Folk musicians Papa Joe and Jammer John are returning to coordinate the teaching jam at the Third Annual Ferdinand Folk Festival. This year, the popular jam is moving to a more centralized location at the upper shelter house to help accommodate more listeners and musicians.
Papa Joe
Papa Joe Kretschmer and John Sheckler are part of The Folk Jammers, a group known for organizing music jams at the Thomas Family Winery and the RiverRoots Music and Folk Arts Festival in Madison, Indiana. The jams give music fans an opportunity to take the love of music a step beyond listening by allowing them the opportunity to play music with other musicians of all levels.
The event will be held in the same space as the Songwriters Workshop led by Alabama homeboy Will Kimbrough (2005 Americana Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year) and Kentucky-bred Tommy Womack (Two-time winner of the Nashville Scene Best Song Award).
The Folk Jammers play in a similar situation at the RiverRoots Festival, formerly the Ohio River Valley Folk Festival. Both festivals feature rising stars in the singer/song writer industry. When the Carolina Chocolate Drops finished a workshop in Madison, half the crowd stayed to sing along with the Folk Jammers.
“We had lots of musicians come jam with us during the first two festivals in Ferdinand,” said Sheckler. “But, because our location was at the outer edge of the festival area, many listeners understandably stayed near the main stage or the food and art areas. The upper shelter will be a wonderful location and should attract both players and fans to the jam.
The jam is a relaxed event. The Folk Jammers always travel with an extra guitar, hand drums and ukulele for musicians to play.
John Scheckler
Regular fans of the jam bring their own instruments.
Many different styles of music are played depending on who stops to join the jam. The Folk Jammers use American roots music as their primary style, blending elements of blues, country, rock, Celtic and jazz. One example of their adventurous spirit is the performance of Dark Side of the Moon as a ballad on the Appalachian dulcimer.
Papa Joe plays traditional and contemporary folk songs on the banjo and guitar. He describes himself as “an old folkie,” and is very active in the folk music scene in southern Ohio. Papa Joe’s band, The Wayfarers, plays at the Old Time Music Festival in Metamora. He also plays solo at the Metamora Gristmill where he holds a workshop on beginning guitar playing.
Papa Joe is also a seven-year veteran of the SummerSongs and WinerSongs songwriter workshops in upstate New York.
John Sheckler is a founding member of The Folk Jammers. He sings and plays mountain dulcimer, but is not limited to traditional dulcimer music. “It is not your grandfather’s dulcimer,” he says. When Sheckler plays, the music can be New Orleans’s jazz, Hank Williams, Pink Floyd or anything in-between. Sheckler will also play percussion on a washboard, spoons or homemade gourd instruments.
The Folk Jammers started with three regular players, but the group has expanded to include several dozen strong musicians who play with the group at various events. “Papa Joe is the one who best represents the spirit of folk music jamming,” Sheckler said. “Wherever he goes, everyone loves him.”
A wide spectrum of musical friends bring instruments and voices to the jams. Those joining the music include well-known Ferdinand music teacher Ray Major. “His jazz/classical style offers a wonderful expansion of our down home styles,” Sheckler said.
The jam offers musicians of all levels the opportunity to join other musicians in a multi-style jam. It gives all the participants an opportunity for musical growth as they jam with musicians from other styles of music. The jam is an informal performance. The pace may slow when performers joining the jam are beginners. The music will stop when necessary to assist players with chords or rhythms. At other times The Folk Jammers will take a back seat as more advanced players strut their stuff.
Non-musicians are also welcome at the jam. There will be plenty of room for an audience, and many of the songs will offer the opportunity to sing along.
The Jam Tent will be open for business all day during the Ferdinand Folk Festival. For more information about the Folk Jammers, visit: www.facebook.com/groups/129734690381036.
For information about Papa Joe visit his website: http://papajoemusic.com/songs.
