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2025 schedule
Many Free Events!

A printable schedule is available at 
https://tinyurl.com/botmc2025

TUES. SEPT. 16
  • 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Old Time jam hosted by Tony Phillips & David Brown at Berkeley Central Library, 5th floor 2090 Kittredge (between Shattuck and Milvia).

wed. SEPT. 17
  • Welcome Party and Cajun Dance at Ashkenaz

  • Blake Miller with the Aux Cajunals 

    • Back studio, old time jam hosted by the Corn Likkers (Ray Chen, Lael Sigal, et al.)

THURS. SEPT. 18
  • 1 - 4 pm - FREE - Afternoon Jam: To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address. 

  • 4pm-5:15pm Workshops at the Freight 

  • 5:00 pm - in front of the Freight- FREE jam hosted by WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow

  • 7 pm - Concert at the Freight:  Bruce Molsky, Ozark Highballers, Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellows

fri. SEPT. 19
  • - 4 pm - FREE - Afternoon Jam To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address. 

  • 4pm-5:15pm Workshops at the Freight

  • 5:00 pm - in front of the Freight- FREE jam hosted by Mark Olson & Penny Critchlow

  • 7 pm - Concert at the Freight: Jake Blount, Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus; Sarah Kate Morgan; Suzy Thompson

sat. SEPT. 20
  • DAYTIME:  BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY - ALL DAYTIME EVENTS ARE FREE! 

  • 10:15 am - 4th Floor   FREE Family Concert with WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow

  • 10:30 am - 2nd Floor FREE Panel Discussion: Black Old Time Musicians Perspectives w. Jake Blount, Darcy Ford-James, Dr. Angela Wellman, Patrice Strahan

  • 12 noon - til around 4:00 - 2nd Floor FREE  String Band Contest

  • 2 - 3 pm - 5th floor FREE old time jam with Darcy Ford-James, Patrice Strahan, Hannah Mayree

  • 4:00 to 6:00 pm  FREE - TWO JAMS!! Old Time Shred Sesh at the Starry Plough led by Michelle Wu PLUS jam led by Judy Hyman outdoors in front of La Peña (next door to Starry Plough)

  • EVENING: ASHKENAZ

  • Square Dance Party at Ashkenaz:

  • Bruce Molsky & Friends

  • Ozark Highballers

  • Jake Blount, Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus

  • Callers Susan Michaels & Connor Maguire

  • Hosted jams in the back studio

  • Clogging workshop with Eive Ladin before the dance

sun. SEPT. 21

ASHKENAZ

  • 11:00 - 12:30 FREE          Family dance, music by Manning Mud Stompers. Caller Susan Michaels will teach and call all the dances!

  • 11:00 - 1:30  SLIDING SCALE    Instructional workshops 

  • 2:00 - 5:00 pm: Open jamming and visiting in Ohlone Park. Bring a chair or 2 if you can!  FREE

Wednesday
Wednesday, September 17, 2025

ASHKENAZ

1317 San Pablo Ave (near Gilman), Berkeley, CA

Welcome Party & CAJUN DancE
VENUE: Ashkenaz
Dance lesson 7:30 | SHOW: 8:00

TICKETS: Advance tickets will go on sale around August 1st. Tickets also will be sold at the door.

Thursday

The Thursday and Friday afternoon jams (Sept. 18 and 19, 1:00 to 4:00 pm each day - FREE) are a great place to meet people, visit, play tunes, etc. This has been an important part of the BOTMC for many years.  To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address. 

 

THURSday, September 18, 2025

Email link for location (private home)will be posted.

AFTERNOON JAM 
time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
FREE ADMISSION

email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for the location

THE FREIGHT

2020 Addison
Berkeley, CA

VENUE: THE FREIGHT
 
4:00 - 5:15 PM WORKSHOPS

Dulcimer – Sarah Kate Morgan

Fiddle – Bruce Molsky

Workshop info here
5 pm JAMMING
Open jam hosted by WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnowin front of the Freight (outside) – FREE!
CONCERT:
DOORS: 6:00 PM | SHOW: 7:00 PM

TICKET INFO HERE

or purchase a 2 day pass

Friday
Friday, September 19, 2025

Email link for location (private home)will be posted.

AFTERNOON JAM
time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 pM

Email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for location (private home).
 
