JamVember is a weekend-long bluegrass "non-festival"
focused on jamming, jamming, and more jamming!
JamVember will be held on November 20th, 21st & 22nd, 2026
(a.k.a. the weekend before Thanksgiving)
at The Renaissance in Framingham, MA
please see below for more details
Please Note: the hotel has another event on Saturday, Nov. 21st
from approximately 7 until 8:10 pm, and during that time
picking is not permitted in the conference foyer
and is restricted to inside the function spaces
focused on jamming, jamming, and more jamming!
JamVember will be held on November 20th, 21st & 22nd, 2026
(a.k.a. the weekend before Thanksgiving)
at The Renaissance in Framingham, MA
please see below for more details
Please Note: the hotel has another event on Saturday, Nov. 21st
from approximately 7 until 8:10 pm, and during that time
picking is not permitted in the conference foyer
and is restricted to inside the function spaces
Friday-Only Pass
$35.00
No physical tickets will be issued, although registered attendees will receive a wristband when they check-in. All ticketing will be done via e-mail, and we will have a list of registered attendees when you arrive. Please bring your ID with you when you come to check-in.
Saturday-Only Pass
$60.00
No physical tickets will be issued, although registered attendees will receive a wristband when they check-in. All ticketing will be done via e-mail, and we will have a list of registered attendees when you arrive. Please bring your ID with you when you come to check-in.
JamVember 2026
This year's schedule isn't ready to publicize yet, but will feature scores of workshops and jams led by dozens of teachers! We will post the schedule here when it's complete, and have copies at the Registration Desk. Here is the schedule from JamVember 2024, which will be very similar to the schedule for JamVember 2026. If you want to print this out, please try to print it with the smallest margins possible.
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JamVember 2024's teachers included Taylor Ackley, Pete Anick, Jacqui Armbruster, Chris Brashear, Richie Brown, Dan Bui, Jean-Baptiste Cardineau, Matt Carlen, George Chapman, Flynn Cohen, Cathy Day, Keegan Day, David Dillon, Frank Drake, Paul Dube, Alex Formento, Margaret Gerteis, Zeke Griffin, Rich Guilbault, Debbie Hall, Noah Harrington, Kelley Harwood, Betsy Heron, Nelson Hiller, Gabe Hirshfeld, Seth Holmes, Jeff Horton, Vern Imrich, James Johnson, Alan Kaufman, David Kiphuth, Bob Kordas, Diane Kordas, Curly Merzbacher, Trevin Nelson, Micah Nicol, Timothy Parke, Jamie Peghiny, Diane Petit, Silas Powell, Chris Reckling, Jordan Richmond, Betsy Rome, Pat Rooney, Sal Sauco, Art Schatz, Aiden Schnell, Sam Stage, Rich Stillman, Bruce Stockwell, Caleb Swan, Cindy Thames, Mark Therieau, Bill Thibodeau, and Kristen Vogelaar (teachers and schedule subject to change).
JamVember FAQs
Q1. What is JamVember?
A. JamVember is a weekend-long bluegrass "non-festival" focused on jamming, jamming, and more jamming... with scores of workshops and jams hosted by over fifty amazing musicians and teachers, and one big difference from usual festivals: no stage show to distract from the picking!
Q2. When and where is JamVember being held?
A. JamVember will be held at the Renaissance in Framingham, MA, the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 20th, 21st & 22nd, 2026. The Renaissance in Framingham is located at 1657 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701.
Q3. How do I book a room for JamVember?
A. (1) Purchase an Early-Bird Weekend Pass above (Please note that the name on your ticket must match the name on your hotel reservation)
(2) Check your email for a message from The Bluegrass University with the subject line "Thank you for your order!" that will include instructions for reserving a room at the discounted rate (be sure to check your spam folder)
(3) You'll need to choose either a PICKING or QUIET room and be sure to select your arrival and departure dates because they may not match your plans
ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT ROOM RESERVATIONS:
– We have a bunch of picking rooms available, and those are unlikely to sell out.
– We have even more non-picking (quiet) rooms, and there's basically no way those will sell out.
– Our discounted room block typically expires about three weeks before the event.
– Discounted rooms are available for single-night stays (you don't need to book a two-night minimum stay).
– If you have any trouble booking your room, please call the hotel directly at 508-879-7200 and ask for reservations.
– You can also email reservations, in which case, please be sure to include the full name of the registered guest, arrival and departure dates, and any other pertinent details.
