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Local Bluegrass & Stuff
Concerts | Jams | Gigs | Festivals | Quarantainment

Click here to see details about Victoria Bluegrass Association Events

Non-VBA Concerts, etc.
Sunday September 15, 2024:   Bluegrass Extravaganza Matinee at Mary Winspear Centre
Celebrate an afternoon you will not forget, with some of Canada's finest bluegrass bands. Featuring The Unfaithful Servants, Clover Point Drifters and Ella Korth.
Show at 2:00pm Tickets $46.40 at Mary Winspear Centre

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Regular Jams in the Victoria Area
3rd Sunday of the month 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 7 - 10 pm:   Irish Session
at Spinnaker's Brew Pub; Invite only. Please come to listen first and contact Nancy Grossert if you would like to join. Looking for Irish style, advanced players with strong Irish trad session repertoire. Admission: free, but buy a drink or food; More info: Nancy

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

Tuesdays 7:30 - 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

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

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Regular Gigs
Let us know if you have a regular gig in the Victoria area.
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Bluegrass, Old-Time & Folk Festivals in 2024
Confirmed dates for British Columbia, Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest
Dec 29-Jan 01Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - New Year's RetreatPort Orchard, WA
Jan 11-1525th Portland Old Time Music GatheringPortland, OR
Jan 25-27Winter Music FestivalFlorence, OR
Feb 15-18Olympia Old Time FestivalOlympia, WA
Feb 16-19Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Winter RetreatPort Orchard, WA
Feb 22-25WintergrassBellevue, WA
Mar 01-03Bluegrass On The BeachLake Havasu, AZ
Apr 11-14Walker Creek Music Spring CampPetaluma, CA
Apr 11-15Ukelele FestivalPort Townsend, WA
Apr 24-28Brazilian Choro WorkshopPort Townsend, WA
May 01-05Julian Family Fiddle CampJulian, CA
May 02-05Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Spring RetreatPort Orchard, WA
May 15-19Red Hot Strings WorkshopPort Townsend, WA
May 16-21Bluegrass PickfestCoombs, BC
May 24-2753rd NorthWest Folklife FestivalSeattle, WA
May 24-26Juan de Fuca Festival of the ArtsPort Angeles, WA
May 31-Jun 02Tenor Guitar GatheringAstoria, OR
Jun 06-09Idaho Bluegrass Music CampWeiser, ID
Jun 06-10Sacajawea Bluegrass CampoutPasco, WA
Jun 07-09Seaside Music FestivalSidney, BC
Jun 07-09Kluane Mountain Bluegrass FestivalHaines Junction, YK
Jun 09-12California Bluegrass Music CampGrass Valley, CA
Jun 13-16Grass Valley Bluegrass FestivalGrass Valley, CA
Jun 14-16Cowichan Valley Bluegrass FestivalCowichan Lake, BC
Jun 14-16Wenatchee River Bluegrass FestivalCashmere, WA
Jun 17-22National Oldtime Fiddle Contest and FestivalWeiser, ID
Jun 21-23Campbell Bay Music FestivalMayne Island, BC
Jun 21-23Susanville Bluegrass FestivalSusanville, CA
Jun 23-29Lady Of The Lake - June WeekCouer d'Alene, ID
Jun 25-30Voiceworks - A Workshop for SingersPort Townsend, WA
Jun 29Siskiyou Folk and Bluegrass FestivalLake Selmac, OR
Jun 30-Jul 06Dulcimer Week in the WallowasWallowa Lake, OR
Jul 01-08Festival Of American Fiddle Tunes
also check out the alternative Mule Barn Campsite		Port Townsend, WA
Jul 05-07Summerland Bluegrass FestivalSummerland, BC
Jul 05-07Smithers Midsummer Music FestivalSmithers, BC
Jul 05-07Fossil Jam CampFossil, OR
Jul 05-07Steamboat Mountain Music FestivalEdgewater, BC
Jul 07-12Walowa Fiddle Tunes CampWalowa, OR
Jul 07-13Blaine Harbor Music FestivalBlaine, WA
Jul 11-14Northwest Autoharp GatheringNorth Bend, WA
Jul 12-13Arts On The FlyHorsefly, BC
Jul 12-14Vancouver Island MusicfestCourtenay, BC
Jul 12-14Bluegrass From The Forest FestivalShelton, WA
Jul 12-14Keremeos Bluegrass JamboreeKeremeos, BC
Jul 12-14Shady Grove Bluegrass FestivalSundre, AB
Jul 12-21Harrison Festival Of The ArtsHarrison Hot Springs, BC
Jul 13-19California Coast Music Camp - Week 1Placer County, CA
Jul 19-21Vancouver Folk Music FestivalVancouver, BC
Jul 19-21Islands Folk FestivalDuncan, BC
