foxesandfeathers - Posted - 06/25/2013:  13:40:01

Hey there folks, 

Just graduated from college and during the month of july I plan on going cross country (probably staying along the northern states).

Is there any interesting banjo related stops I should make, museums/builders/shows

Or just awesome places to stop, and play (although i'm sure i'll find many of those).

I'm also considering attempting to build another mountain banjo while on the road so probably make some stops around the Appalachian mountains.

linked is a super loose route but will surely change once enroute 

goo.gl/maps/KNGkJ 

Edited by - foxesandfeathers on 06/25/2013 17:25:51

Frisco Fred - Posted - 06/25/2013:  14:12:57

Ha! I know where Moultrie street is... Bernal Heights...

Anyway, if you're planning on going through northern Idaho and on to Montana, you need to stop at Greg Boyds House of Fine Instruments gregboyd.com/ in Missoula.   The place is cool, Greg is cool and he's got the cool stuff

dawgdoc - Posted - 06/25/2013:  14:22:54

If you take the southern version, there's a couple of pretty cool music joints in Ft Collins, CO (or used to be) and if you end up going through Salt Lake, Intermountain Guitar and Banjo is a fun visit (guitarandbanjo.com/).  Its been a few years, but you've got to call and set up a visit; they're not always open. 

Bill Rogers - Posted - 06/25/2013:  17:35:53

I assume you're familiar with Gryphon in Palo Alto.  Frank and Richard might have some ideas on stops  you should consider.  I'd check out Elderly in Lansing, MI, Bernunzio's in Rochester, NY, The Music Emporium in Lexington, MA and Music Folk in St. Louis.  There are others worth your while, but those are the ones I know of.

BrittDLD1 - Posted - 06/25/2013:  20:12:26

What you see and visit will depend on the route you want to take, and the time you want to spend zig-zagging between points of interest....

If you're going through Denver/Boulder -- stop and see the OME Banjo shop, in Boulder; and the Denver Folklore Center See: omebanjos.com

Check out First Quality Music in Louisville, Kentucky: firstqualitymusic.com

In Athens, Ohio (southeastern OH) go see The Stewart-MacDonald Co., makers of parts, tools, supplies, and kits for stringed instruemnts: stewmac.com

In Peninsula, Ohio (Northeastern OH) try to arrange a visit with artist, banjomaker, and inlay engraver, Doug Unger.

Best– Ed Britt

Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 06/25/2013 20:14:01

JMalmsteen - Posted - 06/26/2013:  04:37:01

You can stop at the banjo museum in Oklahoma. When we went cross country, one of the best stops was the spam museum (I'm not kidding). Stop there if you can. There was also a museum built around a huge crater. That was pretty awesome. Maybe look up where there will be jams and plan your route around those. I'm sure you would meet a lot of nice people by doing that.

Edited by - JMalmsteen on 06/26/2013 04:37:49

John Allison - Posted - 06/26/2013:  04:58:38

There is always Elderly Instruments in Lansing Michigan.

Qarl - Posted - 06/26/2013:  05:55:59

While not in the northern states... .there's Gruhn's in Nashville.

Stop by and hang with Arthur Hatfield in Kentucky...

John Allison - Posted - 06/26/2013:  10:24:06

Forgot to add that if you do pass by Elderly, let the Hangout know when you will be there and I am sure you will have no problem in putting together a fairly decent jam session.

rinemb - Posted - 06/26/2013:  12:35:43

If you take the I-70 route, a stop to "Mass Street Music" in Lawrence, Kansas is a great stop,  best old time banjo shop in this region. IMHO.  Lawrence is home of Kansas University.  Mass Street or Massachusettes Street (cant spell that thing) is the main drag where all of the college bars and shops are:

massstreetmusic.com/

take a look.  they might know of something happening music wise when you pass through.

Brad, Wichita, Ks

rinemb - Posted - 06/26/2013:  12:38:35

in Colorado in July:

thecroma.org/festival.php

Rocky Mountain Old Time Festival. Foghorn Stringband will be there.

edsnyder - Posted - 06/26/2013:  13:08:01

Another vote for the Ome shop in Boulder, which is a beautiful place in it's own right.