CBA News Article

Great 48 2010

The 48 Hour Jam slated for January 8-9, 2010 will again be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Bakersfield.

LATEST 48 NEWS

--A FOURTH ADDITIONAL BLOCK OF TEN ROOMS HAS BEEN SECURED FOR THE JAM

--FESTIVITIES WILL BEGIN THURSDAY EVENING, THE 7TH, WITH A RECEPTION AND JAM IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE.

--SOME FOLKS WILL BE HEADING OVER TO BUCK'S CRYSTAL PALACE BEFORE THE RECEPTION

California’s big indoor bluegrass jam, a gathering of bluegrass music pickers from all across the state, continues to gain steam and will be a great way to break the mid-winter bluegrass doldrums with some terrific pickin’, singin’, fun and general camaraderie. Since there are no paid performers involved, there is no cost of admission to either pickers or grinners.

The Doubletree is one of the nicest hotels in the region, located just west of SR-99 on Rosedale Highway. There are numerous restaurants of all types in the vicinity and the Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace is located only a few blocks away.

For fast reservations call:
1-800-222-TREE (8733)

Give name of group: BLUEGRASS JAM (and dates of your stay).

Reservations must be made no later than Sunday, December 27, 2009.

The event is casual and spontaneous and is open to pickers of any skill level as well as those who would just like to come and listen or otherwise enjoy the experience. Last year’s attendance was in the range of 120-130 pickers, which at least doubled the inaugural event held the previous year and we are anticipating our numbers to again increase in 2010. While there were a great number of accomplished players present last year there were ample opportunities for novice players to find a jam where they could fit in and at least two “slow” jams were in progress most of the time.

While players of like abilities tend to form up jam sessions, a good deal of “cross pollination” occurs via the Saturday night “band scramble” and “open mic” held in the hotel’s spacious lounge.

Regrettably, the charity Bluegrass dinner concert planned to benefit the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society (scheduled for January 7, 2010, just preceding the 48-Hour Jam) has been cancelled due to a large segment of anticipated ticket sales that failed to materialize. Since the costs to produce the dinner concert were significant, the East Bakersfield Kiwanis folks felt the risks were just to great to go forward at this time. This in no way afffects the the 48-Hour Jam event and it is expected that attendance for "The Bakersfield 48" will be stronger than ever and fun will be had by all. We still urge you to come on Thursday if you can to get an early start on all the festivities. It might just the early birds an excuse to have dinner at the Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. See you all in Bakersfield.

Posted By: Rick Cornish