Acoustic jam sessions coming to Pittsfield

By Brett Yates

Local musicians will soon have a new opportunity to get together and play songs with their neighbors at the Pittsfield Town Hall.

At last week’s meeting of the Pittsfield Select Board, officials gave permission to resident Dan Webb to organize acoustic jam sessions – free and open to all – inside the municipally owned building at 56 Village Green. Webb envisions a recurring meetup that will take place every other Tuesday, beginning on Jan. 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

“That’s the tentative, original plan,” he said. “I’m hoping that we’ll have enough support and interest to do that.”

Webb plays the guitar.

“I enjoy playing music with other people,” he related. “There’s other jams similar to this in the area, but I wanted to get another one going and another opportunity to play with other people and meet other musicians, another opportunity for music in our area.”

Musicians of all ability levels are welcome to bring their instruments. Spectators can come, too.

“Everybody gets in a circle and we just kind of take turns,” Webb explained. “Everybody calls a song, and then it’s the next person’s turn, and people will say, ‘It’s in the key of G, and it goes like this,’ and everybody plays along, and either you know it or you try to keep up with it.

“A lot of times, people will have sheet music to follow, and it’s an inclusive thing where you can learn some stuff. These types of events are good environments to improve your playing, and it’s just fun.”