2025 schedule
Many Free Events!
A printable schedule is available at
https://tinyurl.com/botmc2025
TUES. SEPT. 16
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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
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Welcome Party and Cajun Dance at Ashkenaz
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Blake Miller with the Aux Cajunals
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Cajun dance lesson with Sarah Travis
- Back studio, old time jam hosted by the Corn Likkers (Ray Chen, Lael Sigal, et al.)
THURS. SEPT. 18
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1 - 4 pm - FREE - Afternoon Jam: To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address.
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5:00 pm - in front of the Freight- FREE jam hosted by WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow
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7 pm - Concert at the Freight: Bruce Molsky, Ozark Highballers, Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellows
fri. SEPT. 19
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- 4 pm - FREE - Afternoon Jam To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address.
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5:00 pm - in front of the Freight- FREE jam hosted by Mark Olson & Penny Critchlow
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7 pm - Concert at the Freight: Jake Blount, Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus; Sarah Kate Morgan; Suzy Thompson
sat. SEPT. 20
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DAYTIME: BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY - ALL DAYTIME EVENTS ARE FREE!
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10:15 am - 4th Floor FREE Family Concert with WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow
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10:30 am - 2nd Floor FREE Panel Discussion: Black Old Time Musicians Perspectives w. Jake Blount, Darcy Ford-James, Dr. Angela Wellman, Patrice Strahan
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12 noon - til around 3:00 - 2nd Floor FREE String Band Contest
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2 - 3 pm - 5th floor FREE old time jam with Darcy Ford-James, Patrice Strahan, Hannah Mayree
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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)
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EVENING: ASHKENAZ
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Square Dance Party at Ashkenaz:
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Bruce Molsky & Friends
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Ozark Highballers
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Jake Blount, Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus
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Callers Susan Michaels & Connor Maguire
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Hosted jams in the back studio
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Clogging workshop with Eive Ladin before the dance
sun. SEPT. 21
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11:00 - 12:30 FREE Family dance, music by Manning Mud Stompers. Caller Susan Michaels will teach and call all the dances!
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11:00 - 1:30 SLIDING SCALE Instructional WORKSHOPS
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2:00 - 5:00 pm: Open jamming and visiting in Ohlone Park. Bring a chair or 2 if you can! FREE
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Photo: Martha Ture
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.
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Cajun dance lesson taught by Sarah Travis
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Back studio, old time jam hosted by the Corn Likkers (Ray Chen, Lael Sigal, et al.)
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
Photo: Snap Jackson
THE FREIGHT
2020 Addison
Berkeley, CA
VENUE: THE FREIGHT
4:00 - 5:15 PM WORKSHOPS
Fiddle – Bruce Molsky
Workshop info here
5 pm JAMMING
Open jam hosted by WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow, in front of the Freight (outside) – FREE!
CONCERT:
DOORS: 6:00 PM | SHOW: 7:00 PM
Friday, September 19, 2025
Afternoon Jam
Afternoon Jam
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!
photo: Tadin Brown
Photo: Irene Young
photo: Tadin Brown
THE FREIGHT
2020 Addison
Berkeley, CA
VENUE: THE FREIGHT
4:00 - 5:15 PM WORKSHOPS:
Banjo - Jake Blount
Fiddle – Roy Pilgrim
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
photo: Corbin Pagter
photo: Mike Melnyk
photo: Tadin Brown
photo: Corbin Pagter
BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY
2090 Kittredge (between Shattuck and Milvia,
Berkeley
VENUE: BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY
FREE EVENT!
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10:15 - 11:00 am on the 4th Floor
Family Concert with WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow
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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- 3-ish on the 2nd Floor
String Band Contest
Sign up to enter the contest, win agricultural prizes! Band sign ups start SEPT. 1, 2025
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2pm-3pm on the 5th Floor
Old time jam hosted by Darcy Ford-James, Patrice Strahan and Hannah Mayree
TICKETS: Free event!
photo by Corbin Pagter
Photo by Corbin Pagter
photo by Corbin Pagter
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.
Photo: Mike Melnyk
Photo: Mike Melnyk
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
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Bruce Molsky & Friends
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Callers Susan Michaels & Connor Maguire
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7:30 Clogging workshop with Evie Ladin
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8:00 Square dance party!!
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Jamming in the back room:
8pm Song circle hosted by Sarah Kate Morgan
9pm Harry & Cindy Liedstrand
Sunday, September 21, 2025
photo: Mike Melnyk
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!
Photo: Jared Hamilton
ASHKENAZ
1317 San Pablo Ave
(near Gilman),
Berkeley, CA
INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOPS
VENUE: Ashkenaz
11:00am – 12:15pm
Dulcimer (beginners; loaners available) – Sarah Kate Morgan
Fiddle – Judy Hyman
12:30pm – 1:45pm
Dulcimer (intermed/advanced) – Sarah Kate Morgan
Banjo – Clarke Buehling
Uke - Jeff Claus
WORKSHOP info here
Jamming in Ohlone Park
Jamming in Ohlone Park
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.