The Gathering Schedule
Below is the full rundown for 2026!
jan
15
Thursday
1:00 – 5:00 PM
hosted jam AT the hostel cafe
Host: Melissa Takush
Free
2:00 – 4:00 PM
hosted jam at Mississippi pizza
Hosts: Midwest Tunes with Brian and Sarah Zimmerman
Free
7:00 pm – late
hosted jam AT THE HOSTEL CAfe
Host: Scott Killops
Free
8:00 pm – late
honky tonk kickoff show
The Waysiders, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms Band
Free (21+)
Doors open at 5:00 PM at Alberta Abbey
1:00 – 5:00 PM
hosted jam AT THE HOSTEL CAFe
Host: Judy Lungren
Free
2:00 – 4:00 PM
hosted jam at mississippi pizza
Host: W.B. Reid and Bonnie Zahnow
Free
5:00 PM – 11:30 pm
open jamming
All-Inclusive pass or Friday night ticket required. See ticket page!
6:00 – 7:00 PM
music in the bar
Band: Ellie and Annie Davis
All-Inclusive pass or Friday night ticket required. See ticket page!
8:00 PM (Doors at 7:00 pM)
friday night concert
Jake Blount
The Bubba Award
Judy Hyman (with Jeff Claus, Gus Tritsch and Huck Tritsch)
All-Inclusive pass or Friday night ticket required. See ticket page!
10:00 pm – late
hosted jam AT THE HOSTEL CAfe
Hosts: Ellie & Annie Davis
Free
10:00 pm – late
ragtime jam AT THE HOSTEL CAfe
Hosts: Genavie Thomas & Anna Sandys
Free
Doors open at 11:00 AM at Alberta Abbey
Jump to the detailed Saturday schedule!
noon – 6:00 PM
workshops and much more!
Instrument workshops, kids events, jams, sing-alongs and more! See detailed schedule below.
All-Inclusive pass or Saturday day ticket required. See ticket page!
1:00 – 5:00 PM
hosted jam at the hostel cafe
Host: Roger Applegate
Free
3:45 – 4:45 PM
afternoon concert
Clinton Davis
All-Inclusive pass or Saturday night ticket required. See ticket page!
6:00 - 7:00 PM
music in the bar
Band: Cookhouse (Sophie Enloe, Maggie Lind and Patrick Lind)
All-Inclusive pass or Saturday night ticket required. See ticket page!
7:30 - 10:30 PM
giant square dance!
Bands: Katy and the Kates, Rats Gone to Rest, Annie & Ellie Davis and Friends
Callers: Suzanne Girardot, Tony Mates, Ava Honey, Jane Palmieri, Melissa Takush, Steph Noll, Maggie Lind, Andy Grummon, Bex Bee, Amy Hofer, Caroline Oakley
We’ll also hold our raffle drawing!
All-Inclusive pass or Saturday night ticket required. See ticket page!
10:00 Pm – late
Hosted jam at the HOSTEL Cafe
Hosts: The Canote Brothers
Free
jan
18
sunday
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Sunday Cabaret
Join us at the Spare Room for an open mic style show featuring friends throughout the community (always with a few surprises!). Hosted by Brooks Masten.
Free (minors welcome until 4:00 pm)
1:00 - 5:00 PM
hosted jam at the hostel cafe
Hosts: Ken Torke & Mark Wardenburg
Free
2:30 - 5:00 PM
portland slow jam
This regular slow jam falls during Gathering weekend! See the tune list here.
Free
7:00 PM - Late
hosted jam at the hostel cafe
Hosts: The Canote Brothers
Free
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Square dance at the showdown
Callers: Caroline Oakley and Steph Noll
Band: Big Chimney Barn Dance
$12 (21+)
8:00 pm - late
tunes at the moon
The Horsenecks and members of Foghorn Stringband play session style in the corner.
Free (21+)
jan
19
monday
6:30 pm
show & open mic
The Canote Brothers with open mic performances before and between the sets!
Free & All Ages
Saturday full schedule
All events below at alberta abbey (126 NE Alberta st.). doors open at 11:00 am. Building will close at 11:30 PM.
Saturday day ticket (good until 6:00 pm) or All-Inclusive Wristband is required for all daytime events at alberta abbey. saturday night ticket or All-Inclusive wristband is required for entry to the venue after 6:00 pm.
Kids 16 and under are Free. see tickets page for details.
