J4D6 sets record attendance; Scholarship resources

Some attending Jam4Dan6 might claim the best part of the three days was the amazing music, including performances by four bands in the LMI Youth Showcase. There are certainly those who will point out the record dollars raised for music scholarships was the highlight. Many will claim, if not of Woodstock proportion, the camaraderie, kindness and sense of community that underpinned the three days of the event was the most outstanding component. Regardless of any one take, the simple fact was this: J4D6 was an overwhelming success, thanks to the many sponsors who donated goods and services; the 100+ musicians who gave of their time and talents to perform; and the 1000+ plus folks who came through the doors of The Celtic Fox to support Topeka's signature music event.

Jam4Dan was first held in January 2008 to support the family of Topeka musician Dan Falley after his untimely death in an auto accident. Every year since, the goal has been to Honor Dan Falley, Raise money for the youth music scholarship that bears his name and Provide Topeka’s musicians a unique opportunity to come together to share their love of music.

Highlights of this year's version of the event included:

• A third night of entertainment, which brought more solo artists to the program as well as a number of bands that were more jazz influenced than ones that have traditionally been on the bill;


• An incredible display of talent that kicked off the Saturday portion that showcased almost two dozen students at the Live Music Institute who performed in four different bands;


• An amazing turnout of people on Saturday that kept The Fox absolutely packed through the entire evening and featured bands with personnel who had played with Dan over the last three decades to ones staffed with players who were young enough to be his kids;


• A Sunday that started with some hard hitting rock, moved through five sets of covers and blues bands, mellowed out with two solo performances, then finished with a polished set prepared by the Josh Vowell Band in preparation of their journey to Memphis to represent the Topeka Blues Society at the 30th International Blues Challenge; and


• A hot jam session hosted by JVB that featured three of the J4D trustees, members of the sound crew and a number of other talented local Topeka musicians. At one point, two guitar players each had a J. Edison Custom guitar, and boy, did they sound great!

The record-setting crowd was not only in attendance to hear some great music, they were looking to be the lucky one to win the beautifully crafted, Joel Edison guitar that was the grand prize in this year's drawing. A raffle ticket was given with each admission ticket, which made donating the $5 a no-brainer. At 9:00pm Sunday, a ticket was drawn that named Valentina Mallari, Topeka, as the lucky winner of both the guitar and an amp that had been owned by Dan.

As is custom, the final tear-down started Monday morning after another short evening for the sound crew and some J4D trustees. It was easy work as the conversation essentially rehashed the many highlights and the few snafus that occurred over the three days. After reviewing the program, some amazing numbers were noted: 33 acts and a two-hour jam filling 33+ hours spread over three days.

J4D6 was in the books, but like all the others that preceded it, it set a new standard for the next year's event. We'll get to work on it!

Jam4Dan is held the Martin Luther King weekend. Dates for Jam4Dan Seven are January 17-19, 2014.

* The Dan Falley Memorial Fund & Scholarships Trustees for 2013 are:
Mike Fox - president
Joel Edison - vice president
Tom Krebs - secretary/treasurer
Danl Blackwood - media coordinator
JD Bloomar - volunteer coordinator
Chris Aytes - concert coordinator
Ed Carmona - community outreach