Sonoma County Folk Society

03/19/2026

5TH Sunday March 29th SoCoFoSo Jam!
All are welcome. 1PM-5PM at Sebastopol Grange.
Here's a little reminder of jam etiquette as in Michaela Mae and Ryan Harlan's workshop:
-The purpose of a jam is for everyone to enjoy playing music together. The jam leader, or person leading the song, sets the group up for success.
– Know your song, and pick one with only 2-3 verses so that others get to share their songs.
– Tell the group the title of your song, key and chords. If it takes a long time to explain it, if it is complicated with lots of chords, your chances of group success decreases.
– Helpful to know the Nashville Number System (I, IV, V) for chords. It makes it easier to explain the song.
– Set the tempo. Start by humming it and then tapping it out.
– Leader sings verses. Group sings choruses together.
– Solos come after the chorus.
– Stick foot out to indicate end of song is coming at next logical place.
– Turning neck of instrument indicates something will repeat.
– Holding up raised neck of instrument signals that something different is happening – like slowing down for an ending.
How to pass breaks
– A dialogue needs to happen such as “all banjos” “all guitars”.
– The silent way is to look at the person you want to play, get eye contact, look for a nod or shake, might need to move to the next person, so give yourself time.
– Before the song, you can also ask who would like to take breaks. 2 or 3 solos allow more songs to be played.

01/18/2026

Free Berkeley Bay Festival on May 2. Sonoma County band Taylor Mountain will play at 11:30.

12/02/2025

Save the date Sunday December 28 5 PM-9:30PM. End of the year Potluck Jam!

11/30/2025

Fifth Sunday jam today 1-5PM! Come join the fun. All playing levels welcome.

08/25/2025

Teachers and classes for signups are now available for Jamboree at RiverTunes.net!

We keep learning and working towards making each JAMboree experience better and better. We will strive to continue to put your needs, interests, and desires first. The feedback you share with us is really helpful and appreciated. Thank You!

08/24/2025

Sunday Aug. 31st! SoCoFoSo Fifth Sunday jam and Folk Jamming workshop with Ryan Harlin and Michaela Mae! Workshop 11:30AM-12:30AM.
Suggested donation is $5.00

Regular Jam is 1:00PM- 5PM. Membership suggested but not required.

Playing in an ensemble is one of the fastest and most enjoyable ways to grow as a musician. In this workshop, we’ll focus on the skills that help a jam session run smoothly, all while building community through music.

We’ll take a deep dive into a single folk song and use it as a framework to practice essential jamming skills: how to back up other players, trade solos, and lead a tune from start to finish with confidence.
This workshop is designed for musicians who already have experience on their instrument and want to develop their abilities as both supportive backup players and capable song leaders.

The class is taught by Michaela Mae and Ryan Harlin, who together teach a range of courses at Sebastopol's Own The Folk Farm Music School — including Folk Jamming, Bluegrass Jamming, Duet Singing, Rhythm Guitar, and Clawhammer Banjo.

For more information about the teachers visit: www.folkfarmmusicschool.com

06/19/2025

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING and 5th SUNDAY JAM!
Sunday, June 29th Sebastopol Grange

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 12-1pm
Bring your sack lunch and your ideas for future SoCoFoSo activities
We will provide BROWNIES and beverages!
JAM 1-5pm

03/14/2025

SAVE THE DATE: The next SoCoFoSo Membership Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 29th from 12-1pm before the usual 5th Sunday Jam at the Sebastopol Grange. Bring your sack lunch and join us to talk about ideas for the future of our organization.

03/12/2025

On March 30th, before the 5th Sunday Jam, there will be a FREE VOCAL WORKSHOP by Michaela Thomas from 11:30-12:30. Our usual jam will follow from 1-5 at the Sebastopol Grange at 6000 Sebastopol Ave in Sebastopol.

Here is the description of the workshop:
Our voice is the only instrument we carry with us wherever we go, yet it remains hidden behind skin and bones, often feeling like a mystery. In our culture, we are taught to believe that people are either born with a beautiful voice or not—but Michaela Mae knows this is not the whole story. Drawing on her extensive understanding of vocal anatomy and decades of experience as a performer, student, and teacher, Michaela has seen firsthand that with the right tools and knowledge, anyone can uncover the true potential of their voice. This heartfelt and immersive workshop invites singers to demystify their voices by exploring how the components of vocal anatomy and healthy vocal technique work together to create beautiful, powerful sound.

For more information about Michaela or The Folk Farm please visit: https://www.folkfarmmusicschool.com/

03/12/2025

We are excited to welcome Levie Isaacks to the SoCoFoSo Board of Directors. Levie is eager to work with our community and share the love of music with others in our jams and activities. He brings experience working on other boards that will be a huge benefit to our organization. Thank you for joining us, Levie!

03/01/2025

Tomorrow (3/1) on Bluegrass Signal - 4:00-5:30 pm on KALW, 91.7 FM in the Bay Area, preview of the https://socofoso.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a9c3fa5c7d31fae636a98f4d7&id=99e5d12d70&e=60841c6a57 (3/8) with music from Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick, Lonesome Ace Stringband, Salty Sally, Broken Compass Bluegrass, Late for the Train, Mission Blue, and others. The program is available on demand for one week (click on magnifying glass, and select Bluegrass Signal).

03/01/2025

Sunday March 16 - need to preregister!