– Rooms reserved at the discounted rate can be canceled up to 48 hours in advance.
Q4. Where in the hotel will we be able to jam?
A. We will have the entire Lower Level reserved for JamVember, which includes 17 conference rooms, from 6 pm on Friday until 2 pm on Sunday. We will also be allowed to pick on the First Floor and the various jamming floors for almost the entire weekend. Please Note: the hotel has another event on Saturday, Nov. 21st from approximately 7 until 8:10 pm, and during that time picking is not permitted in the conference foyer and is restricted to inside the function spaces
Q5. Do I have to reserve a room to attend?
A. No, you will not need to have a room at the Renaissance to attend JamVember, but you will need to have a valid wristband.
Q6. Will the workshops & jams cost money?
A. No, all of the workshops and teacher-directed jams are free with a valid wristband.
Q7. Where will the workshops & jams be held?
A. All the workshops and teacher-led jams will be held on the Lower Level of the Renaissance.
Q8. Will there be physical tickets issued?
A. No physical tickets will be issued, although registered attendees will receive a wristband when they check-in. All ticketing will be done via e-mail, and we will have a list of registered attendees when you arrive. Please bring your ID with you when you come to check-in.
Q9. Who should we thank for JamVember?
A. This event would not be possible without the following: the insanely-talented Laura Orshaw, the supremely-generous Tim Kruzic, Passim Iguana Music Fund, Greg Liszt (videography) and Nate Shupert (videography), Denis Hauptman (graphic design), the Boston Bluegrass Union, all the generous contributors to our Indiegogo Campaign, and everybody else who has contributed in so many different ways. Thank you all!
Q10. When does JamVember start and end?
A. The schedule will vary from day to day, but here are the most important details:
Friday
3 pm: hotel check-in begins
3 until 6 pm: jamming on the Picking Floors only
6 pm: the Lower Level will officially open (please come to the ticket table on the Lower Level near the elevators to get your wristband)
7 pm: the first scheduled jams and workshops will begin on the Lower Level
Friday & Saturday Late-Night
We will have access to the entire Lower Level for 24-hours a day from 6 pm on Friday until 2 pm on Sunday, so Friday and Saturday nights' jams can go all night!
Saturday & Sunday Morning
Workshops and jams will begin at 10 am on both Saturday & Sunday
Sunday
10 am: workshops and jams will begin
1 pm: the final scheduled workshops and jams will end
2 pm: we'll still be able to jam on the Lower Level until 2 pm.
Q11. Will tickets be available at the door?
A. Yes, both weekend and single-day passes will be available for sale at the ticket table on the Lower Level (near the elevators). You can purchase tickets at the event with cash or credit card (no checks please).
Q12. Will styles other than bluegrass be represented at JamVember?
A. Yes, the main styles other than bluegrass that will be represented at JamVember are Old-Time and Swing. We will have a variety of Old-Time and Swing workshops and jam sessions. But it's also likely that other related styles of music will also be represented at JamVember… anybody interested in Swedish nyckelharpa? It just depends on who shows up!
Q13. If I purchase a Single-Day Pass can I jam all night?
A. Yes, single-day passes are valid until 7 am the next morning as follows:
Friday-Only Pass: Friday at 6 pm until Saturday at 7 am
Saturday-Only Pass: Saturday at 10 am until Sunday at 7 am
Sunday-Only Pass: Sunday at 10 am until Sunday at 2 pm
Q14. Are scholarships available for youth and those who can't afford the Suggested Donation?
A. Yes, thanks to the incredible generosity of our Indiegogo campaign contributors, we are able to offer scholarships to people under the age of 25. If you or your child would like to receive a youth scholarship, please just email us at [email protected]
We also have sliding-scale need-based scholarships available for anybody who feels that they cannot afford the cost of attending JamVember. We really want to make JamVember accessible for everybody, so if JamVember is out of your price range, please email us at [email protected]
Q15. Is there a discounted ticket price for listeners (those who don't jam)?
A. JamVember is for jammers, learners, and listeners alike, and just like other weekend-long bluegrass events, we do not have discounted tickets for those who don't jam. If the ticket price is prohibitively expensive, please check out our sliding-scale need-based scholarships, and email us at [email protected] if you are interested.
Q16. Will food be for sale at Jamvember?
A. Yes, the Renaissance will be providing a wide variety of quick eats at different times throughout the weekend. The food concession will be set up at the base of the Central Staircase, just across from the Carlisle Room for the following meals:
Saturday Lunch from noon until 2 pm
Saturday Dinner from 5:30 until 7:30 pm
Q17. Will there be a stage at JamVember?
