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Upcoming events

After an excellent summer of concerts, we´re ready to get back into the swing of things.

Welcome back to a bluegrass fall - the Mohawk Valley bluegrass associa!on is

looking forward to a fun and active fall and winter season as we resume our

jamming, jam with the band sessions, and concerts at the Rome Art and

Community Center, Steuben Town Hall, and other locations.

We will kick off fall with the MVBGA Annual Picnic and Jam session to thank our

members for all the support this past year. The picnic will be held rain or shine

at the Steuben Town Hall at Noon on September 21st. MVBGA will supply Hot

Dogs, Burgers, and plates and utensil and members are encouraged to bring a

dish to pass and their own drinks. After we eat our jam session starts and we

will play ´til 4:00. And for members who want to keep up with the latest our

board will hold an open mee!ng there at 11:00 AM.

We were excited to host 4 free concerts at the Rome Art and Community Center

which included two na!onal acts – The Kevin Prater Band and The Country

Gentlemen Tribute Band – the bands enjoyed the venue and our friendly

audience, and both bands expressed an interest to do it again in 2024. All our

concerts were possible due to our fundraising efforts (you’ll see more info

below) and our partnership with the Rome Art and Community Center.

Speaking of fundraising our community band “Grass Rootz” performed at the

New York State Fiddlers Hall of Fame, The Village of Constableville, Remsen

Depot, and the Steuben old home days, raising over $1200 for the MVBGA to

help us fund further concerts and other events. I want to thank all the

members who have contributed their !me and musical services to this fun

endeavor, and we are looking forward to doing more in this coming season.

If you want to catch the band in ac!on we have two concerts scheduled –

September 9th at 7:00 at the Rome Art and Community Center (in lieu of our

usual jam with the band), and September 10 at 5:30 for the KEYS programs

“Back to School” event – more info on our Facebook page and website.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up in September – please save the date for “Mohawk Valley Gives” which will be on Friday September 20th! 2023 was our first year participating and we raised over $2,000 which allows us to fund the MVBGA without charging dues, pay our expenses, and host some pretty good concerts and other events. Thanks to all the members who supported this last year – and to all those in the community and beyond who donated to our group. We plan to double that amount this year and use the funds raised to offer more to the membership and the community in the form of concerts and some other events like workshops and coffeehouse’s.

Here’s a link where you can learn more:

https://www.givemv.org/organizations/mohawk-valley-bluegrass-association

Please consider a donation on September 20th so we can continue to bring more national Bluegrass acts, support and promote local Bluegrass Bands, and provide low cost musical education with the Wernick Method.

And if you want to have some fun and get the ball rolling join us at the copper city brewery on September 16th at 6:00 PM - you'll be entertained by the Summit Park Rangers, enjoy copper city beer, some great food, maybe win a raffle or auction, and learn about local charities and the causes that they support. This event is sponsored by project Fibonacci and we're excited to be a big part of it!! We'll have a booth there and you can stop please stop by and see our volunteers – to attend here’s a link for more info and to get discounted tickets to the event – its only $20 for early registration, $25 at the door.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/third-annual-tap-into-steam-fundraising-event-tickets-965217691097?aff=oddtdtcreator

And lastly I’m happy to report a new Bluegrass Jam in the area – Adam Brooks (one of our newest members) will be hosting the jam on the 4th Sunday of every month at the Kirkland Art Center at 6:30 PM. I attended the first one in August and it was a blast – we ended up picking till almost 10PM! Pickers and listeners are welcome – a $5 donation is requested for use of the KAC.

Membership Update

We are growing – Please welcome new members:

Adam Brooks – Clinton NY

Steve Skollar – Hamilton NY

John Crespi – Hamilton NY

The bigger we get the better we’ll be – help spread the word - please feel free to print and share the membership form with your friends and family who play or enjoy listening to Bluegrass!

https://fa8375ea-2647-4a80-9819-e916e104b301.filesusr.com/ugd/0267e4_28f2b801f8c54db3b03df2bd29ba3397.pdf

Members who play in bands – we want to promote your gigs!!!

Please send info to Donna Mucks donna.mucks@gmail.com by the 20th of the month prior and we will add it to our newsletter. A lot of you are playing out and we’d love to share the dates and times with our group!!!!

Check out where our members are playing!

Insert any other member bands info you’ve received here

FROM OUR FRIENDS

Sundays are time to tune in to Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble show on WCNY –Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble airs every Sundays from 9 p.m. to midnight WCNY-FM 91.3 Syracuse, WUNY-FM 89.5 Utica, and WJNY-FM 90.9 Watertown. Bill has been a big supporter of MVBGA over our 23 years – and he’ll keep you up to date with all Bluegrass events going on in our area. For more info - https://www.wcny.org/radio/shows/ramble/

Craobh Dugan O’Looney will hold two Irish Sessions in September

*September 4th at the 5 Point s Public House, at 7 pm

*September 17th at the Copper City Brewery at 7:00 PM.
Both are open to those that play traditional Irish Music, or want to learn more about it, or just want to listen and have a good time.

More info on their website Uticairish.org

From the Central Chapter of the NYS Old Time Fiddlers.

Old Time Jam Session every third Friday of the month in the back of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Camden NY
98 Main St, Camden, NY 13316
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Find more information on their website HERE

From the St Lawrence Bluegrass Association Newsletter.

First Monday each month, Alex Bay, Macherry Library, 2PM – 4PM

Second Tuesday, Alex Bay, Reform Church, 2 – 4 PM

Heuvelton,

Third Monday, Bluegrass Jam, Pickens Hall, 7 PM

Fourth Tuesday, Folk Jam, 7PM, Pickens Hall

Find more activities and information on their website HERE