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Bluegrass Jam at the UDC Amphitheater
Sat. July 18, 2026, 8-10 pm
4200 Connecticut Ave NW, DC
Free Admission!
In case of severe weather tonight’s Bluegrass Jam will move inside to the Flicker Bar at 4340 Connecticut Ave NW (the Van Ness Main street building)!
The Hazel Dickens Song Contest 2026 winners have been announced!
The Hazel Dickens Song Contest celebrates the life one of the Baltimore/Washington region music’s most beloved bluegrass songwriters.
The Mike Auldridge Instrumental Composition Contest honors the life and musicianship of one of America’s greatest bluegrass players.
2025 Winners Announced!
2026 Orrin Star Scholar Rita Perloff!
Congratulations goes to Rita Perloff who is the recipient of the 2026 Orrin Star Music Scholarship. Rita is a 14 year old from Oxford, Pennsylvania. Rita has been playing guitar in the band, Full Steam. Rita attends many festivals and Kids Academies. You can often see Rita and her fellow students busking around the festival grounds. With only 2 1/2 years of lessons, Rita is already playing solos! With her scholarship, Rita will attend the DelFest Music Academy.
The Orrin Star Scholarship honors the memory and generosity of a remarkable man, who lived in the DC area for most of his career and who was a friend to many in the bluegrass community. Orrin gained notoriety as a champion flat-picker and went on to enrich many of our lives with the warmth and humor of his performing and teaching.
Applications for the $500 award are accepted every year, beginning in the fall. Look for the announcement on the home page. Meanwhile, the program description is at https://dcbu.org/the-orrin-star-scholarship-program/
One important aspect of DCBU’s mission is to promote music education. We offer an instructor directory so students can locate teachers in their local area for in-person instruction. Additionally, since so many great musicians teach online classes, we’re now posting information for instructors wherever they are located. To sign-up as an instructor fill out the form by selecting the link below. Your submission will be reviewed and added to our directory within a few days.
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
School of Musical Traditions, Takoma Park md
SMT holds a beginner friendly bluegrass jam every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. The jams are lead by SMT teachers and members of the band Cherry Blossom Special Nick Cameron, Mari Carlson, and Justin Heath. Bring your instrument and a song and don’t be afraid to take a solo. This is a free event but donations are welcome!
10:30 am - 5:30 pm
Takoma Park Middle School, Takoma Park MD
Celebrating a vibrant tapestry of music and culture, the Takoma Park Folk Festival returns to Takoma Park Middle School with 6 stages featuring a variety of musical genres, a juried craft show, food from around the world, community tables with representatives of local nonprofit groups, and big fun for little ones at the Children’s Nook! And NEW THIS YEAR: a jam tent where musicians can play with each other! Join us for a full day of music, art, food, and community!
FREE ADMISSION! Rain or Shine. Free Parking and Shuttles. Details at https://www.tpff.org
All Day
Celebrating Bluegrass through exposure, awareness and community involvement throughout the year.
Even though every October 1st is World Bluegrass Day our mission is to celebrate, share and inspire others throughout the year to start listening to Bluegrass music, start playing an instrument or travel to the mountains to explore the roots of Bluegrass.
Check out the mission at http://www.worldbluegrassday.com/
Join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WorldBluegrassDay/
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Mullin’s 1847 Restaurant, Moorefield West Virginia
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Harwood Nature Center, Lawrence Wetlands Preserve, Chestertown Maryland, Kent
Led by : Steve Dannenfelser
“Bluegrass has brought more people together and made more friends than any music in the world”…Bill Monroe
Bring your instrument, or just your voice, and join us at the Harwood Nature Center on the first and third Saturday afternoon from 1-3:30 for a bluegrass jam. All ability levels are welcome!
All enthusiastic music lovers are welcome to come and listen, maybe you too will catch the bluegrass bug and pick up an instrument!
Register: https://sultanaeducation.org/event/1st-and-3rd-saturday-afternoon-bluegrass-jam/
Membership
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