A. Yes, the room closest to the elevators on the Lower Level, the Ashland Room, will be used for the JamVember Stage on Saturday from noon until 9 pm as follows:
– Open Stage from noon until 2:30 pm: Bring your jam to perform on stage. Sign up immediately beforehand to perform a short slot on the JamVember Stage.
– Band Scramble Performance from 3 until 4:30 pm: Sign up by 12:30 pm in the Carlisle Room to join a band for the afternoon and perform! See below for further details.
– Bluegrass Karaoke from 5 until 6:30 pm: Sing or play a song on stage with our house band of ringers (to be announced)
Q18. What's the bluegrass band scramble?
A. If you've ever played in a jam session, or if you can play three chords in rhythm, then you can join the Bluegrass Band Scramble at JamVember! People enter the Band Scramble individually, and bands are created by picking names out of hats - roughly one for each instrument so that all the bands have the musicians they need. You and your new bandmates then have a two-hour practice session to prepare songs for a short stage performance. Rich Stillman will guide you through the process; here's the schedule:
Noon until 12:30 pm – Band Scramble Sign-Up
12:30 pm until 1 pm – Band Formation
1 pm until 3 pm – Rehearse with your new bandmates
3 pm until 4:30 pm – Band Scramble Performances
Goals: The Band Scramble will give people a chance to develop their jamming and performing skills. No one who enters has any idea who they'll be playing on stage with just hours later - your bandmates are picked at random, and it's up to you as a group to find your strengths – and even your band name - and get ready for a short performance on stage in front of your friends.
Entry and registration: Participants should sign in at noon on Saturday and indicate their instrument and whether or not they sing. If you sing but don't want to play an instrument, please indicate "singer" as your instrument. Please note: singers are encouraged to join us even if they don't want to play an instrument!
Band selection: Bands will be selected by choosing roughly one of each instrument from a hat. The decision of the hats is final, although we reserve the right to make adjustments to be sure all bands have enough pickers and singers.
Preparation and performance: Each band will be assigned a practice space and will prepare roughly three songs for stage performance, including introductions of the tunes and the band members. Preparation should include the selection of a band name as well. The tunes selected for the performance should include one instrumental at most. Rich will provide a list of common songs for the band scramble on Saturday, but you can also email him in advance at [email protected]
Space in the Band Scramble is limited, so please try to arrive early!
Q19. What are the JamVember Policies?
A. Here is a list of policies that will help keep everything running smoothly:
(1) Please do not jam inside or outside of any workshop room immediately before or after a workshop. If
you see people jamming outside of a workshop, please ask them to find another location. There are lots of places to jam, but there are only a few rooms for workshops. Thanks!
(2) Valid wristbands are required for all activities, including workshops and all jams (including teacher-directed jams, “non-guided”, and open jams). Please keep wristbands visible at all times.
(3) Please note that The Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites are always quiet areas (no jamming allowed). Please be considerate of the hotel’s other guests and only jam in the designated areas of the Renaissance. These include the Lower Level, First Floor, and all of the Picking Floors.
(4) Please keep your personal belongings, such as instrument cases, bags, coats, etc., with you as you move throughout the hotel. Please don't leave anything lying around in function rooms, which may be needed for other activities. JamVember is not responsible for any personal items.
(5) Please do not leave litter lying around; use the trashcans and clean up after yourself.
(6) The hotel is a non-smoking environment. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.
(7) Local liquor laws prohibit consumption or presence of personal alcoholic beverages in public spaces.
(8) While the Renaissance is a pet-friendly hotel, no pets are allowed on the Lower Level during the weekend.
Q1. What is JamVember?
A. JamVember is a weekend-long bluegrass "non-festival" focused on jamming, jamming, and more jamming... with scores of workshops and jams hosted by over fifty amazing musicians and teachers, and one big difference from usual festivals: no stage show to distract from the picking!
Q2. When and where is JamVember being held?
A. JamVember will be held at the Renaissance in Framingham, MA, the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 20th, 21st & 22nd, 2026. The Renaissance in Framingham is located at 1657 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701.
Q3. How do I book a room for JamVember?
