here is some description of the barrelhouse piano participatory workshop (which last i heard was saturday at 4). i will be at the piano with pearl bailes on mouthharp, doing old folk blues, jug band, primitive jazz, and primitive gospel. every number is a song with words (as opposed to "let's jam in E"). many have choruses, often a repeated line or lines. anyone with a song to lead to barrelhouse backup is welcome to come up to the piano and do it. we should cluster around the piano for critical mass as opposed to sitting in a big wide circle.
    the vocalist belts out a verse (and chorus if there is one) and then there is an instrumental solo or maybe a couple of them. vocals and solos alternate. vocalists (if they wish) are in charge; we follow them, try to back them up, and they designate the soloists by pointing, nodding, or calling.
    there'll be duets or trios on some of the solos/breaks. you'll hear things like: "reeds!" "harmonicas!" "washboard!" "guitars!"
"horns!" "fiddle and harmonica!" "mandolin and washtub bass!" "clarinet, recorder, and hurdygurdy!" "Bill Day!" etc. nonsoloists play supportively behind the soloists and vocalists.
leadfree corn whisky will be available.