Blueberry Bluegrass Festival offers 20 workshops in 20 weeks

The folks at the Blueberry Bluegrass Festival in Alberta have come up with a wonderful way to share the music through the dark winter months ahead.

They are holding a series of Thursday night workshops called 20 Workshops in 20 Weeks. Each week one or another noted bluegrass musician will present a seminar on their instrument or skill, including a number of prominent grassers, with a two week break over Christmas and New Years.

Best of all, it’s free online, at least for members of 15 Canadian bluegrass clubs, and anyone who makes at least a $15 donation to any of them. That’s right… one donation gets you all the workshops. Blueberry’s intention with this project is to ensure that the clubs and venues who have been unable to offer live music during the COVID-19 restrictions can stay afloat until such time as life can return to normal.

20 Workshops in 20 Weeks launched on November 5 with a Kenny Smith guitar class. Tonight is week two, featuring a Tristan Scroggins mandolin workshop. It begins at 7:00 p.m. (MST), and printed materials for the class can be downloaded online.

Other workshops scheduled to run over the winter include:

  • November 19 – Johnny & Jeanette Williams, harmony singing
  • November 26 – Calvin Vollrath, fiddle
  • December 3 – Rob Ickes, reso-guitar
  • December 10 – Tim Stafford, guitar
  • December 17 – Martha Spencer, clawhammer banjo
  • January 7 – Kristin Scott Benson, bluegrass banjo
  • January 14 – Calvin Vollrath, guitar backup for fiddle
  • January 28 – Wayne Benson, mandolin
  • February 4 – Jake Workman, guitar
  • February 11 – Shawn Lane, mandolin
  • February 18 – Louisa Branscomb, songwriting
  • February 25 – Hunter Berry, fiddle
  • March 4 – Kris Truelsen – old time guitar
  • March 11 – Darin & Brooke Aldridge, vocals and harmony singing
  • Date TBA – Missy Raines, bass

You can find all the details, as well as links to the clubs where you can join or make a donation, at the Blueberry Bluegrass Festival web site.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.