FREE ADMISSION

The Thursday and Friday afternoon jams (Sept. 18 and 19, 1:00 to 4:00 pm each day - FREE) are a great place to meet people, visit, play tunes, etc. This has been an important part of the BOTMC for many years. To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address. 

Please note: the musicians pictured at left will unfortunately not be at the afternoon jam (except in spirit).  Jams like the one pictured are an inspiration to old time musicians everywhere!

THE FREIGHT

2020 Addison
Berkeley, CA

VENUE: THE FREIGHT
4:00 - 5:15 PM WORKSHOPS:

Banjo -   Jake Blount
Harmonica - Seth Shumate

Workshop Info HERE
 
5:00 pM   Jamming!
Open jam hosted by Mark Olson & Penny Critchlow, in front of the Freight (outside) – FREE!
CONCERT:
DOORS: 6:00 PM | SHOW: 7:00 PM
TICKET info HERE
or purchase a 2 day pass

LINEUP:

saturday, September 20, 2025

BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY

2090 Kittredge (between Shattuck and Milvia,

Berkeley

VENUE: BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY
FREE EVENT! 
  • 10:15 - 11:00 am on the 4th Floor
    Family Concert with WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow
    ​​

  • 10:30 - 11:30 am on the 2nd Floor 
    Panel Discussion - Black Old Time Musicians: Perspectives with Jake Blount (moderator), Dr. Angela Wellman, Darcy Ford-James, Patrice Strahan

  • 12 noon- 4pm on the 2nd Floor 
    String Band Contest
    Sign up to enter the contest, win agricultural prizesBand sign ups start SEPT. 1, 2025
     

  • 2pm-3pm on the 5th Floor
    Old time jam hosted by Darcy Ford-James, Patrice Strahan and Hannah Mayree

 

TICKETS: Free event!

Saturday

THE STARRY PLOUGH

3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley

at Prince Street

LA PEÑA

3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley

right next door to the Starry Plough

VENUE: Starry Plough & LA PEñA
OLD TIME Shred Sesh &
HOSTED JAM
 
TIME: 4:00 to 6:00 pm  

 

TICKETS: Free events!

Two simultaneous old time jams!  

1) Shred Sesh, hosted by Michelle Yu & friends at the Starry Plough

An "onion" jam, with tunes played at a fast pace, all welcome to join the layers with host band in the center - or get a beer and some food and enjoy the tunes. 

2) Hosted jam, led by Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus at La Peña

Can't keep up with the Shred Sesh?  Join the other old time jam right next door, a moderate/mid tempo jam for those looking to keep it relaxed.

ASHKENAZ

1317 San Pablo Ave

(near Gilman), Berkeley, CA

SQUARE DANCE PARTY

VENUE: Ashkenaz
DOORS: 7:00 PM | SHOW: 8:00 PM

TICKETS:  Advance tickets will go on sale around Aug. 1st.   Tickets will also be available at the door

Sunday, September 21, 2025
Sunday

ASHKENAZ

1317 San Pablo Ave

(near Gilman),

Berkeley, CA

Family dance
Venue:  Ashkenaz
11 til around 12:30

All dances will be taught and called by caller Susan Michaels!   Music by Manning Mud Stompers

FREE

Fun for the whole family, with dances that even babes in arms can do!

ASHKENAZ

1317 San Pablo Ave

(near Gilman),

Berkeley, CA

INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOPS
VENUE: Ashkenaz

11:00am – 12:15pm 
Fiddle – Judy Hyman 
Uke -  Jeff Claus
 

12:30pm – 1:45pm
Dulcimer – Sarah Kate Morgan 
Banjo – Clarke Buehling 
Fiddle – Roy Pilgrim 

WORKSHOP info here

 
OHLONE PARK
AFTERNOON
2pm-5pm Open jamming and visiting 
2pm-3pm Friendly jam hosted by Robin Fischer & Rowan McAllister
VENUE:  OHLONE PARK
Plenty of space for jamming!  Bring a chair or 2 if you can. 
 

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OUR FUNDERS:  We greatly appreciate the generous support of Sage Foundation, Berkeley Civic Arts Commission; Sam Britton; Alameda County Art Commission; and Bill Graham Memorial Foundation. 

Thanks also to our nonprofit sponsors:   Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, KPFA-FM, and the California Bluegrass Association

 

Extra-special thanks to our Valiant Volunteer Coordinator, Lael Sigal, and of course to all our volunteers – they make the BOTMC possible!

 

© 2025 Berkeley Old Time Music Convention

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