STAGES & PROGRAMS

MAIN STAGE

A lot of amazing entertainers have walked across this stage!!!

The stage started out being built on a small hay wagon. When we relocated to Tunbridge we wanted to bring the history of the stage with us so it was transported in pieces and reassembled. As the crowds grew, the wings were added to make a wider viewing area. The weight of the stage was too much for the little old hay wagon so it had to be moved onto a stronger trailer which was a lot higher. We’ll go into more details of the Stage History at a later date.

SUGAR HOUSE STAGE

Official Late Night Stage!!!

The Jenny Brook Sugar House Stage is a place to gather as soon as the Main Stage Show shuts down.

Artists from the Main Stage join in and jam with the audience. You never know who will show up at the Sugar House!

Have you ever dreamed of playing music with some of your favorite performers? If so, then Jenny Brook is the place to be!

Great place to make memories!!!

BARN DANCE

It wouldn’t be Jenny Brook without a Barn Dance.  It’s a great way to renew old acquaintances and to make a few new friends on the dance floor to Classic Country Music provided by the Malpass Brothers.  The Barn Dance is located in the spacious Pavilion Building and this year Rosewood  Sound will be taking care of the lights and sound.

There will be refreshments and snacks available for sale.

WORKSHOPS

In 2022 the Artists’ Stage will be gathering performers to talk about their instrument, singing techniques, etc., or to perform for you.

MEMORY LANE WITH GIBSON BROTHERS
BOYS FROM INDIANA HISTORY
TENNESSEE SLICKER LEROY TROY

Make sure to check out at least one of the showcases during the festival. You’ll enjoy a unique performance that’s available nowhere else but at the Jenny Brook Family Bluegrass Festival!

PROGRAMS

KIDS ZONE

The Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival is very family-focused, with a great Kids Zone. All activities are free! The schedule has not been confirmed for 2024 but as usual, there will be numerous activities to keep our younger Jenny Brookers busy.  After a long day, they can make plans to enjoy the movie theater!

THE ACTIVITIES & SCHEDULES WILL BE POSTED EARLY IN MAY

Let your kids show their creative side at the KidZone, located at the Dodge Gilman Building. Kids of all ages enjoy using their imagination with the many arts and crafts activities along with games etc. Be sure to check back later in the year for the activities list and schedule.

The Jenny Brook Kids’ Academy Program is FREE for festival attendees and includes two days of rehearsals followed by a performance on the Main Stage on Sunday. All school-age children are invited to participate, regardless of their ability to play an instrument or sing.

There will still be room to sign up in person for the 2022 Jenny Brook Kid’s Academy!

This nighttime gathering takes place in the Dodge Gilman Building Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:00 pm. It’s a great family-friendly event! If you’d like to suggest a movie, send us an email and we’ll choose the movies with the most requests!

[email protected]

BLUEGRASS UNIVERSITY

The Bluegrass University at Jenny Brook includes seven beginner classes for adults.  The classes are two and a half hours of hands-on instruction.
UNIVERSITY PREVIEW:  Friday at 6:30 pm.  Learn about the Classes & Teachers at the Bluegrass University found on the map in your program book!

MEET & GREET:  Saturday at 1:00 pm.  Meet and get to know your potential teachers.
Students Per Class:  Minimum = 3, Maximum = 9.

MEET THE 2022 BLUEGRASS UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTORS

Banjo – Bruce Stockwell

Bruce Stockwell has been playing bluegrass banjo since 1968 and teaching since the ’70s. By age 16 he had won banjo contests, recorded his first album, and opened for Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, John Hartford, and many others. In the late ’70s he worked with Phil Rosenthal and Mike Auldridge as Old Dog producing two albums on Flying Fish. Since the 1980s, Bruce has performed with his two brothers (and now wife Kelly) in various acoustic/electric formats, currently as the Stockwell Brothers Band. In 2005 he won the Merlefest Banjo Contest, and in 2008 a NH Arts Grant led to the formation of Hot Mustard, a double-banjo bluegrass band.

Mandolin – Tony Watt

IBMA and SPBGMA award-winning bluegrass musician Tony Watt has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and on the Grand Ole Opry. He has toured with Alecia Nugent, Leigh Gibson, and Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, and his videos on YouTube have over 950,000 views. Tony is the BBU’s Vice President and at Berklee, he is a Five-Week Summer Program Faculty Member and an American Roots Music Program visiting artist. He led Ashokan’s First-Ever Bluegrass Camps and was the Jam- and Beginner-Track Coordinator for Guitar & Mandolin and Banjo Camp North. Tony also presents JamVember, a bluegrass jamming “non-festival”, and is the new host of Bluegrass Tuesdays at Lily P’s in Cambridge, MA, one of the longest-running and most-successful bluegrass nights in history. Tony currently teaches lessons, classes, and jam sessions throughout the Boston area and anywhere in the world via Zoom.

Fiddle – Cathy Day

Cathy Day began performing at age 10 with her parents and sister in the Rose City Bluegrass Band which played numerous shows throughout the Northeast US during the 80s. As a teen, she arranged and taught the harmonies to her band, and taught fiddle, bass, and dobro. She was a member of the award-winning all-girl band, SassyGrass, and the New Hampshire-based band Marcy Hill. She has a passion for passing on bluegrass music as an instructor at Bluegrass Kids Academies, hosting music jams, and Wernick classes in her home. She demonstrates bluegrass music to kids in the schools, plus still finds time to teach in her spare time. Cathy is a point person for the newly formed Connecticut Bluegrass Association.

