FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marilyn Snyder
March 18, 2008
(701) 328-2792

‘HERITAGE OF ACOUSTIC MUSIC,’ WITH JAM SESSIONS
FEATURING DIFFERENT MUSICAL GENRES AT HERITAGE CENTER MARCH 29

BISMARCK – The music of guitars, banjos, mandolins and other acoustic instruments will fill the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck during an all-day musical festival Saturday, March 29.  The day’s events are sponsored by the state’s history agency, the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND).

“The Heritage of Acoustic Music” will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m.  Anyone interested in learning more about bluegrass, country blues, and/or gospel music is encouraged to attend this event.  There is no charge for any of the day’s activities, including the workshops.

Area bluegrass, country blues and gospel musicians will be on hand throughout the day giving tips on how to play the various instruments and how to create the desired sounds for these types of music.  The day’s workshops will culminate in a participant jam session.

The workshops, all open to the public, will start at 10 a.m. and continue for two hours.  Anyone who plays a guitar, mandolin or banjo is encouraged to bring his or her instrument for lessons on the mandolin, swing jazz guitar methods, and open tuning for guitar.  Workshops include Kelly Kiemle, Les Vaagen and Lloyd Blake.  Other local professional musicians will be on hand throughout the afternoon, from 1 to 5 p.m., to sit in on jams for bluegrass, folk and open music choice.  Musicians, from young to old, from beginners to advanced, will be able to sit in on one or all of the ongoing jam sessions.  Throughout the day, vintage and collectible instruments will be on display, and musicians will be on hand to discuss their particular instruments. 

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