Jul 19-21Darrington Bluegrass FestivalDarrington, WA
Jul 20Chemainus Bluegrass FestivalChemainus, BC
Jul 20-26California Coast Music Camp - Week 2Placer County, CA
Jul 22-28Jazz Port TownsendPort Townsend, WA
Jul 25-28GorgegrassStevenson, WA
Jul 26-28Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUESSalmon Arm, BC
Jul 26-28Hard Times Bluegrass FestivalHamilton, MT
Jul 27-Aug 02Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 1Port Orchard, WA
Jul 28-Aug 04Acoustic Blues WorkshopPort Townsend, WA
Jul 24-28BC Fiddle 'TreatGavin Lake, BC
Jul 29-Aug 02Coombs Bluegrass Festival
plus they have early camping before
and post-festival camping after		Coombs, BC
Aug 01-04PickathonHappy Valley, OR
Aug 02-04Blueberry Bluegrass FestivalStony Plain, AB
Aug 02-04Filberg FestivalComox, BC
Aug 02-04Kaslo Jazz FestivalKaslo, BC
Aug 03-05Winlock PickersfestWinlock, WA
Aug 03-09Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 2Port Orchard, WA
Aug 08-10Subdued Stringband JamboreeBellingham, WA
Aug 09-11Blue Waters Bluegrass FestivalMedical Lake, WA
Aug 09-11Mt St Helens Bluegrass FestivalToledo, WA
Aug 10-16Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 3Port Orchard, WA
Aug 10-18Centralia OldTime Music CampoutCentralia, WA
Aug 12-18Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old TymeNess Creek, SK
Aug 17-23Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Session 4Port Orchard, WA
Aug 22-25Picking PartyRainier, WA
Aug 24North Island Music FestivalPort McNeill, BC
Aug 25-30Summer Acoustic Music In The PinesPort Orchard, WA
Aug 28-Sep 02Zigzag Old Time Music CampoutRhododendron, OR
Aug 31-Sep 01North Cascades Bluegrass FestivalFerndale, WA
Aug 31-Sep 01Tumbleweed Music FestivalRichland, WA
Sep 05-08American Banjo CampPort Orchard, WA
Sep 06-08Keremeos Bluegrass JamboreeKeremeos, BC
Sep 16-27George, Washington Bluegrass FestivalGeorge, WA
Sep 18-22Berkeley Old Time Music ConventionBerkeley, CA
Sep 20-22Tygh Valley Bluegrass JamboreeShaniko, OR
Sep 27-29Sisters Folk FestivalSisters, OR
Oct 04-06Lady Of The Lake - Fall WeekendCouer d'Alene, ID
Oct 11-13Old Growth OldtimeSeattle, WA
Oct 24-27Walker Creek Music Fall CampPetaluma, CA
Nov 01-03Wood Stove FestivalCumberland, BC
Past Events in 2023
Unconfirmed dates for 2024
May 11-14Willamette Valley Old-Time SocialEugene, OR
May 27Islands Celtic FestivalErrington, BC
Jul 29Legion Bluegrass FestivalPowell River, BC
Jul 30Savary Island BluegrassSavary Island, BC
Aug 06-12Lady Of The Lake - Dance S'MoreCouer d'Alene, ID
Aug 13-18FiddleworksCreston, BC
Aug 13-19BC Swing CampSorrento, BC
Aug 20-25NimbleFingers Workshop - Week 1Sorrento, BC
Aug 26NimbleFingers Music FestivalSorrento, BC
Aug 27-Sep 01NimbleFingers Workshop - Week 2Sorrento, BC
Fossil Festivals
Probably moribund, future dates not confirmed
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
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
Jul 2022Northwest String SummitNorth Plains, OR
Sep 2022Perseverance Folk FestivalCumberland, BC
Sep 2022Chillbilly FestivalFernie, BC
Sep 2022Prospect Hotel Music FestivalProspect, OR
May 2023Hixon Bluegrass and Country JamboreeHixon, BC
Nov 2023Seaside Django FestivalVictoria, BC

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

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Quarantainment, Virtual Spaciness, Broadband Busking, etc.

Back in COVID-19 times, the normal music scene pretty much shut down. But on the digital airwaves, many musicians arranged lessons, concerts and all kinds of innovative musical events just to keep us all on the good end of the sanity scale. Lots of this continued, and here are some sites to get you started.

Quarantine Happy Hour - archived Oldtime shows on Facebook
Home Routes Online Bluegrass Weekend Live Shows - from Winnipeg
Whiskey Sour Happy Hour - archived performances.
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
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.
Bluegrass Country - radio station WAMU in Washington DC, plus info on all things bluegrass.

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
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