Severn Set for All-Day Bluegrass Jam

Dozens of bluegrass bands and musicians will descend on Severn this Saturday for an all-day jam session to benefit military members and their families.

American Legion Squadron 276 will host the “Mostly Bluegrass” Marathon Jam and is expecting to draw more than 80 bands and hundreds of spectators. The event is free but donations will be accepted for the Fisher House Foundation, which offers low-cost lodging for the families of soldiers receiving medical treatment.

For the third year in a row, the Wednesday Night Garage Jammers will organize the event, which will be held simultaneously with similar events in other cities and in Baghdad, Iraq.

Last year, and organizers hope to raise $20,000 this year.

“We thought maybe we’d get 100 people and raise $1,000, but it just went way beyond our expectations,” said Neil Hamrick of the Wednesday Night Garage Jammers. “People just show up … it’s unbelievable.”

Most of the bluegrass musicians are from Maryland, but some have come from as far away as South Carolina.

The jam session will begin at noon and go until midnight Saturday. Parking is available at the American Legion post, but is expected to fill up quickly. There will be a shuttle bus for spectators from the nearby Elks Lodge on Quarterfield Road.

Roy Dixon, the commander of the American Legion post, said the group is happy to offer space in support of Fisher House, which has offered a “home away from home” for military families since 1990.

“Isn’t this what American Legion is all about?” he said. “Our mission is to  support veterans, so anything we can to do help is great, and we just think it’s so cool what they’re doing.”

“Mostly Bluegrass” Marathon Jam will be held from noon to midnight Saturday at the American Legion Squadron 276 post, 8068 Quarterfield Rd., Severn.