IN THE AUDITORIUM/THEATRE
12:00-1:00 pm
Guitar Workshop: Guitar Rags 101
Led by Clinton Davis
This workshop, geared toward all skill levels, will be an introduction to rural American ragtime guitar traditions. We’ll learn about forms and chord progressions that have been the basis for hundreds of tunes, and some of the techniques that made the playing of the old masters stand out from other guitar styles. The workshop will be organized so that people can participate at various levels of ability, so long as they are familiar with all of their first-position chords.
1:15-2:15 pm
Fiddle Workshop: John Salyer Tunes
Led by Judy Hyman, with Jeff Claus
In this workshop, you’ll learn a tune in cross-key A tuning (AEAE) from the repertoire of Kentucky fiddler John Salyer. Judy will teach the basic notes and then layer on details (bowings and more) that give it some distinctive rhythm and bounce. While the pacing of the workshop will be at an intermediate-to-advanced level, all are welcome to attend. Less experienced fiddlers can stay with the notes of the tune. More advanced players will learn bowing and other stylistic details.
2:30-3:30 pm
Banjo Workshop: Creating Variations
Led by Jake Blount
The banjo can sometimes feel like a restrictive instrument, confining the player to the bum-ditty pattern or a tune melody designed for the fiddle. This master class-style workshop will explore how to move beyond playing the basic melody of a tune to make your unique musical voice known.
3:45-4:45 pm
Clinton Davis Concert
Hear a wide range of tunes and songs from one of the best multi-instrumentalist old-time musicians on the West Coast!
BALLROOM (IN THE BASEMENT)
12:00-1:30 pm
Instrument Petting Zoo, With Dan Fish and Sarah Ells Fish (in the back of the Ballroom)
12:00-12:50 pm
Kids/Family Jam, With Olivia Horgan
1:00-1:50 pm
Kids’ Open Mic, Hosted by Lila Tierney and Maja Diettrich-Kennett
Sign up with Lila and Maja starting at 12:30 to perform
2:00-2:50 pm
Crankie and Kids’ Show, With Sue Truman, Jerry Gallagher and W.B. Reid
3:00-4:00 pm
Family Square Dance
Caller: Caroline Oakley
Band: Hog Dog
4:15-5:15 pm
Square Dance Calling Workshop: “You Call Call a Dance! Guidance for People Who Have Never Called Before”
Taught by Amy Hofer
5:30-6:30 pm
Slow Jam
See the tune list here
7:00-7:30 pm
Room Closed for Square Dance Setup
7:30-10:30 pm
Giant Square Dance!
Bands: Katy and the Kates, Rats Gone to Rest, Annika Brooks and Friends
Callers: Suzanne Girardot, Tony Mates, Ava Honey, Jane Palmieri, Melissa Takush, Steph Noll, Maggie Lind, Andy Grummon, Bex Bee, Amy Hofer, Caroline Oakley
Raffle Drawing
All-Inclusive pass or Saturday night ticket required. See ticket page!
abbey studio (partway to the basement)
12:00-12:50 pm
Old Time Sing-Along, Led by Sallie Sublette and Rick McCracken
1:00-2:30 pm
Shape Note Singing, With the Portland Sacred Harp Singers
2:30-3:30 pm
Vocal Harmony Workshop, With Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms
3:30-4:30 pm
Sea Shanty Sing-Along, With The Strongbacks
The Strongbacks (Brendan Best, Tim Borden, Evan Coombs) present the first POTMG shanty sing! This will be a family-friendly event in the style of a traditional pub sing, with a bit of workshopping interspersed. Feel free to bring a song you’d like to take the lead on!
5:00-6:00 pm
Matchbox Crankie-Making Workshop, With Sue Truman
A crankie is a form of folkart, popular in the 1800s, and this workshop will let you make your very own miniature version! You can color a scroll that’s already illustrated or choose a blank scroll and design your own story. Next, load the scroll into the matchbox (we will help you), and you are all set with an analog entertainment center to take home!
6:30 pm till 11:30 pm
Jamming
basement GREEN ROOM (see map in building)
12:00-1:00 pm
Hosted Jam, With Bex Bee and Vince Morrison
1:15-2:15 pm
Jug Band Jam, With Arlo Leach
2:30-3:30 pm
Teen Jam, With Sam & Charlie
3:30-5:00 pm
Hosted Jam with Will Jevne
5:00-6:00 pm
Hosted Jam, With Morgan Harris and Isabelle Kirk
6:00-11:30 pm
No-Host Jam Space
