By Mary Helmke

It had been a long time since I had visited the Riley Tavern for the jam, but on May 2, there I was. It was too chilly to play out on the porch, so we took up the area at the far end of the place.

Donna and Fritz Jaggi were there, a very loyal and kind audience at all times. It ended up being quite a few people playing. Pictured: Bruce Nichols on his banjo, Catherine Rhyner and George Diak on mandolins, Ellis Bauman on guitar, me on autoharp. Other great folks not in the picture: Pat Dowling on guitar, Ken Connor and Bill McWilliams on banjos and Andy Morton on mandolin. What a lot of fun!

This photo is courtesy of a gentleman, Herr Gruber, who was visiting from Germany. His daughter and son-in-law live close by and they are also bluegrass fans. Our good times ended just at the start of the Kentucky Derby – and we were off!

Editor’s Note: Apparently the Riley Jam is becoming quite an international music venue! When I played there a few months back a British tourist sat happily listening to the jam. She told Bruce Nichols she was “glad to see the Americans sing in their pubs, too!”

The Riley Tavern is a great place to jam and a wonderful live-music venue too.  The jam convenes every first Saturday of the month; check it out on our calendar!