Mars Cafe Closing

Last night we had our last bluegrass jam at Mars Cafe. As of right now we don't have a new venue but should have some things figured out in the next couple of weeks.  Watch the Facebook page or blog for updates.

Thanks everyone for your support and most of all Mars Cafe for their support of the Des Moines Bluegrass Community.

Cancelled: Marengo, IA Bluegrass Festival

We were just told that the 4th Annual Bluegrass N' Old Time Country Music Festival in Marengo, Ia has been cancelled.  This event was going to be held August 3rd and 4th. Their website is unable to be updated right now so we will try to keep everyone updated with current information.

Next Jam: August 5th

Our next bluegrass and old time jam will be August 5th at Mars Cafe.  Here's a link to the Facebook invite, share with your friends...

https://www.facebook.com/events/285418831566134/

Check out some more photos from our July 15th jam on our Facebook page...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.480933351934572.124174.342580992436476&type=3

June 17th Jam Photos

Here are a few photos from our June 17th Jam at Mars Cafe. To view the rest please visit our Facebook album... 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.466514853376422.120863.342580992436476&type=3

July 15th Bluegrass Jam

Please join us for some bluegrass and old time music at Mars Cafe on July 15th from 7 to 9pm. We would love to see some more new faces.

Here is the link to the Facebook event page...

https://www.facebook.com/events/387176911342023/

ALSO- after the jam head on down to El Bait Shop (downtown by the Science Center) to see Kodiak Flatts perform.  They're a terrific band from east Iowa, there's no cover, just bring yourself and grab a drink!

The Get Down Boys

Don't miss this show...

June 3rd Bluegrass Jam at Mars Cafe

The next jam is coming up this Sunday.  Here is the Facebook event link to share with your friends...

https://www.facebook.com/events/314671735279569/

Here are a few photos from the last jam. It was so nice we moved it outside!

May 6th Bluegrass Jam

Our next Jam is coming up May 6th at Mars Cafe. Here is the Facebook Event page for the next Jam. Please re-post and share it with your friends!

https://www.facebook.com/events/411215855563132/

We've had such a great experience putting on this event, every week we continue to see new faces and make new friends! Because of this we are currently looking for a larger space to host the event. Feel free to comment below or email us if you have any venue suggestions.

April 15th Jam

Thanks to everyone who came out on April 1st to the Bluegrass Jam... they just keep getting better and bigger! The next one will be on April 15th at Mars Cafe. Here's the Facebook event page to share with your friends.

https://www.facebook.com/events/126102217519805/?context=create

Here are a couple of photos from the last jam...

For more photos of the April 1st Jam visit our Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/DesMoinesBluegrass

If you attended the jam and have photos or videos that you would like to share then please email us at dsmbluegrass@gmail.com. Thanks and we hope to see everyone on the 15th!

April 1st Bluegrass Jam

Put the next jam on your calendars... April 1st at Mars Cafe.

Check out our Facebook event page and share with your friends!

https://www.facebook.com/events/321477721239732/

What a great third jam that was!

Just want to thank everyone who came out and picked a few tunes tonight. This was the biggest and best turn out yet. It was truly a night of guitar players, but man were there some good guitar licks being passed around. It was also nice to have some younger old time pickers stop by for a bit. Always great to play some of those old great melodies. 

Over all it was quite the night and we can not wait for more like it. And it is so great we are all meeting. Good things are happening for the Des Moines Bluegrass scene.

Some pictures are posted on the facebook page if you would like to see them.

www.facebook.com/desmoinesbluegrass

Sunday Jam!   
Mars Cafe @ 7:00pm
-------------------------

Calling all pickers, just a reminder to come out and check out the jam tomorrow at Mars Cafe!   All standard benefits still apply, great drinks and a nice environment to hang and play some tunes.  See you all tomorrow! 

March 18th Jam at Mars Cafe

The next Jam is approaching... join us this Sunday at Mars Cafe at 7pm.  Bring your instruments or just come and watch!  We would love to see some new faces.

Here is a link to our facebook event page.  Please share it with your friends. Thanks! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/356276321062009/

More new songs to learn.

