First Friday Bluegrass Jam the ultimate family entertainment

Ted Escobar<br> Chronicle Editor | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 14 years AGO

From left, Rose, Madeline and Allison Vance, of Quincy belt out "Faded Love" just minutes after learning the song at the June 3 edition of First Friday Bluegrass Jam at the George Community Hall. They are accompanied by the 20 or so other musicians who participated. Also in the photo, from left, are Gracie Gear on fiddle, Ron Gear on guitar back of the girls, Luke McKean on guitar and Jerry Voories on Mandolin.

GEORGE - When it comes to family entertainment, it's hard to top the First Friday Bluegrass Jam, which has been held in the George Community Hall monthly for about a year and a half.

You can enjoy First Friday Jam as a participating musician. Or you can just sit and listen to bluegrass at a volume usually produced by orchestras. First Friday normally gathers about 25 musicians.

Kooy noted First Friday Jam attracts musicians from as far away as Lake Roosevelt. They come from Moses Lake and Wenatchee. If they all came at once, they'd total 40-50.

"We just go around the room," Kooy said. "If you have a song, you start it, and everybody joins in. If you don't, you just say, 'Pass.'"

Three new faces, with pleasing voices, last week were Rose, Madeline and Allison Vance, an aspiring vocal trio from Quincy. They were introduced by guitarist Ron Gear, and they sang "You Are My Sunshine" with accompaniment from all the musicians.

The girls were given a song they didn't know, "Faded Love," to learn. Minutes later they sang it, again accompanied by a room full of bluegrass musicians.

Another first-time visitor was Marge Cada from Entiat. She felt out of place with her electric bass guitar. Banjoist Elliot Kooy made her feel right at home, saying: "We don't care if you bring and electric accordion. We like all instruments."

Bill Birney, a guitarist from Ephrata, felt a bit shy because he considers himself only a beginner. It was his first jam, and the veterans pulled him right in.

Kooy said the listeners were about equal in number to the musicians. They included Virgil and Jerry LaPlant, who do not play.

"We love it and wouldn't miss any of the jams or Coffee House Concerts if we can help it," said Jerry, who especially enjoyed the Debby and Elliot Kooy rendition of "Hold Whatcha Got," by Jimmy Martin.

The First Friday Jams lead to the yearly George Blue Grass Festival later this year. It draws more than 500 musicians and fans to the community.

The next First Friday Jam will be held on Aug. 5. There will be no July jam because of the annual George Fourth of July celebration.