Open jam fun for players and audience alike

SEELEY LAKE – With the sun setting behind the Mission Mountains and live music playing on the porch of the Double Arrow Lodge, customers couldn't help but enjoy a beautiful summer evening. Ever since Double Arrow reopened following COVID-19 closures, a local group of acoustic musicians have been jamming to their favorite songs for members of the community and visitors alike every Tuesday night on the porch of the Lodge.

"We just do it for fun, a chance to play and hopefully it brings people to Double Arrow on an otherwise slower night," said musician Rachel Feigley, one of the founders of the group.

Before moving to Seeley Lake, Feigley and her husband Pete started a jam in Livingston, Montana when the Katabatic Brewing Company opened. After moving to Seeley Lake in 2015, they started playing with local musicians Mark Williams and Trace Stone. They have played at several fundraisers in the area over the past several years calling themselves "The Huckleberry Pickers."

The core group started an open jam at Double Arrow Lodge on Tuesday nights that Williams affectionately calls "The Huckleberry Jam." Double Arrow does not pay them to play, it just serves as the venue. During the winter they played in the Great Room and when the weather was nice, out on the porch. They also traveled to the Potomac's open jam at Cully's Bar and Grill.

The jam draws musicians from Potomac, Missoula, part-time residents in the area as well as the core group. Victor Gross is a professional musician that just recently moved to Seeley Lake is now a regular as well as Seeley-Swan High School's new music teacher Janet Morgenstern and her husband Aaron. Mark Vosburgh, a summer resident on Salmon Lake, plays mandolin with the group when he is around.

"It is very dynamic and you just never know who is going to show up," said Feigley. "It's not like we are a regular group."

Feigley explained the open jam. All the instruments and vocals are acoustic producing sound without microphones or amplification. She said musicians get together and they go around the circle letting everyone choose a song to lead.

"That gives everyone a chance to be involved in the song selection," said Feigley.

While some jams only allow musicians to play if they know the song, at the Huckleberry Jam, musicians share the chords and talk through it if the group doesn't know it. If people don't know the song, they can always choose to sit out and listen. Feigley said it is important to be a sensitive player and listen to each other to make sure they play within the structure of the group, not playing out of turn.

"It is a lot of fun," said Feigley. "Everyone can join – it is acoustic. We are happy for beginners or anyone who wants to play."

Feigley said they typically have guitars, banjo and mandolin in the group. They also have had a standup bass, dobro and accordion join the group.

Depending on what the musicians want to play, the group plays a variety of music including blues, swing, bluegrass and country. Feigley called it "Americana but really anything goes. As long as it is acoustic."

"It's a chance to get together and play," said Williams who explained that they don't practice outside of the jams unless they are performing for a special event. "It is the one consistent time that we get together and play."

Feigley said they would welcome anyone who plays an acoustic instrument. She encourages musicians to come and listen for a while to see what the group is all about. Then if they have brought their instrument, they can maybe join and try out a couple of songs.

"It's fun for us to do it," said Feigley. "We do appreciate an audience and it is a great way to spend an evening."

As long as the weather is good, the jam will continue Tuesday nights outside at Double Arrow Lodge from 7 – 9 p.m. Continuing into the winter will depend on COVID restrictions.

For more information about participating or to find out if the group is playing on a Tuesday call Williams at 406-677-4320.