Singing – Tim FitzPatrick

Tim FitzPatrick grew up attending bluegrass festivals throughout the Northeast and absorbing the songs he heard on and off stage. Since then, he’s performed at the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Club Passim, the Rose Garden Coffeehouse, and for Bluegrass Tuesdays now at Lily P’s. Tim performed live and recorded two CDs of string band music with the Hi-Tone Ramblers (Inner Space and Bedbug Blues). In any setting, listeners appreciate his powerful singing and solid rhythm guitar playing. Some even tolerate his sense of humor.

Dobro – Dave Bevins

Dave Bevins (dobro wizard) started at home with his family, The Chilson Hill Gang.  As a teenager, he guested many times with the Country Gentlemen and Don Stover.  He became a 4-year member of Green Mountain Bluegrass with Dan & Stan Tyminski and after that joined the Mardi Gras band.   In 2003 he won the National Resonator Dobro guitar competition.  Dave has appeared & recorded with John Cowan, Pat Flynn, Scott Vestal, Victor Krauss, Andrea Zohn, & Andy Leftwich.  He also has a CD recorded in Nashville, produced by Pat Flynn & engineered by Bert Battaglia, who also engineered Belas Fleck’s ‘Perpetual Motion’ CD. For the last 15 years, he’s performed at festivals from Indiana to Georgia and here in the northeast with the Atkinson Family.

Bass – John Savold

John Savold has been playing bass (both upright and electric) for over 45 years and has performed throughout New England in various bands playing R&B, Jazz, and more. He has concentrated solely on bluegrass for the past 7 years and performs regularly at The Burren and The Bebop as well as various in jams including at Bluegrass Tuesdays at Lily P’s. He has also performed at various New England bluegrass festivals such as Podunk and Thomas Point Beach.

Guitar – Betsy Rome

Betsy Rome is well-known for her flatpicked guitar, blending bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, & swing influences. Noted for her rock-solid rhythm and inventive leads, she has won or placed in numerous band and instrumental contests. Betsy teaches guitar and mandolin, both in person and online. She has taught workshops at Grey Fox, Joe Val, Podunk, Winter Village and Thomas Point Beach festivals, and Marist College. A founding member of Too Blue, one of the Northeast’s most respected bands, Betsy also plays mandolin in the Walkingwood Mandolin Quartet.

All classes are $35.00 and paid to your instructor at the time of your class.

TONY WATT:  [email protected]

JENNY BROOK:  [email protected]

FAQ

No, unfortunately, all of the classes are held at the same time on
Saturday from 2 until 4:30 pm. But all of the teachers have additional
availability and we recommend you ask the teacher about other
options, such as a private lesson at another time.

The classes will be held at various locations throughout the festival, usually at the instructor’s own campsite.  Your teacher will instruct you as to where to go for your class at your Meet & Greet.

You need to bring an instrument, a chair, preferably a folding (armless) chair, and $35.

No registration is required. Your instructor will collect the fee at the festival.

All classes require at least 3 students at a minimum and a maximum of 9 students per class. The maximum class size ensures that every student gets a small group learning environment, and the minimum ensures that you will be learning with someone else.

Yes, you are welcome to make an audio recording of your class,
provided you agree not to post it on the internet or share it widely.
Video recording is not allowed without explicit permission from your
teacher. Some teachers may even record the class for you and send you
a copy later.

FAQ

No, unfortunately, all of the classes are held at the same time on
Saturday from 2 until 4:30 pm. But all of the teachers have additional
availability and we recommend you ask the teacher about other
options, such as a private lesson at another time.

The classes will be held at various locations throughout the festival, usually at the instructor’s own campsite.  Your teacher will instruct you as to where to go for your class at your Meet & Greet.

You need to bring an instrument, a chair, preferably a folding (armless) chair, and $35.

No registration is required. Your instructor will collect the fee at the festival.

All classes require at least 3 students at a minimum and a maximum of 9 students per class. The maximum class size ensures that every student gets a small group learning environment, and the minimum ensures that you will be learning with someone else.

Yes, you are welcome to make an audio recording of your class,
provided you agree not to post it on the internet or share it widely.
Video recording is not allowed without explicit permission from your
teacher. Some teachers may even record the class for you and send you
a copy later.

YOGA

Once again, we will be offering morning yoga classes in Fernan’s Playhouse. These sessions are suitable for everyone, from beginners to more advanced practitioners. All you need is a yoga mat and some comfortable clothes. Each class will tie in with a theme that reflects what we love about Jenny Brook and the Green Mountains. Yoga is a great way to start the day, and it’s especially helpful for dealing with the rigors of driving long distances, camping, and jamming ‘round the clock. A longtime fixture of Jenny Brook’s picking scene, instructor Curly Merzbacher is also a dedicated yogi. He is completing his certification as a yoga teacher in order to share his bluegrass-infused practice with you. Roll out your mat and join in!