Regional Bluegrass Activities

                                                  MONTANA
MONTANA ROCKIES BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION
This Missoula based group is in the midst of the annual Ruby's Winter Jams. These are held during the months of December, January, and February on the second Saturday of each month at Ruby's Inn and Convention Center on North Reserve in Missoula. It is very near the Reserve Street exit from US Hwy 90. The February jam is on Feb. 8 and the last one on March 8, 2014. They begin at 2 PM and continue until late in the evening. An excellent pot luck is about 5:30 PM each Saturday. They are very worthwhile to attend. I made it to one last year with my Missoula daughter and her two little girls. She impressed jammers with her musicianship. I was run ragged after the two year old who must have been training for a marathon and also kept crawling under the tablecloths of the potluck.  I will add that we all slept good that night. Memberships in the MRBGA are available very reasonably for $10 individual or $l5 per family. Contact the secy/treasurer Jim McCauley at  mccauley_kemo@hotmail.com.

BIG SKY BIG GRASS FESTIVAL
 February 6-9 at Big Sky, MT. http://www.bigskybiggrass.com/

DEER LODGE
In Western Montana pickin-n-grinnin is on Saturday, February 22, 2014, from noon til?? (Double check on this new date.) Dinner for $5 donation, too, at the The Office, 511 Main.  Bill and Charlene Anderson host this annual event. Billings picker Bruce Lee is a regular at this jam and has gone for several years.

LIVINGSTON
Open jam. Pine Creek Cafe. Thursdays 8:30 -10:30 pm (406)222-3628

                                                WYOMING
THERMOPOLIS
Recurring jams at the Southside Exxon on most Fridays at 6 PM. Info from Ed Capen.

                                              NORTH DAKOTA
Frozen fingers Old Time Music Festival in Minot, ND, February 14-16. The Rough Riders bluegrass band will be performing. No  more details at this time.
Regular monthly jams in Bismarck and Valley City. Weekly jam in Jamestown.

MORE DISTANT ACTIVITIES IN WASHINGTON AND MINNESOTA
Big time festivals include WINTERGRASS in Bellevue, WA. http://www.acousticsoung.org/
Minnesota: 2014 Winter Bluegrass Weekend is a festival of Bluegrass and Old Time Music and Dance at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Plymouth, MN Feb. 28 - Mar. 2, 2014. More than 40 groups will perform on 2 stages. Featured group will be Michael Cleveland and Flame Keeper. Last year nearly 3000 people attended. Many activities of all types. For more details go to www.minnesotabluegrass.org.