Jam4Dan11: We turned it up to 11!

Jam4Dan11 was a re-focus on the kids - less production and more talent. Acts came from Kansas City, Omaha, and Manhattan, as well as Topeka to support Jam4Dan. Including multiple first time Jam4Dan performers, they provided one of the finest shows Topeka has experienced in Jam4Dan history.

Jam4Dan Trustee Joel Edison crafted and donated yet again another beautiful guitar for the raffle. The mahogany stratocaster was styled after one built previously for Walter Trout (Canned Heat, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers). The lucky winner was long-time Jam4Dan supporter and multi-year Kansas Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gary Bisel.

Friday evening kicked off with first time band This Side Up. However, their bassist Forrest Evans is a long time Jam4Dan participant and early youth scholarship recipient. The Jam4Dan Youth Showcase on Saturday morning is everyone's favorite, and ran for almost three hours this year. Dave Schaffer's Live Music Institute provided most of the very talented young musicians, including a segment with several Suzuki violinists. This year The Eisenhower Middle School group E-CLECTIC got a second chance to rock the house after missing last year due ice storm cancellations. Saturday evening was a return to the heyday of Celtic Fox standing room only crowds thanks mostly to Jam4Dan Trustee Mike Powell's band Swift Kick and another first time J4D band, Departure.

We were just glad to have a Sunday this year, since the entire day was cancelled last year due to the previously mentioned ice storm. We also had a few last minute cancellations this year due to illness, but were able to quickly fill the schedule from our alternates list. As has become our custom, Sunday was filled with mostly blues bands and was closed out by the Michael Powers Trio. Michael, who is currently the most tenured Jam4Dan performer, then hosted a jam of Jam4Dan Trustees. It was a Jammin' end to a Jammin' weekend.

The Trustees thank all the musicians and volunteers who contributed to our efforts. We were excited to add Penny Renner to our ranks as Volunteer Coordinator, and also want to send a special thanks to Dan Kious who, with just a couple crew members, provided excellent sound all weekend! And we cannot say THANK YOU enough to all those attended and helped generate proceeds which will allow us to award about $4,000 in scholarships.

The scholarship dates have been posted and we are excited and ready to begin the process. All applications are due by March 9th, the winners will be announced by March 26th and funds will be issued to all instructors April 14th. For complete details on the application process, go to jam4dan.com/scholarship.

The Dan Falley Memorial Fund & Scholarships Trustees for 2018 are Mike Fox, Joel Edison, Katie Turner, Danl Blackwood, JD Bloomar, Bill Beasley, Mike Powell and Penny Renner.

Save The Dates - Jam4Dan12 - January 18-20, 2019