I have been watching a lot of banjo music reels on Facebook lately, and it really makes me want to go see something live. Does anybody know where I can find live banjo music within 2 hours of Cedar Rapids, Iowa? I have tried in the past, but what people label "bluegrass" around this area tends to sound nothing like the traditional Scruggs style music that I am looking for. They even did some Broadway style music at the Backbone bluegrass festival here, so I am really struggling to find anything that is authentic and traditional, versus the highly modified Iowa version that I have encountered most often around here. Are there any active players around this area who are interested in the traditional style of music, or has everything gone modern? I would even be willing to go to some nursing home events, if that is the only way to find this type of music, but I have no idea how or where to even get started around here.
Perhaps there are others in your area in the same predicament as you. You might try some sort of advertising or other outreach efforts to get a local jam started of likeminded people wanting to play like minded music, traditional bluegrass.
Bobby
quote:
Originally posted by carter2035I have been watching a lot of banjo music reels on Facebook lately, and it really makes me want to go see something live. Does anybody know where I can find live banjo music within 2 hours of Cedar Rapids, Iowa? I have tried in the past, but what people label "bluegrass" around this area tends to sound nothing like the traditional Scruggs style music that I am looking for. They even did some Broadway style music at the Backbone bluegrass festival here, so I am really struggling to find anything that is authentic and traditional, versus the highly modified Iowa version that I have encountered most often around here. Are there any active players around this area who are interested in the traditional style of music, or has everything gone modern? I would even be willing to go to some nursing home events, if that is the only way to find this type of music, but I have no idea how or where to even get started around here.
Fairfield?
Do you know about the "Kalona Bluegrass Festival" in Kalona, Iowa? That's coming up July 17,18,19.
That's about 50 miles from Cedar Rapids.
I am interested in Earls Scruggs type banjo music as well. I am relocating to Cedar Rapids from Tucson where I am active in the “Desert Bluegrass Association”. We have bluegrass workshops and jams. I would like to join a similar groups in Cedar Rapids but unfortunately Bluegrass doesn’t seem to be much in demand in IA. I shall miss my weekly workshops.
Umm… I'd try to get in touch with Bob Black, who's been Mr. Iowa Bluegrass for decades.
I dunno? I live over by sioux city. But Bob Black lives over there somewhere.
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Originally posted by piclikeitwozurnozI am interested in Earls Scruggs type banjo music as well. I am relocating to Cedar Rapids from Tucson where I am active in the “Desert Bluegrass Association”. We have bluegrass workshops and jams. I would like to join a similar groups in Cedar Rapids but unfortunately Bluegrass doesn’t seem to be much in demand in IA. I shall miss my weekly workshops.
If you end up finding something, let me know. I would love to get a bluegrass jam started here in Cedar Rapids. I think there are some players in hibernation here. I keep hearing the name Randy Escobido, but I have never met him or talked to him. There are plenty of places like the Moose Lodge that would be perfect for a bluegrass jam either indoors or outdoors.
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