We finally got a few more songs up in the "Tune of the Week" section. Check them out, they are both a lot of fun to play. One is more oldtime, and the other is more new bluegrassy. Enjoy!

Also added some more info to the shows page. There are a few monthly/weekly events that are worth mentioning.

Check out the brand new page on the site. 

TUNE OF THE WEEK

Every week we are going to be putting up videos to teach a new fiddle tune that someone could perhaps call out at a future jam. One video will be Andrew and Bryan playing the song normal speed, then another video of the melody being played slower. We hope this will help people build up a larger list of instrumental tunes to play.

This week we started with two songs. Ashland Breakdown and New Chance Blues.

Check them out  in the Tune of the Week section.

Enjoy!

Last Night's Bluegrass Jam

We had a lot of fun at the first DSM Bluegrass Jam and we were happy to see some old friends and meet some new ones!  Throughout the night there were 11-12 musicians that played and many spectators. Thanks everyone who came out to support our growing bluegrass community.  We're looking forward to the next jam at Mars Cafe on March 4th.

We have some photos and videos posted on the Des Moines Bluegrass Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/pages/Des-Moines-Bluegrass/342580992436476

Here's one of the videos taken by Cathy Prince.  

TONIGHT TONIGHT

     The day has finally come, the first Des Moines Bluegrass Jam is hours away. I hope people are home re-stringing and warming up the vocal chords, cause we are ready to play some songs.
   
     Andrew and Bryan will be on the radio for a bit this after noon to talk more about the jam and maybe some up coming plans for us here and Des Moines Bluegrass. Feel free to listen and KFMG 99.1 in the Des Moines area, or KFMG991.org for outside the Des Moines area.

     Hope to see you all tonight, no matter if you are playing or just watching!!!

Steven Moore and Friends Concert

Andrew Conley, one of the DSM Bluegrass co-founders, played a show in Ohio last night with some very talented young musicians.  I thought I would share a video from the concert.  Most of the musicians in this video met for the first time just 2 days before the sold out show.

Even More Shows Posted...

      Some good ones too.
   
     I can't believe that Missy Rains is playing two Iowa shows in Feb. If you don't know Missy and her bass skills then you need to check you tube or something.  
   
     Also, Kodiak Flats from right here in Iowa. Cornmeal from Chicago. Also The Henhouse Prowlers from chicago.

     Check out the shows page for more intfo on the shows. Ill keep adding more up as well.

    If there are some shows that I should know about then please send me a message. Would love to help get the word out.

     Please share this site on facebook and twitter. Help make Iowa's Bluegrass Scene better.
   

Southern Reign in Des Moines friday night.

     Southern Reign is playing at The Royal Flush in Des Moines this friday the 20th. The show starts at 8pm, but you can show up early to get a good spot. I can hear that banjo ringing already!

     The Royal flush is located in Des Moines at 4440 NE Hubbell Rd

     Check out our musicians page for more info on Southern Reign.

New Site Features and News

   
     I just added some new stuff to the site. Some pages for shows, bands and jams. Also a link to the facebook page. And I just added a new forum as well. Please check it out and start some conversations about the local bluegrass and old-time scene.

     Also, it turns out that we are gonna have to push the first jam back to Feb 19th. I hope this does not cause any confusion, but it does give us all more time to spread the word. Please help out by

Thanks

Farmers Market Video

Here's a short video featuring Bryan Conley, Andrew Conley and Etienne Cremieux playing at the Valley Junction Farmers Market in West Des Moines. We'll have more videos to share after our first bluegrass jam on February 5th.

Welcome!

We're just getting started with Des Moines Bluegrass and have some big plans but for now we are starting with a two time a month bluegrass jam at Mars Cafe in Des Moines.  The first Jam is February 5th at 7pm.  All skill levels are welcome.  We want everyone to come and have some fun with the hopes of fostering a thriving bluegrass scene here in Des Moines.  

Please feel free to come and enjoy the music even if you don't play.  Mars Cafe will be extending their happy hour just for us.