A. (1) Purchase an Early-Bird Weekend Pass above (Please note that the name on your ticket must match the name on your hotel reservation)
(2) Check your email for a message from The Bluegrass University with the subject line "Thank you for your order!" that will include instructions for reserving a room at the discounted rate (be sure to check your spam folder)
(3) You'll need to choose either a PICKING or QUIET room and be sure to select your arrival and departure dates because they may not match your plans
ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT ROOM RESERVATIONS:
– We have a bunch of picking rooms available, and those are unlikely to sell out.
– We have even more non-picking (quiet) rooms, and there's basically no way those will sell out.
– Our discounted room block typically expires about three weeks before the event.
– Discounted rooms are available for single-night stays (you don't need to book a two-night minimum stay).
– If you have any trouble booking your room, please call the hotel directly at 508-879-7200 and ask for reservations.
– You can also email reservations, in which case, please be sure to include the full name of the registered guest, arrival and departure dates, and any other pertinent details.
– Rooms reserved at the discounted rate can be canceled up to 48 hours in advance.
Q4. Where in the hotel will we be able to jam?
A. We will have the entire Lower Level reserved for JamVember, which includes 17 conference rooms, from 6 pm on Friday until 2 pm on Sunday. We will also be allowed to pick on the First Floor and the various jamming floors for almost the entire weekend. Please Note: the hotel has another event on Saturday, Nov. 21st from approximately 7 until 8:10 pm, and during that time picking is not permitted in the conference foyer and is restricted to inside the function spaces
Q5. Do I have to reserve a room to attend?
A. No, you will not need to have a room at the Renaissance to attend JamVember, but you will need to have a valid wristband.
Q6. Will the workshops & jams cost money?
A. No, all of the workshops and teacher-directed jams are free with a valid wristband.
Q7. Where will the workshops & jams be held?
A. All the workshops and teacher-led jams will be held on the Lower Level of the Renaissance.
Q8. Will there be physical tickets issued?
A. No physical tickets will be issued, although registered attendees will receive a wristband when they check-in. All ticketing will be done via e-mail, and we will have a list of registered attendees when you arrive. Please bring your ID with you when you come to check-in.
Q9. Who should we thank for JamVember?
A. This event would not be possible without the following: the insanely-talented Laura Orshaw, the supremely-generous Tim Kruzic, Passim Iguana Music Fund, Greg Liszt (videography) and Nate Shupert (videography), Denis Hauptman (graphic design), the Boston Bluegrass Union, all the generous contributors to our Indiegogo Campaign, and everybody else who has contributed in so many different ways. Thank you all!
Q10. When does JamVember start and end?
A. The schedule will vary from day to day, but here are the most important details:
Friday
3 pm: hotel check-in begins
3 until 6 pm: jamming on the Picking Floors only
6 pm: the Lower Level will officially open (please come to the ticket table on the Lower Level near the elevators to get your wristband)
7 pm: the first scheduled jams and workshops will begin on the Lower Level
Friday & Saturday Late-Night
We will have access to the entire Lower Level for 24-hours a day from 6 pm on Friday until 2 pm on Sunday, so Friday and Saturday nights' jams can go all night!
Saturday & Sunday Morning
Workshops and jams will begin at 10 am on both Saturday & Sunday
Sunday
10 am: workshops and jams will begin
1 pm: the final scheduled workshops and jams will end
2 pm: we'll still be able to jam on the Lower Level until 2 pm.
Q11. Will tickets be available at the door?
A. Yes, both weekend and single-day passes will be available for sale at the ticket table on the Lower Level (near the elevators). You can purchase tickets at the event with cash or credit card (no checks please).
Q12. Will styles other than bluegrass be represented at JamVember?
A. Yes, the main styles other than bluegrass that will be represented at JamVember are Old-Time and Swing. We will have a variety of Old-Time and Swing workshops and jam sessions. But it's also likely that other related styles of music will also be represented at JamVember… anybody interested in Swedish nyckelharpa? It just depends on who shows up!
Q13. If I purchase a Single-Day Pass can I jam all night?
A. Yes, single-day passes are valid until 7 am the next morning as follows:
Friday-Only Pass: Friday at 6 pm until Saturday at 7 am
Saturday-Only Pass: Saturday at 10 am until Sunday at 7 am
Sunday-Only Pass: Sunday at 10 am until Sunday at 2 pm
Q14. Are scholarships available for youth and those who can't afford the Suggested Donation?
A. Yes, thanks to the incredible generosity of our Indiegogo campaign contributors, we are able to offer scholarships to people under the age of 25. If you or your child would like to receive a youth scholarship, please just email us at [email protected]
We also have sliding-scale need-based scholarships available for anybody who feels that they cannot afford the cost of attending JamVember. We really want to make JamVember accessible for everybody, so if JamVember is out of your price range, please email us at [email protected]
Q15. Is there a discounted ticket price for listeners (those who don't jam)?
