Monthly Jamboree and Open Mike

Monthly jams are held on the first Sunday of each month from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. We usually meet at Hoover Middle School in San Jose, in and around the cafeteria. During the summer we often hold the jam at the nearby Municipal Rose Garden Park instead.

What Is It?  The jam is a family-friendly gathering of people who enjoy traditional music as played on acoustic instruments such as the fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion, harmonica and pennywhistle. We get together to “jam” (play informally together), and take turns performing on stage. Our players often range in age from under 10 to over 80.

We begin at 1:00 pm with several jam groups forming outdoors. Usually several styles are represented, such as old-time, bluegrass, country, gospel, Celtic and folk.  At about 1:30 we open the stage indoors to “open-mike” performances, with chairs and tables set up so people can sit and enjoy the music. The jam usually concludes with a door prize drawing shortly before 5:00 pm. Details about upcoming jams can be found on our Events page.

Location:  Hoover Middle School is at the corner of Naglee and Park avenues in San Jose. The school's main entrance is on Park, but the cafeteria entrance and nearest parking are at

1450 Naglee Ave., San Jose, CA. Here's a map. 

Summertime jams in the park are held under shady trees in the grassy (non-rose) half of the Municipal Rose Garden park — about two blocks southwest on Naglee, near Garden Drive.

Admission:  Adults: $6 for SCVFA members and $8 for non-members, which helps pay the rent for use of the school. Youths 17 and under are free. Occasional special events may have an additional admission charge. The summertime jams at the Rose Garden park are free.

Open Mike:  At the school, jam participants are encouraged to sign up to play on stage, as solo performers or groups, for 10 to 15 minutes each. Musicians gain experience performing for a small audience and using a PA system, and non-musicians are entertained. (There is no open mike at the park, and special events, such as our Youth Fiddle Contest in November and occasional concerts, will sometimes preempt the open-mike performances.)

Beginners’ Circle slow jam:  We usually organize a slow-play group starting around 2:00 pm, led by one of our experienced musicians. Bring your acoustic instrument and practice playing with others, learn some new tunes, and pick up tips on jamming. See the Beginners' Page for more information and a few tunes.

Miscellany:  Attendees often provide various snack foods (a small donation is encouraged if you partake). Sandwiches and other deli food are available at nearby Zanotto's Family Market (at Naglee and Bascom). School restrooms are accessible in the library building across the courtyard.

Alcohol and smoking are not permitted on the school grounds or in the buildings. Pets are not permitted in the cafeteria (service animals excepted).