is held every Sept and Apr to start and end the University of Dayton's schoolyear.
Past years have featured:
THE MAJI GROOVE DISTRICT
GRAMMY AWARD WINNING Jazz Trumpeter
"GRAHAM BREEDLOVE"
EMILY STRAND THE WERKS
Michael John Mollo SMOKESTACK The MELTING ROOM
StreetClothes Red, Third Wish, Uncle Sam's Dream Machine, Ann Bourke THE GOODS PRESSHOUSE JOE Suttmann
The Kilweins, Ducksauce, GREG HANSBERRY,
JAHMAN BRAHMAN, Kelley Haldeman, Deb Dempsey,
Jersey Joe & XANDRA Lipinski,
RIDING SHOTGUN Kelly Fine PAT KELLY Mike Schulz
BJSR ABU&Diandra DREW LaPLANTE
Drew Cappotta Alex Hoffman
THE BACKPORCH JAM featuring Kurt Mosser
ELIOT & DECLAN SUTTMAN
Mike Walter, The Soundstorm, Stonesoup,
Mark Brill & the Master Drummers from Ghana, Africa
Jon Dittert & Dawn Dekrell===
RORY & TIM CARROLL Light Geru POSSUM
....even Dr. Bill Schuermann===
Nick Iannarino—BarnJam
U.D. Flyer News 9/5/08
There’s nothing I can tell you about BarnJam—especially in a university publication—that you probably haven’t already heard from someone else. Instead, I’ll use this space to beg, nay, shamelessly plead with you to do this one very simple, painless thing: If you like live music, get off your butt and go. The biannual music festival hosted by the now immortal UD faculty legend Eric Suttman and his wife Meg has entered its 11th year of endless jam sessions on two stages, roaring bonfires and peaceful dancing under the stars with 300 of your classroom buddies. All of this takes place on the Suttmans’ five-acre farm, called “.commonground,” located only 13 minutes from campus. “Dancing outside next to your friends, listening to great music—that scene is hard to beat,” Senior Steve Pfriem, who will attend his fifth BarnJam Saturday, said. “As fun as the Ghetto is, it really can’t compare.” Headlining on the barn stage yet again is the UD behemoth The Werks, a high-energy, style-blending improvisational jam band that all students should see at least once before they graduate. This time, they’ll bring along Ohio University’s Papadosio, who toured across the country with them this summer. UD grad Pat Kelly and his Early Timers band will also play, joining the up-and-coming Kelly Fine with Rob Brodrick. Expect BarnJam traditions to continue as Jersey Joe leads the musicians in a great cover of “The Weight” by The Band, along with several Bob Marley tunes. The Backporch Jam, a group comprised entirely of UD faculty and fronted by Dr. Kurt Mosser, might also perform a few songs, but Suttman—who plays bass—jokes that contract negotiations are currently pending. “They have some outrageous backstage demands for their shows,” he said. Suttman seems especially jazzed for Possum the Light Doctor’s light show, which can only be enjoyed through the slight cloud of dust raised from dancing on the barn’s dirt floor, he said. The camping aspect of BarnJam is also an enormous draw, with about 50 to 60 tents expected on Saturday. A huge rope swing is set up near the back camping area, and an all-night drum circle usually forms around the large bonfire sometime during the evening. “My favorite part is all the late night conversations around the many small bonfires by the tents,” Suttman said. Along with hot dogs and s’mores, Vegan chow will also be provided throughout the night by a new vendor. In addition to tents, drinks and drums, Pfriem recommends BarnJammers bust out old Grateful Dead or Allman Brothers tie-dies, and grab some extra snacks, a flashlight, bug spray and a nice group of friends. The festival community is so tight-knit that “baby BarnJammers,” the kids of returning alumni, often make appearances. Suttman’s own one- and three-year-olds, Eliot and Declan, are also prone to jamming out from time to time. Even Pfriem’s got his family hooked. “I’ve only been once because I’m only a sophomore, but I’ll be there for sure Saturday,” his sister Amanda said.
