Bluegrass musicians and music lovers are invited to come together to enjoy the rich tradition of bluegrass music with the evening’s performers, The Gotham City Pickers and Restless Mountain Bluegrass Band. The FCC Bluegrass Coffeehouse and Open Jam will take place on Saturday, March 14th beginning at 7pm at the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield.
Admission is $10 per person and $5 for performing musicians. Beverages and light snacks will be available for sale. At 9 pm, all musicians in the house (please remember to bring your instruments) will be welcomed onto the stage, along with the evening's performers, into an open jam session, to be led by Austin Scelzo.
The Gotham City Pickers name is a tip of the hat to the many anonymous “pickers” of old-time string band music and the borough of Brooklyn. Formed in the shadow of the Verrazano Bridge in 2014, the band began when Marc Orleans met guitarist JP Gilbert and master fiddler, Bruno Buzzesse. Driven by close harmony, singing and high energy picking and fiddling, they forge a roots music that is steeped in tradition but is filled with newness and vitality.
Restless Mountain Bluegrass Band has become a familiar and popular act on the small but active Connecticut bluegrass scene, frequenting local festivals, stages and restaurant/bar venues and events. The band performed in various configurations in Connecticut for over a decade, and was reconstituted in 2017 with several new musicians, a new song mix and presentation. Scott, Jerry, Matt, Dave and Gracin have each been active bluegrass musicians for many years.