Guitar-A-Rama Community Jam & Concert offering free tickets to public

The Reading Musical Foundation presents Guitar-A-Rama 2023 featuring folk/pop legend John McEuen. You will find links below to get FREE tickets, first come-first served, while supply lasts.

September 17, 2023, Reading Musical Foundation presents Guitar-A-Rama 2023, a FREE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP/JAM & CONCERT starring Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder John McEuen “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” with Dave Kline & The Mountain Folk Band and members of Big Valley Bluegrass, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn Street, Reading, PA.

McEuen, also of “Mr. Bojangles” fame, will roll into Reading, PA, for a continuation of his worldwide “Circle” tour celebrating 50 years since his landmark “Will the Circle be Unbroken” LP by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with many of Nashville’s brightest country and bluegrass stars of the era recorded for all time, on a collection of music that still sells well and has become folk, bluegrass and mountain music standard repertoire! Featuring music director Dave Kline & a “Circle” version of the Mountain Folk Band backing John, including Bennie Sims, Keith Kupp, Kenny Gehret and Travis “The Mad Fiddler” Wetzel demonstrating their world-class playing on a myriad of instruments.

While the tickets are FREE, they will be limited to the following: 100 tickets for the pre-concert workshop, master class and jam with John and Dave, Bennie, Kenny, Travis and Keith. 800 tickets for the indoor, rainproof concert later in the afternoon. Tickets will be required for entry. Reading Musical Foundation students and any others studying banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, upright bass and related Appalachian acoustic instruments who attend will be invited to perform along with John & Dave and the band on the main stage during the concert on the song “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”; a once on a lifetime opportunity that’s sure to become a lifelong memory and resume builder. We’ll also be posting the concert set list in advance for any students or jammers who sign up for the free workshop session. This will help become familiar with the repertoire. Free post-concert bluegrass jam in the DoubleTree’s Cheers American Bistro, from 5 to 7pm, hosted by members of Lehigh Valley’s award-winning Big Valley Bluegrass Band!

Here’s the day’s schedule…

1 to 2pm: Workshop/masterclass/jam in Penske Lecture Hall at DoubleTree – Ticket Link https://dave-kline-productions.ticketleap.com/

3:00 to 5pm: Concert in main concert hall at DoubleTree – Ticket Link https://dave-kline-productions.ticketleap.com/reading-musical-foundations-guitar-a-rama-2023-featuring-john-m/

5 to 7pm: Big Valley Bluegrass hosts a bluegrass jam session in Cheers Bistro at DoubleTree