Back to Top