U.D. Flyer News Sept. 2007 by Laura Wagner:
Couldn’t make it to Tennessee this summer for Bonnaroo? Well, you didn’t miss out on your only chance to camp out and listen to good music. On Saturday, September 16, BarnJam will take place on UD professor Eric Suttman’s five- acre farm, only a short drive from campus. This music festival is held twice a year to raise money for UD’s Appalachia Club. Local favorites such as The Werks and The Maji will be performing this year on the two stages¬¬¬¬-an electric one in a barn and an acoustic one outside. The Werks have performed several times at UD and have accumulated a large fan base. They are an improvisational rock band and many agree that they never fail to put on a great live show. For more information about the student band The Werks, see their website www.thewerksmusic.com. The Maji is a Dayton- based rock band that just released their first studio CD in August. Also performing is the UD faculty band The Backporch Jam. Eric Suttman, host of BarnJam, is the bassist. Among the many other musicians appearing at BarnJam are Ann Bourke, Drew Cappotta, Alex Hoffman, and Jersey Joe featuring Xandra. In addition, there will be an all night drum circle for those who like to party until morning. “BarnJam provides a medium for students to interact with professors and friends of the university through entertainment. It is music that everyone can enjoy,” said senior International Studies and Spanish major Marissa Bond, who attended BarnJam last year. In addition to the live music, many people are drawn to the community aspects of Barn Jam. Many concert-goers bring their own tents and campout. There is a bonfire for roasting hotdogs and making s’mores. Suttman usually projects a movie onto the side of his house. One year there were even tight ropes for people to test their balance on. “I like the idea of BarnJam. You’ve got a lot of groups doing their own things but then they come together for a collective music experience. If you go to a concert you feel obliged to stand there and listen to the music, but here you can move away and talk by the bonfire if you want,” said UD faculty member Robyn Reed, whose husband Kurt Mosser of the philosophy department is a band member of The BackPorch Jam. It ocosts five dollars to attend BarnJam and the proceeds go to support the Appalachia Club. Members of the club volunteer in an Appalachian community here in Dayton during the school year and make occasional weekend trips to visit families in Salyersville, Kentucky. Over the summer the club offers a nine-week program in Kentucky where students tutor, work at a teen center, and visit families and the elderly in the Appalachian community. BarnJam draws several hundred people each year. There is a devout following including many UD graduates who still come to the event. Perhaps the motto of BarnJam is what keeps bringing people back; ‘what goes down in the barn, stays in the barn’. On Saturday, The Werks kick off BarnJam at 7 p.m. Bring your own tents and drinks. Plenty of hotdogs, s’mores, and fun will be provided. You can find directions to the farm and more information on BarnJam’s website, www.barnjam.com.
U.D. Flyer News Sept. 9, 2005
"BarnJam 16 raises money and spirits Sept. 10, 2005"
Dana Kulchawik A & E Editor
BarnJam 16: The attendance numbers keep getting higher, as does the popularity of this bi-annual event. The event will once again be hosted by UD faculty member Eric Suttman to raise support for UD’s Appalachia Club. Essentially, BarnJam is a festival much like Bonnaroo—just 4 stages smaller, 90,000 people less crowded, 700 acres less to walk and 2 nights shorter. The best part about festivals are always the memories you share with those who are there. So, just incorporate camping, bonfires, drum circles, live music, food and good people and you’re bound to have a rockin’ good time. “It’s a friendly group of people,” said Nick Chignoli, fifth-year Psychology and Communications major. “A lot of people already know each other, but by the end of the night everyone knows each other.” BarnJam is held twice yearly to raise money for the UD Appalachia Club and University of Dayton Summer Appalachia Program (UDSAP). Together the two challenge themselves to go beyond UD and experience the Appalachian culture. Fundraising supports club events as well as a nine-week summer program to an eastern Kentucky Appalachian village where students get involved in tutoring, operating a teen center and visiting families and elderly people. There’s a great line-up of home-grown UD musicians set to perform. There are three stages this year: the main stage inside the barn, another acoustic stage past the raging bonfire and the newly-added kiddy stage inside the house (set to perform are visiting alumni’s children, as well as Suttman’s new seven month old baby girl, Eliot —SpongeBob SquarePants anyone?). Kicking off BarnJam 16 will be last year’s Battle of the Bands runner-up, The Melting Room. Other performances include a group of sophomore music majors, Riding Shotgun, and the almost legendary BackporchJam, consisting of UD faculty members Kurt Mosser, David Darrow, Bill Schuerman, Maura Donahue, Marilyn Sandness and, of course, Eric Suttman. Also, traveling from Columbia, MO to perform is former UD student Liz Klug and her pal, Rory Carroll. Senior Electronic Media major Greg Hansberry is also performing at this year’s BarnJam. Greg will put on an acoustic performance, showcasing some of his original indie rock n’ roll songs. Capping off the evening of live music will be popular Dayton area jam band, The Goods. This will be the third BarnJam at which they have appeared. Watch out for these guys in the future jam band scene, their collection of original tunes is rapidly expanding and so is their fan base. After the all the live music is finished, the night continues on into the wee hours of the morning. If you find your tent without falling into a bush or, even worse, stumbling into one of the wild horse paddocks, you’re lucky. Then the drum cirlce and acoustic jams begin. This fall’s drum circle will be led by Robert Chafin, sophomore percussionist and member of Thesaurus, winners of last year’s Battle of Bands. “The property’s beautiful, the ability to look up at a clear sky of stars, sit around the bonfire with your friends and enjoy a night full of awesome music … it’s indescribable,” said Senior English major Kelly R. Townsend, summing up her past BarnJam experiences. Rain, shine, or blizzard (literally), BarnJam is set to take place Sept. 10 beginning at sunset. There’s a $3 donation at the door to support the Appalachia Club and you’ll definitely be getting your money’s worth. For more information and driving directions visit www.barnjam.com.
