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Thanks for your replies, everybody. I felt bashful ask to lead a set, because it wasn't my party, and because most of what I know are the "top 100" common-type tunes. (I expected they wouldn't...

Yes, that's the one. Just sent you a message. As I said, clearly great folks, very nice, but I wasn't up to speed on their tunes.

I had a rather demoralizing experience at a local session this afternoon. Great musicians, nice people, good music. I'm hardly a beginner at this point, but I knew not a single tune they played. I've...

Sorry you're going to miss it this year! We'll see you next time maybe.

Who from the Cafe is going to make it?

Love that mandolin, and obviously, I love Mike Compton.

Something that often gets lost in conversations on this board about mandolins, technique, theory, etc., is the importance of musical...

Mike Compton's Gilchrist or Joe K Walsh's Gilchrist. Of course they sounded much better when I wasn't the one playing them.

Not totally aware of the context but I think he's playing his Duff in this video (also an amazing instrument). And yes, magically, Mike playing anything sounds like one of the best mandolins you've...

I highly recommend players of all levels check out Mandolin Camp North in Charlton, MA, April 19-21.

There is really something for everyone, beginner through professional players, with many...

I heard Arnold's Country Kitchen is open again, for who knows how long. That place is very special. You should eat there like it's an emergency.

For anybody interested: There is a nice-looking little gap on Saturday at 11:00 am in Wayland South. Meet up then and there?

Hi Dan, if you're interested in getting started with playing melodies, the slow jam would be a safe place to learn and experiment. If you feel comfortable chopping you can really go anywhere. I...

Schedule is posted, Dan!

I'll be at JamVal in Framingham, MA next weekend, Thursday evening through Sunday, and I have a picking room. Are there other Cafe members attending? Would anyone be interested in arranging a little...

This is a great case for "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." Especially if you work and have a family, you only have so much bandwidth. Practicing is a little is much better than...

Who knows if I have literal ADHD, but I've always struggled with attention. When I was doing my PhD I found I could only focus on research so many hours a day, but I had tons of energy left over. I...

As I posted a little while ago, usually they post the workshop schedule the week of the festival. Let's be patient: these are volunteers bringing back a much-beloved event at a very reasonable price.

Hi Dan, I think you'll find that there are plenty of places to sit down, since it's a hotel. There will be jamming throughout the lobby, where there is plenty of seating, as well as downstairs in the...

Context is everything. Beginner jam? Anything goes. Whatever gets people playing. Jam at my house? I really can't stand the Grateful Dead (sorry!), and I'm tired of hearing Wagon Wheel. Traditional...

Here's Bill Monroe's "The Chilly Winds of Shannon," which sounds totally natural on tenor banjo, IMHO.


https://youtu.be/J2R4bK2O034?si=ndLGTeQqR40inqVI

Hi Mary, just sent you an email.

I was thinking exactly the same way until a friend let me play an Artist model recently. I was really, really impressed! We evaluated it in my living room next to a Weinman, a Duff, and a Stiver, and...

An Eastman was my first "real" mandolin when I just started to play in college. It was all I could afford (actually, it was slightly beyond what I could afford at the time). I got so much mileage out...

I have no idea of the answers to your questions but I totally bless this adventure! Send them an email? They probably won't be able to sell you anything there.

Good on you! Beers on me.

I'm a pretty traditional player, but I really love this. Stellar musicians and a very fun take on the tune.