TOUGH YEAR FOR CELTIC AND CAJUN MUSIC LOVERS

Well at least it is tough for yours truly.  Today is Ash Wednesday which means that the Mardi Gras - Carnivale parties are over for another year.  As much as I love bluegrass music I also enjoying playing a bit of Cajun stuff around Mardi Gras and then Celtic in preparation for St. Patrick's Day.  When the liturgical calendar makes Lent and Easter come early as it is this year it also makes only eleven days between Ash Wednesday and St. Paddie's Day. That is hardly enough time to eat the last of the jambalaya and get the corned beef and cabbage on the stove. Well, what the heck. Might as well just stick to bluegrass this year. That really ain't too bad. (BTW, I didn't make any jambalaya this year, but I had a huge pot of chicken and sausage gumbo cooked up to keep me warm through the recent cold spell. That weren't too bad, either.)

YBA MID WINTER JAM POSTPONED FOR ONE WEEK

THE FOLLOWING HAS JUST BEEN RECEIVED FROM YBA PRESIDENT SHARON KARLSON:

Hello Everyone,
It has been decided to postpone the Mid-Winter Jam/BBQ until next Saturday, March 8th, due to the weather reports for this weekend.  Also, there will be No Jams the next 2 Fridays.  Let your family and friends know, and we'll see you all then on March 8th, still starting at 1PM.  Hopefully the weather will be friendlier by then!  I know I'm looking forward to spring, and also the JAM!
Thanks for your understanding, but we want ALL to be able to make it if they can
Sharon

ROGER'S COMMENT: That seemed to be the most prudent thing to do.  My last post would still apply to any music appointments during potential bad weather.  We may be inside a lot, but that is no reason to get "cabin fever."  Get out your favorite instrument and learn some new licks. No matter the weather, Keep on Picking!"

YBA MID WINTER JAM/BBQ. BE PREPARED AND BE AWARE.

This coming Saturday, March 1st, the annual YBA Mid-Winter Jam and BBQ are scheduled. My suggestion is to be aware of the weather and road conditions and as the Boy Scouts always said, "Be Prepared." According to weather forecasters Friday night is expected to be about 15 degrees below zero. On Saturday the HIGH should be only -9.  We already have a huge amount of snow and they predict 30% more on Thursday and 80% on Friday. It will likely continue on to another 40% on Saturday.  The conditions in Missoula for the MRBA February jam at Ruby's weren't even remotely close to that bad and it cut down on attendance considerably. Keep in mind that wooden acoustical instruments are quite fragile. Exteme cold or heat are equally bad for them. Never subject you favorite guitar, mandolin, bass or fiddle to any of these. I speak as one who has built all of these over the years. As an example an expensive guitar, which likely had a lacquer finish, will find the finish cracked due to the cold.  Some instruments will actually fall apart due to the heat or cold.   
My suggestions regarding the Mid-Winter Jam are these:

1. Check your e-mails daily for any announcement regarding the March 1st jam.
2.Have a shovel and bag of kitty litter in your car in case of getting stuck. Parking areas may have deep snow on Saturday. 
3 Run you vehicle late Friday and/or keep it garaged or plugged in for easier starting on Saturday.
4. Warm it up well in advance of leaving for the jam. Make sure the interior is warmed up before putting your instrument in.               
5. And of course drive very carefully.
 6, Be sure to wear foot gear appropriate for wading through deep snow, too.

Good luck and I hope we still have a good jam on Saturday. 

YBA GALLERY 504 JAM

IT TAKES AN ARTIST TO CREATE A SILK PURSE FROM A PIG''S EAR or so it goes and the 504 Art Gallery and studio is a good example. From the outside it is nothing to look at, just an old Quonset hut type building on North 20th just south of North Park. It is located in what was Billings original industrial area which is now being restored with new large facilities from the federal building, food bank and a large financial bank, Salvation Army, and others. However inside it is quite nice with a gallery area and other rooms for the artist owner and others. She has generously allowed the YBA to jam there for a short time. It is unknown how gracious she may continue to be if the Lincoln Building becomes unavailable for an extended period of time.  There were 10-12 pickers at the Friday February 21st jam. There are about 15 nice padded chairs available for groups this size. The group on the 21st consisted of long time members of the YBA with no newcomers, unlike a typical group which shows up at the Lincoln. The only drawback to this facility is a lack of acoustical properties and why not?  Art galleries are intended for visual and possibly tactile enjoyment, not for auditory musical performances. As the photos show the floor is concrete and the walls and ceiling are finished smooth and hard. As a result some complaints were made about difficulty in hearing the other pickers. That is due to the sounds reverberating in all directions from those hard surfaces. My chair was away from any walls and the sound seemed OK there. Those sitting right next to the walls probably had the most acoustical problems.

Now a correction from President Sharon Karlson's  last email. There will be NO jam at the Gallery next Friday.  As the big YBA all day jam is next Saturday, March 1st, she queried the group on whether to also jam next Friday at the Gallery.  It was decided not to and just attend the Saturday event at the Unitarian Church on Central Avenue. Following are some photos from the 21st and I hope to see you all next Saturday weather permitting. 

YBA JAM SITE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

YBA president, Sharon Karlson, has sent this message to all current YBA memfbers:

"From: sharon54@centurylink.net
Sent: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:17:20 -0500 (EST)
Subject: The Lincoln Center use


Hello Everyone,
I went down to the Lincoln Center today to talk with the staff re; Friday night jams.  They have resolved the issue with the asbestos ( it was in the tile flooring) and that has been removed, but now it is the issue of getting the new floor laid and ready for public use.  It's going to be another 2 weeks at least until  its open for use.  SO... we  will jam again at Level 504 Gallery, located at 421 North 20th Street this Friday the 21st, and again on Friday the 28th at 7PM.  We had a good time last week there, and it's a perfect place to jam!

We have a target date to go back into the Lincoln Center on Friday, March 7th.    I know this may be confusing, so just keep watch of emails and up-dates.  But this is the plan to keep on pickin!

Thanks everyone:)  See ya Friday"

Rogers Note: As previously posted Saturday March 1st has been scheduled for the YBA Annual Spring event to be held again at the Unitarian Church on Central Avenue. That would be a good time to join the YBA or pay your 2014 dues. This info should now be up to date for YBA members and guests.   

YBA president, Sharon Karlson, has informed current members that an alternate site will have the jam tonight, Feb. 14th at 421 North 20th. This may be the site for future jams until access is open again at the Lincoln building. It might be wise to bring a chair and if you need a music stand bring one also.

JOHN DENVER TRIBUTE FROM SPECIAL CONSENSUS

"Special Consensus" Greg Cahill's band which frequently tours our area is releasing a new album,  Country Boy: A Bluegrass Tribute to John Denver, on March 25th. The first track is "Wild Montana Skies" featuring Claire Lynch and mandolinist Rick Faris on vocals. I have watched a video of this and it is excellent with great dobro work, too.  According to Cahill:  “I’ve met so many people who were affected by John’s music and so many musicians who mention him as an inspiration.  It felt like a bluegrass interpretation of his songs would be something really special and might also serve as a way to connect more people to bluegrass music.” This new album has guest artists who are among the very top in today's bluegrass music.  It would be well worth tapping into this music for bluegrassers who are also fans of the songs of John Denver.  For more information contact: betsy@compassrecords.com.  

One newcomer to the YBA Friday jams has featured John Denver tunes in her singing. You can pre-order this CD from Compass Records for $11.99 which includes a signed copy and a free "iPick" sticker.