November 14-16, 2025 - Winston/Salem NC

Old Holler Farm Retreat Center is in Rural Hall NC

We love the Wernick Method and they love us.

Small groups is the way bluegrass was intended to be shared and you'll get plenty of small group action appropriate for your own comfort level. Groups are arranged according to skills, interests, instruments, singing etc. so you get your best ensemble experience. Sometimes groups can change so you can get a variety of experience with different jammers. Appropriate level instruction happens in the midst of the jamming action with lots of opportunities to test and hone new skills. Goofs and slip-ups are all part of the fun - no worries.

Large groups for learning and breakout sessions.

Large group jamming happens periodically as the occasion calls, especially the first meeting of a camp but other times too. These sessions are for everyone to get on the same page together. Here we can set a theme, a principle or topic that we’ll pursue later in skill appropriate ways during small group and breakout sessions. Everyone gets to contribute to the esprit de corp and shared experience of our One Room Schoolhouse.

Breakout and topical sessions.

Breakout sessions can be instrument focused or topical. Finding a melody - Faking a solo when you don't have one prepared - Leading a song or following one - Bluegrass singing, style and harmony - Instrument specific sessions - Pickup notes - fills - tone - timing and technique - finding and immersing in that deeper current of the bluegrass rhythm. These are the stuff of breakout sessions. Learning strategies. How to find our key(s). Capos and transposing. who knows what else may crop up. We can't always hit everything but some things we always get to work on.

After hours jamming is a tradition at Jubilee House.

Pretty much a spontaneous and less rigorous time just letting it all hang out. Some go out to dinner and others stay to play. The dinner crowd often comes back to join in and who knows how long before we're all wore out. Or you may just want to retire for the evening and nurse your sore fingers. The after hours is unofficial time. It's more loose and non instructional. The variety of songs may stray but not too far, and the tempos may be faster but not crazy fast. Sometimes a guest teacher may drop by. That's a great opportunity to be a part of jamming magic where you get to belong even in a higher level jam session. Of course we're just as likely to play easy and slow after hours too.

Tuition, Lodging and Food.

Tuition - $325.00

Lodging in nearby Winston/Salem.
RV and tent dry camping available by arrangement with Leigh.

Leigh will serve dinner Friday evening to keep our inner fires burning. Lunch Saturday and Sunday. Candy and fruit bowl, water and coffee all day. We're all on our own for breakfast and dinnter those days. There's lots of local eateries and there's a refrigerator in case you want to bring your own.

It's a real good idea to visit with Leigh and she'll help you choose.

Gilbert Nelson

aka Dr. Jambo

Gilbert Nelson is your host. He brings decades of teaching experience with him and he makes learning fun. Gilbert is a learner just like you and he'll give you opportunities for growth through instruction, experimentation, and triumphs along with the failures. Laughter is a key to it all. Gilbert is talented and sings and plays Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Dobro. In a pinch he'll play bass for you too. He's even been known to pick up a fiddle from time to time. (No promises!)

Leigh Nelson

aka General Leigh

A seasoned hand, Leigh knows her way around the jamming scene and she'll show you the way too.

Leigh plays bass, guitar, mandolin and even a little clawhammer banjo. She has a deep understanding of jamming tradition and she'll guide you in her own gentle and friendly ways.

Even more, Leigh is the director and administrator for all our jam camps. She even serves as Gilbert's "backup brain" from time to time.

Liam Purcell

Master Instructor

Liam Purcell (Deep Gap, NC) got his start as a student in the Junior Appalachian Musicians and at Pete Wernick's Pre-MerleFest camps. He's a well loved teacher at our JamTown camps too. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and leader of the band Cane Mill Road, winners of the IBMA's Momentum Award. Liam is a recent graduate of the famed Berklee College of Music and winner of multiple instrument contests. Liam is a familiar and welcome friend, well acquainted with the JamTown way. You'll love him too.