2026 schedule
WORK IN PROGRESS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE!
Many Free Events!
A printable schedule is available at
https://tinyurl.com/botmc2026
THURS. SEPT. 17
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1pm-4pm Afternoon Open Jam: to get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com
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4pm-5pm Workshops at La Peña Cultural Center
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4pm-6pm hosted jam at the Starry Plough
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5:30pm-6:30pm hosted jam at La Peña
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7pm Concert at La Peña:
fri. SEPT. 18
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1pm-4pm Afternoon Open Jam: to get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com
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5pm-6pm FREE open jam in front of the Freight
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7pm Concert at the Freight
sat. SEPT. 19
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DAYTIME: BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY - ALL DAYTIME EVENTS ARE FREE!
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10:15am Family Concert
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10:30 am Black Old Time Musicians Panel Discussion
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12pm-3pm String Band Contest
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2pm-3pm -old time open jam
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time TBA: Book reading by Alice Gerrard
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4pm-6pm Afternoon Open Jam: to get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com
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EVENING: ASHKENAZ
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6pm Square dance workshop
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7:30pm clogging workshop
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8pm Square Dance Party at Ashkenaz
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Hosted open jams in the back studio
sun. SEPT. 20
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11am-12:30pm Family dance FREE
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11am-1:30pm Workshops
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2pm-5pm: Ohlone Park Open jamming and visiting.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
ASHKENAZ
1317 San Pablo Ave (near Gilman), Berkeley, CA
Welcome square DancE party
VENUE: Ashkenaz
8:0pm
TICKETS: Advance tickets will be available through Ashkenaz. Tickets also will be sold at the door.
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Forty Drop Few
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round robin callers
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Back studio, old time open jam hosted by TBA
The afternoon open jams (Thurs Sept. 17 1pm-4pm, Fri Sept 18 1pm-4pm, and Sat 4pm-6pm FREE) are a great place to meet people, visit, play tunes, etc. This has been an important part of the BOTMC for many years. To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address.
THURSday, September 17, 2026
Email link for location (private home)will be posted.
AFTERNOON open JAM
time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
FREE ADMISSION
email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for the location
3105 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA
VENUE: La Peña Cultural Center
4:00 - 5:00 PM WORKSHOPS
Workshop info here
4pm-6pm hosted jam
At the Starry Plough (next door to La Peña)
FREE!
5:30pm-6:30pm hosted jam
La Peña Lounge
FREE!
CONCERT:
DOORS: 6:00 PM | SHOW: 7:00 PM
TICKET INFO HERE
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Joseph Decosimo & Stephanie Coleman
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Brandon Godman
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Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellows (Samaria Marley, Sam Wilkins, Shanice Richards, Genell Zuciya)
Friday, September 18, 2026
Afternoon Jam
Afternoon Jam
Email link for location (private home)will be posted.
AFTERNOON OPEN JAM
time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 pM
Email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for location (private home).
FREE ADMISSION
The afternoon open jams (Thurs Sept. 17 1pm-4pm, Fri Sept 18 1pm-4pm, and Sat 4pm-6pm FREE) are a great place to meet people, visit, play tunes, etc. This has been an important part of the BOTMC for many years. To get the location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com and you will receive an automated reply with the address.
Please note: the musicians pictured at left will unfortunately not be at the afternoon jam (except in spirit). Jams like the one pictured are an inspiration to old time musicians everywhere!
photo by Libby Rodenbough
Photo: Irene Young
photo by Libby Rodenbough
THE FREIGHT
2020 Addison
Berkeley, CA
VENUE: THE FREIGHT
4:00 - 5:00 PM WORKSHOPS:
Workshop Info HERE
5:00 pM Jamming!
Open jam hosted by TBA, in front of the Freight (outside) – FREE!
CONCERT:
DOORS: 6:00 PM | SHOW: 7:00 PM
TICKET info HERE
LINEUP:
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Alice Gerrard, Reed Stutz, Suzy Thompson
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Justin Robinson & Aaron Cooper
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Forty Drop Few
saturday, September 19, 2026
photo: Lisa Berman
photo: Lisa Berman
photo: Lisa Berman
BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY
2090 Kittredge
(between Shattuck and Milvia)
Berkeley
VENUE: BERKELEY CENTRAL LIBRARY
FREE EVENT!
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10:15 - 11:00 am on the 4th Floor
Family Concert - the Canote Brothers -
10:30 - 11:30 am on the 2nd Floor
Black Old Time Musicians Panel Discussion, moderated by Darcy Ford -
12pm-1pm Kids jam, hosted by Manning Mud Stompers; teen room 1st Floor
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12 noon- 3-ish on the 2nd Floor
String Band Contest
Sign up to enter the contest, win agricultural prizes! Band sign ups start SEPT. 1, 2026 -
time TBA in the Community Meeting Room 3rd Floor - Book reading by Alice Gerrard Custom Made Woman: A Life in Traditional Music
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2pm-3pm on the 5th Floor
Old time open jam hosted by TBA
Also 4pm-6pm Open jam (private home) - mail BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for location.
TICKETS: Free event!
Photo: Mike Melnyk
ASHKENAZ
1317 San Pablo Ave
(near Gilman), Berkeley, CA
SQUARE DANCE PARTY
VENUE: Ashkenaz
DOORS: 7:00 PM | SHOW: 8:00 PM
TICKETS: Advance tickets are available through Ashkenaz. Tickets will also be available at the door
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Skillet Licorice
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Justin Robinson & Aaron Cooper
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Joseph Decosimo, Stephanie Coleman & friends
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Callers Janine Smith & Evie Ladin
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7:30 Clogging workshop with Evie Ladin
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8:00 Square dance party!!
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Open jamming in the back room:
8pm Song circle hosted by Mark Olson & Penny Critchlow
9pm Jam hosted by Forty Drops Few
Sunday, September 20, 2026
photo: Mike Melnyk
photo: Mike Melnyk
ASHKENAZ
1317 San Pablo Ave
(near Gilman),
Berkeley, CA
Family dance
Venue: Ashkenaz
11 til around 12:30
All dances will be taught and called by caller Janine Smith! Music by Manning Mud Stompers
FREE
Fun for the whole family, with dances that even babes in arms can do!
ASHKENAZ
1317 San Pablo Ave
(near Gilman),
Berkeley, CA
INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOPS
VENUE: Ashkenaz
11:00am – 12pm
12:30pm – 1:30pm
WORKSHOP info here
Jamming in Ohlone Park
Jamming in Ohlone Park
OHLONE PARK
AFTERNOON
2pm-5pm Open jamming and visiting
2pm-3pm Friendly open jam hosted by Robin Fischer & Rowan McAllister
2pm-3pm Shred Sesh hosted by TBA
VENUE: OHLONE PARK
Plenty of space for jamming! Bring a chair or 2 if you can.