Station Cafe Old Tyme Irish Meetup - 10am every other Sat., Ashland, VA

Outside the Station Cafe

Earlier this year I noticed that musician Jake Moore was playing Saturday mornings at The Station Café, an Ashland, VA coffee shop within walking distance of my house.  Jake is a multi-instrumentalist who teaches guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and piano in a variety of styles.  Knowing that his repertoire surely included any traditional tune I was capable of picking on tenor banjo, I asked if I could join him some of the time.  Jake was actually open to this idea because it would give him an opportunity to practice mandolin.  We've been jamming almost every other Saturday morning for several months now, and during that time we’ve also been joined by a harmonica player, guitarist, bodhran player, fiddler and 5-string banjoist.

It’s still usually just Jake and myself, but the point is - we like it when others show up to jam!  The unofficial schedule is every other Saturday from 10am to 1pm at The Station Café, 113 South Railroad Ave, Ashland, VA 23005.  It's in the morning to align with the coffee shop crowd. Contact me directly by email for specific dates or join the Facebook group where we post updates and discussions.  The tunes played tend to be old-time, contradance and Irish standards - fiddle tunes, breakdowns, jigs, reels, polkas - albeit with a slightly looser approach akin to bluegrass.  Beginners as well as experienced players are encouraged to join in. Fakebooks and music stands are permitted. In fact, I bring lead sheets with the suggested chords for almost any tune I play.

So if you’d like to take part in a casual, fun, friendly and slightly inauthentic jam, then bring your acoustic instrument of choice (ukulele anyone?) and join us for a good time!  Or just come as a listener.  Owner Bart Shaw has delicious coffee, hotdogs and ice cream.  (What a combo!).