JIGARRE JAMMIN' IS A MUSICAL PHENOMENON!
'JJ' began when a small bunch of players found the annual Moosic Muster, held each January, was not enough – they needed music sessions to keep them going month to month. Since then our winning format has expanded over the years. We now have up to 70 musically-minded folk who meet in the little township of Girgarre every month for up to five hours of playing, singing, sharing knowledge, catching up ~ and they love every minute of it.
Musos of all ages arrive from all parts ~ Bendigo, Echuca, Gunbower, Lockington, Shepparton, Kyabram, Cobram, Yea, Wangaratta, Euroa, you name it – and many of them are late starters. Others have played for years and generously share their skills. Everyone joins in with an enthusiasm and regularity that must be unique in country Victoria.
COME AND PLAY ALONG...
It's all about getting together and sharing. If you've been hanging out for somewhere, and someone, to play along with, then Jigarre Jammin' is perfect.
You will find we are welcoming and supportive in a friendly space. Those who are more experienced happily share their knowledge, and our leaders organise basic entry-level workshops ~ (subject to tutor availability) to help those who are either raw beginners and need a hand to get started or, having rusty skills from a lifetime ago, need to polish them up.
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WHEN & WHERE
We meet on the 4th Saturday of every month
(in recess December and January)
Girgarre Town Hall, Winter Road, Girgarre.
ENTRY
$2 donation and a small plate of prepared afternoon tea to share.
Tea & Coffee is always provided. To reduce waste, we bring a reusable mug.
Hall open from 10am.
FORMAT
10.30am
Jam 'in the round' of Celtic music
11.15pm
Jam 'in the round' of Bush music
12 noon
Join together for a BYO lunch
1.00pm
25-minute walk-up opportunity (1 song each)
1.30pm
Play along jam (lead sheets on screen and a leader)
2.00pm
Break off for workshops
(beginner guitar, beginner ukulele and two others)
2.40pm
Afternoon tea (country style)
3.10pm
Walk-up for work-shop participants
3.35pm
Play along jam (lead sheets on screen and a leader)
4.00pm
Tidy hall, supper room & kitchen
Please note: Girgarre has a small post office store. Stanhope ,10 mins away on the Midland Highway south of Girgarre, has a supermarket and various food shops.
FREE INSTRUMENT HIRE
Want to try a different instrument?
Use our free instrument bank ~ guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, even a banjo or two. Thanks to donations from Fender and other friends, we have lots to offer.
BEGINNERS' WORKSHOPS
Each month we have beginners’ workshops in guitar and ukulele, and two other workshops on a roster - bass ukulele, banjo, double bass, violin, blues harmonica and more advanced guitar and ukulele.
JUST JAMMIN'
If you don’t want or need a workshop, you can continue with our Middle Jam or find a corner and others to play with. A number of Jigarre Jammers have found kindred souls and formed bands of their own, large and small, from this process.
Singers are more than welcome. There's nothing nicer than all those voices and instruments ringing though the hall and there's plenty of opportunity to just 'Jam'. We make it really easy by putting both lyrics and chords up on a screen via a data projector. That way everyone can join in, no matter their level of expertise or familiarity with the song.
MAKE A DAY OF IT - CAMP & SING WEEKEND
The first camp-over in 2012 was a total success. Two camp-overs are now held each year, usually in April and September.
The Camp & Sing weekends are a chance for regular Jammers and friends to
come for a whole weekend of Jammin’; concerts; workshops and fun. It will be no surprise to see many vans and tents dotted around the park, and to hear small groups gathering together, sharing friendship, food and of course, plenty of music.
All you need is your own camping gear, oh yes, and your favourite musical instrument, with a few songs tucked into the back of your mind, ready to join in.
These weekends are such a joy, the musos and friends who come love them. They’ll tell you there’s no such thing as too much music.
There are happy hours; communal meals, everyone getting to know each other better as we play on into the night, even going over to play old timey gospel music for the local Church community on Sunday morning
The weekend always includes a special workshop event on the
Saturday morning, taking the place of the Celtic and bush music.
CAMPING SITE
Girgarre Memorial hall is adjacent to a designated free camping site. Using it during the Moosic Muster in January, or during the twice yearly musical camp weekends, attracts a fee as the use of the facilities is offered.
Jigarre Jammin' Camp weekends are BYO everything events. There is a fee for campers which covers camping (no power), Jigarre Jammin' and concerts. For a small extra fee, you can join us for pizza for lunch on Sunday. There are hot showers at the hall and the kitchen and BBQ are available from Friday to Sunday. Site bookings not required. If you can't stay, there is the usual $2 and afternoon tea for the day or $5 for the day plus the concert at night.
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