“Spreading the Good Muse” (updated 3/3/24) Do your ears perk up when you hear:     Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, Rev. Gary Davis, Robert Johnson, Johnny Cash, Big Bill Broonzy, Ralph Stanley, the Carters, Old Crow Medicine Show, Louvin Brothers, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Everly Brothers, Del McCoury, Son House, Sam Bush, Memphis Minnie, Delmore Brothers, Tony Rice, Darrell Scott, Muddy, even Neil and Bob? Then you got a hankerin’ and an appreciation for American Roots Music.  From the Red, White and Blues to the Red, White and Bluegrass, we’ve been blessed with musical traditions speaking directly to our lives, joys, trials, victories, losses, and sorrows.  These traditions, each unique, but drawing from common threads and inspirations  speak directly to the human condition and our need to appreciate and understand all it offers.  Now is the time to step up and do your part to keep these traditions alive.   Continuing from where our predecessors left off,  Blue Muse Roots Jam will meet monthly to that purpose.  If you’ve been craving the opportunity to meet and play acoustic music with others of like inclination this is it!  No charge, no tricks or gimmicks, just bring your instrument(s), and your interest.   To fully engage the experience, you should be able to play your instrument,  especially if you’re sitting inside the circle. That said, all skill levels will be welcomed.   Customarily, the pilgrims and newbies sit outside the circle until their skills and confidence tell them it’s time to move forward.  Watch what those old-timers are doing.  You’ll know soon enough when you’re ready to take the plunge.  Guitars, harps, mandolins, banjos fiddles and bass, etc., etc.,  all will be welcomed, even gazoos and drums (within limits).  Curious listeners?  All will be welcomed.  In line with tradition the door is open to all who have genuine interest.  Just step on through. Full details are provided below. The long-standing arrangement with Tacoma Library for a permanent footprint with regularly scheduled events has concluded.  With the intervention of COVID and evolving priorities, there have been many changes at the Library, one of which is dates/locations are now on a first-come first-serve basis.  In effect, that threw our annual calendar and planning into uncertainty and greatly increased my work load as moderator and coordinator.  The greatest loss of course was to the good patrons of the Tacoma Library who regularly looked forward to our events, and over time became friends to all of us.  As it stands, we no longer have the ability to confirm dates and locations far enough in advance to prepare a reliable calendar for friends and participants.  We had hoped this would somehow resolve, but it hasn't. As many of you already know, last season, of necessity, our outreach into the local community expanded dramatically.  But there was a downside.  Complexities in securing venues, and updating shifting schedules have been punishing.  The workload has quadrupled, demanding many more hours of personal time each month.  So, for the moment, our future plans are in limbo and will likely remain so until better options can be found.  Don’t fret (pun intended), we’ll still meet for music whenever we can lock in a venue.  Be sure to click on our DATES tab to check on upcoming confirmed dates.  As to our former home at the Moore Branch of the Tacoma Library, I remain eternally grateful to those who regularly participated and contributed  throughout the course of our ten year run.  It would have been impossible without you. Unless otherwise indicated, future gatherings will be at one of the addresses below: Fern Hill Branch Tacoma Library 765 S 84th St. Tacoma, WA 98444 Grace R. Moore Branch Tacoma Library 215 South 56th St. Tacoma, WA 98408 Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library 13718 Pacific Ave. S. Tacoma, WA 98444 South Hill Pierce County Library 15420 Meridian E Puyallup, WA 98375 South Tacoma Branch Tacoma Library 3411 S 56th St. Tacoma, WA 98409 University Place Branch Pierce County Library University Place Town Center 3609 Market Pl W University Place, WA 98466 Wheelock Branch Tacoma Library 3722 N 26th St. Tacoma, WA 98407 Our current calendar of confirmed dates and venues can be found by clicking here or on the “Dates” link at the top of this page. Guidelines Participants must be fully vaccinated.  No active symptoms, and no recent exposures.  Honor system on these matters. We abide by the venue’s policy regarding masks, whatever the policy is on the day of the jam.  You should have a mask with you just in case.  Rooms usually have adequate space for social distancing, if you have that concern. As in the past, if the venue has a PA, we plan to have two floor microphones.   They are available if you feel you need the volume boost.  You assume any risks if you use the mics.  With Covid, you may have reservations.  I understand.    We’ll have microphone covers freely available, if you wish to use them.  If you have thoughts or preferences, let me know. There is always  the possibility a date or location may have to be reset or canceled because of scheduling conflicts.  We will always keep you advised by email the week of the event. Online Sessions WITH THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON GATHERINGS, OUR BI-WEEKLY ON-LINE SCHEDULED SESSIONS ARE CONCLUDED.  IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING TWO-PLUS YEARS OF COMMUNITY AND SHARING.  AFTER A ROUGH START AND LOTS OF EXPERIMENTATION, WE LEARNED AND EVOLVED TO WHERE SESSIONS BECAME STATE-OF-THE-ART AND FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES FUNCTIONED IN REAL TIME.  OUR SERVER CONTINUES TO BE POPULAR WITH THE TECH-SAVVY MUSICIANS, AND I OFTEN DROP IN.  GOING FORWARD THE SERVER WILL REMAIN UP 24/7 FOR ANYONE WHO WISHES TO USE IT.  IF YOU WANT TO HOOK UP AND WORK ON SOME IDEAS, SIMPLY SEND OUT THE INVITES.  FOR THOSE INTERESTED, THIS IS FACILITATED USING THE JAMULUS SOFTWARE PACKAGE, A FREE DOWNLOAD https://llcon.sourceforge.net/.   YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN IN.  FOR FULL INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU NEED TO GET GOING, CLICK HERE.   Any questions, email “Billy” at (Ignore/delete the Z’s) ZbluemuserootsjamZ@Zgmail.com