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Introduction
Featured
Jam Sessions:
Anutt
(D&D Little Branson)
Fremont
Gainesville
(Hoerman Park)
Kissee
Mills
(Johnson Community Building)
Long
Beach
(Mtn. Grove School)
Long
Lane
Manes
(Manes
Music Makers)
Mansfield
McClurg
McDowell
Mountain
View (Weaver's)
Souder
Springfield
(North Town Mall)
Strafford
Wasola
(Stone's)
Related
Events:
Opry's:
Webster Co. Opry
Picnics:
Vanzant Picnic
Fiddle
Competitions and Festivals:
Branson Fiddle Contest, Compton Ridge, and Ozarks
Celebration Festival
Dances:
Ava and Ebenezer
Homecomings:
Horsecreek Church
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Downtown
Park and the Mansfield Auto Auction Building
Mansfield, MO
Every Thursday Evening
The jam session
stared in 1998 through the efforts of Joyce Cantrell, Delbert
Scrivner, and others. It has become the largest one in
the region and often features three separate jams: one of old-time
fiddle music and dancing, one for bluegrass music, and one
for early country and gospel songs.
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During warm
weather people fill the park in the center of Mansfield to
hear the music. In cold or rainy weather, the jam session
is held in the Mansfield Auto Auction building owned by Chub
Johnson. A full square of dancers often dances to the
music of the old-time fiddle music session. Listeners
usually bring lawn chairs to enjoy the music and visit with
each other.
Directions from Springfield: drive US-60 east about 45 miles;
get off at the second Mansfield exit (Hwy 5), and drive south
into Mansfield [See
map]. Photographs are from June 15, July 6, and November
9, 2000.
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The old-time music is usually played near the gazebo,
where the square dancers can dance. |
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The reputation of the weekly event has strengthened
and spread throughout the region. Gary Johnson drives over
a hundred miles to play fiddle and visit with other musicians. He
is accompanied by Gordon Peacock on guitar. |
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The Mansfield Auto Auction building is used for the
Thursday jam session during cold or rainy weather. The building
also features Saturday night concerts featuring bluegrass and country
music. |
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In the auto auction building, different jam sessions feature
different kinds of music. This one features old-time fiddle
music, with David Scrivner and Rachel Hoagland on fiddles, and
J.R. Johnston on banjo.
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Square dancers, often associated with the dance group
in nearby Ava, occasionally dance to the old-time music. |
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Kay Scrivner helps sell concessions that include
on this night home-made banana cobbler and boysenberry pie. |
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In one of the jams, country and gospel songs are
featured, and each person has a chance to sing a song while the
other musicians play along. |
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Many of the listeners are attracted to the bluegrass
music, here featuring Gene Conley on banjo and Kenny Bushong, with
the cap, on guitar. |
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