Author Archives: Justin Heath

DCBU Camp! Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Week

I’m very pleased to announce that I got a scholarship to attend the Common Ground on the Hill’s Traditions Week July 6th to 10th at McDaniel college in Westminster MD. For the past 32 years Common Ground on the Hill has been hosting camps with workshops in traditional roots-based music, visual arts, and dance, asContinue reading “DCBU Camp! Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Week”

Jam Session in Flower Avenue Urban Park – Friday May 22nd

I’m putting together a Jam Session at Flower Ave Urban Park on Friday May 22nd from 4-6pm! The Longbranch Mainstreet Revitalization program put out a call for buskers so I signed up and I plan to invite the community out to play with me. I’ll be setting up a small busking amp and a singleContinue reading “Jam Session in Flower Avenue Urban Park – Friday May 22nd”

Bluegrass Guitar Class starts May 21st

I’ll be running an all levels Bluegrass Guitar Class on Thursday nights at 7pm from May 21st to June 18th at the School of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park. Over the first few sessions we will work on various aspects of Bluegrass guitar in preparation for the open jam on June 11th, then we willContinue reading “Bluegrass Guitar Class starts May 21st”

Jam Session at Bourbon and Bluegrass

We will be kicking off the 2026 Bourbon and Bluegrass Festival with a Bluegrass Jam on May 2nd from 12-1:00 Pm so bring an instrument and join us! All instruments and skill levels are welcome. The festival is Saturday and Sunday May 2nd and 3rd from 1-5 pm at Lincoln’s Cottage in NW Washington DC.Continue reading “Jam Session at Bourbon and Bluegrass”

Takoma Park Bluegrass Block Party!

On May 15th, 2026, from 5-7 pm, Takoma Park will host its first Bluegrass Blockparty, featuring performances by Bebe Blumenthal, Cory Chubb, and a bluegrass ensemble. Local food options will be available, and attendees are encouraged to bring instruments for jamming. Sponsored by Mainstreet Takoma, School of Musical Traditions and the DC Bluegrass Union.

CAGED Mandolin

There has been a lot written about the CAGED system for understanding the guitar, but I recently learned that you can apply the same thinking to the mandolin. I have to thank Ryan Rogers of the Dirtygrass Players for pointing this out to me. The basic gist of the CAGED system is that you canContinue reading “CAGED Mandolin”