A. JamVember is for jammers, learners, and listeners alike, and just like other weekend-long bluegrass events, we do not have discounted tickets for those who don't jam. If the ticket price is prohibitively expensive, please check out our sliding-scale need-based scholarships, and email us at [email protected] if you are interested.
Q16. Will food be for sale at Jamvember?
A. Yes, the Renaissance will be providing a wide variety of quick eats at different times throughout the weekend. The food concession will be set up at the base of the Central Staircase, just across from the Carlisle Room for the following meals:
Saturday Lunch from noon until 2 pm
Saturday Dinner from 5:30 until 7:30 pm
Q17. Will there be a stage at JamVember?
A. Yes, the room closest to the elevators on the Lower Level, the Ashland Room, will be used for the JamVember Stage on Saturday from noon until 9 pm as follows:
– Open Stage from noon until 2:30 pm: Bring your jam to perform on stage. Sign up immediately beforehand to perform a short slot on the JamVember Stage.
– Band Scramble Performance from 3 until 4:30 pm: Sign up by 12:30 pm in the Carlisle Room to join a band for the afternoon and perform! See below for further details.
– Bluegrass Karaoke from 5 until 6:30 pm: Sing or play a song on stage with our house band of ringers (to be announced)
Q18. What's the bluegrass band scramble?
A. If you've ever played in a jam session, or if you can play three chords in rhythm, then you can join the Bluegrass Band Scramble at JamVember! People enter the Band Scramble individually, and bands are created by picking names out of hats - roughly one for each instrument so that all the bands have the musicians they need. You and your new bandmates then have a two-hour practice session to prepare songs for a short stage performance. Rich Stillman will guide you through the process; here's the schedule:
Noon until 12:30 pm – Band Scramble Sign-Up
12:30 pm until 1 pm – Band Formation
1 pm until 3 pm – Rehearse with your new bandmates
3 pm until 4:30 pm – Band Scramble Performances
Goals: The Band Scramble will give people a chance to develop their jamming and performing skills. No one who enters has any idea who they'll be playing on stage with just hours later - your bandmates are picked at random, and it's up to you as a group to find your strengths – and even your band name - and get ready for a short performance on stage in front of your friends.
Entry and registration: Participants should sign in at noon on Saturday and indicate their instrument and whether or not they sing. If you sing but don't want to play an instrument, please indicate "singer" as your instrument. Please note: singers are encouraged to join us even if they don't want to play an instrument!
Band selection: Bands will be selected by choosing roughly one of each instrument from a hat. The decision of the hats is final, although we reserve the right to make adjustments to be sure all bands have enough pickers and singers.
Preparation and performance: Each band will be assigned a practice space and will prepare roughly three songs for stage performance, including introductions of the tunes and the band members. Preparation should include the selection of a band name as well. The tunes selected for the performance should include one instrumental at most. Rich will provide a list of common songs for the band scramble on Saturday, but you can also email him in advance at [email protected]
Space in the Band Scramble is limited, so please try to arrive early!
Q19. What are the JamVember Policies?
A. Here is a list of policies that will help keep everything running smoothly:
(1) Please do not jam inside or outside of any workshop room immediately before or after a workshop. If
you see people jamming outside of a workshop, please ask them to find another location. There are lots of places to jam, but there are only a few rooms for workshops. Thanks!
(2) Valid wristbands are required for all activities, including workshops and all jams (including teacher-directed jams, “non-guided”, and open jams). Please keep wristbands visible at all times.
(3) Please note that The Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites are always quiet areas (no jamming allowed). Please be considerate of the hotel’s other guests and only jam in the designated areas of the Renaissance. These include the Lower Level, First Floor, and all of the Picking Floors.
(4) Please keep your personal belongings, such as instrument cases, bags, coats, etc., with you as you move throughout the hotel. Please don't leave anything lying around in function rooms, which may be needed for other activities. JamVember is not responsible for any personal items.
(5) Please do not leave litter lying around; use the trashcans and clean up after yourself.
(6) The hotel is a non-smoking environment. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.
(7) Local liquor laws prohibit consumption or presence of personal alcoholic beverages in public spaces.
(8) While the Renaissance is a pet-friendly hotel, no pets are allowed on the Lower Level during the weekend.