Connecticut has a lot to offer the bluegrass community- from hosting an IBMA award winning festival, to maintaining a thriving concert series that has brought the biggest bluegrass names around, any bluegrass lover would be missing out if CT wasn’t on their radar. And yet, even Connecticut natives are unaware of some of the great opportunities this state has to offer. Connecticut native Austin Scelzo sought to change that, so he reached out to all of his contacts and the heads of each of the already thriving Bluegrass Associations surrounding CT. On behalf of all our dedicated supporters, he is proud to introduce to New England the Connecticut Bluegrass Association.
The Connecticut Bluegrass Association — or CTBA — is dedicated to bringing together the bluegrass community in CT, promoting Bluegrass Bands, Education, Jams, festivals, and event Venues.”
Thriving Bluegrass Associations exist all around CT- to name a few: the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association, Boston Bluegrass Union, Rhode Island Bluegrass Association, Bluegrass Association of Maine, and the Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association of New Jersey. It was time CT had its own. We are excited to serve the Bluegrass Community and build on the great foundations that local Bluegrass lovers have already created.
CTBA plans to take after the Rhode Island Bluegrass Association and offer a “Learner Loaner Program” where folks can loan out bluegrass instruments to try them out for 6 months at a time. We plan to expand Podunk’s Kids Academy, to offer year-long bluegrass instruction for kids. The Podunk sponsored event “A Taste of Bluegrass” (Which featured Grammy award winning Michael Cleveland) received fantastic feedback. CTBA hopes to one day sponsor and host events like this. CTBA is dedicated to teaching folks about bluegrass jamming, hosting slow jams, and maintaining an active calendar of all jams, events, and performances throughout CT.
You can support CTBA by liking and sharing the Facebook page, giving us feedback on the website, donating an instrument to the Learner Loaner Program (Email Austin Scelzo or on Facebook @CtBluegrassassociation), or becoming a Member Band on the website.
Greetings – Patrick Campbell, editor. here. The California Bluegrass Association would like to put y’all on our email list to receive our monthly Bluegrass Breakdown. Please send contact info.
Will you be having a schedule of events? There’s one Aug. 6 at the Andover Gazebo. Redwood Hill Bluegrass , 6:30-9:00 pm.
AWESOME! WAY TO GO CT!
Don’t know if this is the appropriate forum for these comments. I went to the Podunk Festival on 08/12/21 to check out your organization and to get info on local jams In CT. I was surprised to find an unattended table by the trading post with extremely limited information. I understand that you are fledgling organization looking to grow its membership, I would have expected a better effort. Now having complained, I would still like to be a member and would like to help the organization grow.
Hi, new to (Manchester) CT
(CHICAGO TRANSPANT) seeking like minded, for jams, duets, etc.
I’m an intermediate guitar player, can sing some harmony, and have a solid classical music background.
interested in a large variety of music:
Bluegrass, gospel, folk, new folk, Nashville inspired, and a lot of artists :
from John Prime, To Paxton, Emmy Lou Harris. Nancy Griffith, Cheryl Wheeler, Harvey Reid, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, and a sprinkle of Motown etc.
I’ve enjoyed songs by duos such as Robin and Linda Williams, Ian and Sylvia, and fossils and foxes, etc.. Barry and Holly Tashian (Google them!)
How do I get connected?
Hi Rebecca,
Great! (Austin from Connecticut Bluegrass Association here) There are actually quite a few folks in your area. Shoot me an email and I’ll get you connected:
amscelz@yahoo.com
I am a flatpicking guitarist looking for people to jam with, I’m in my forties and am inspired by old time Bluegrass as well as more modern bluegrass, I would love to jam! Would love to play out/be a member of a solid band. I am in Connecticut, Southbury area
Advice?