It's coming up this Saturday, March 26, 2022, the Sacramento/NorCal steel jam and chris ivey memorial at The Side Door in Curtis Park, 2900 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95818 (the SW corner of Franklin & 4th Ave). See the note below about load-in and parking. The jam will be held from around noon until 4:00 or 5:00 depending on how much energy and enthusiasm there is. Pedal steel, lap steel, dobro, all are welcome. We'll be using Band-In-A-Box tracks through the house PA system, I will have a fairly broad selection of BIAB tracks on hand so I think the plan will be to post a list of tunes that attendees can choose from or vote on. It's looking like we might have a pretty big turnout, which will be fun, but it's a bit of an unknown as to how many tunes we'll actually be able to get to. I'm looking forward to the gathering itself as much the playing, and will be focused first and foremost on keeping everything moving smoothly, directing traffic, etc.
For those of you who want to stick around (or come back), there will be an evening performance around 7:00 hosted by John Green and his band the Sidedooros to remember departed local steel comrade and SGF's favorite antagonist, chris ivey. This will be a free event for all, John says that's how chris would have wanted it. The band will include a handful of chris' local steel buddies as well as several guest performers who worked with chris over the years. It will be fairly loose and informal, music and stories, we'll celebrate the triumphs and the train-wrecks equally! Should be a lot of fun.
LOAD-IN and PARKING: The Side Door is right at the edge of a residential neighborhood so parking is a little sparse right at the venue. There is plenty of parking within the surrounding few blocks, on Franklin Blvd and some of the side streets, so with that in mind we will try to reserve a spot in front of the entrance as a loading zone so folks can drop their gear before parking and won't have to schlep it too far. The entrance we will be using is on the side of the building (yes, the actual Side Door), it's the big blue door facing 4th Ave, next to the barber shop.
Also worth mentioning that there will not be any food or beverages available at the venue, but there is nice little beer garden/pizza place right next door on Franklin (in the same building), another place two blocks up, or you can of course just bring your own provisions.
Feel free to share this with others who may be attending. We're looking forward to seeing some old friends and meeting some new ones, so even if players just want to come, hang out and mingle without bringing their rigs, that's cool too. Looking forward to seeing you all Saturday!