***********************************
BarnJam 23
SAT Sept. 12, 2009
camping encouraged
music starts at 7pm
venue limit of 300 tix
tix avail. day of show at the door
doors open 6pm
$10. donation
NEW:
NO GLASS BOTTLES PLEASE
SHOW LINEUP:
main stage:
The WERKS
thewerksmusic.com
2nd STAGE:
OSU/USC Game will be on big screen
others TBA
BJSR
myspace.com/bjsrmusic
(Ben Rivet - formerly of Rinding Shotgun)
flesh-tearing fusion funk by
Bobby Streng
Ryan Bash
Tim Reinhart
Olman Piedra
formerly of "DuckSauce"
DREW LaPLANTE
www.DrewLaplante.com
Kelly FINE
Rory O'Carroll
FORGED BY FIRE!
myspace.com/weareforgedbyfire
JERSEY JOE
& the BarnJam AllStar Band
featuring Xandra
others TBA
& as always:
ALL NIGHT DRUM CIRCLE
led by
ABU - MasterDrummer from Ghana
& the U.D. Music Therapy Drummers
b.y.o.d.
*****************************
BARNJAM 21
sat. Sept 6, 2008
venue limit of 300 tix
tix avail. day of show at the door
doors open 6pm
SHOW LINEUP:
main stage
THE WERKS
PAPADOSIO
Pat Kelly
8pm
2nd STAGE:
9:30pm
THE BackPorch Jam
KELLY FINE
mike schulz
others TBA
JERSEY JOE
& the BarnJam AllStar Band
featuring Xandra
& as always:
ALL NIGHT DRUM CIRCLE
Here's who was featured at BarnJam 15
(april 23, 2005): (also known as SNOWJAM!!!)
11pm GROOVE DISTRICT
flesh-tearing funk from Ann Arbor
feat. members of DUCKSAUCE
bobby streng, ryan bash, tim reinhart
& the midwest's premiere drummer FRANCIS WYATT
10pm MICHAEL JOHN MOLLO
cincinnati looper
a fusion of keller williams, jack johnson & ben harper
www.michaeljohnmollo.com
7pm THE GOODS
southern ohio's juiciest jam band
www.thegoodsnet.com
greg hansberry
solo tour = of the indianapolis COHORTS
the BackPorch Jam
professors' revenge
Jersey Joe Lipinski
Jam Master of Ceremonies
ALL NIGHT DRUM CIRCLE
led by latin percussionist robert chafin & dr. mark brill
b.y.o. jhimbe!
****************************
REVIEW OF BarnJam sept 2004
SMOKESTACK !
JAMBAND from ann arbor www.smokestack.org
“Musically, Smokestack has much in common with the jazzier contemporary jam bands, especially String Cheese Incident and Phish. The music is intensely eclectic, with elements of Latin, bebop, reggae, fusion and bluegrass. The musicianship is at an extremely high level.” The Aspen Times Aspen, Colo.
EMILY STRAND www.emilystrand.com
CD release party for "Delay in the Connection"
michael john mollo cincinnati
www.michaeljohnmollo.com
if you like keller williams, you gotta see michael john!
ANN BOURKE columbus,OH www.annbourke.com
The East Ash Street Band
columbia,MO
the BACK PORCH JAM
www.backporchjam.com
All night DRUM CIRCLE led by LIZ KLUG jemez, NM b.y.o.d.
Jersey Joe (jam-master of ceremonies)
East Ash St. also led the newly added "BonfireJam" Fri. 9/10 11pm unplugged
HIGHLIGHTS
of PAST BarnJams 4/17/04:
*****main stage #1:*****
8pm: while supplies last(from columbus) - the Dayton CD Release Party of "Take It Outside"
8:45pm: all-star jam (featuring members of all bands)
10:30pm: GRAMMY AWARD WINNING
of the Sat. Night Live Band, joins
GROOVE DISTRICT
for a fusion jazz JAM!!
the 'SAUCE is Back!
Bobby Streng,sax Ryan Bash,bass
Tim Reinhart,keys Francis Wyatt, drums
*****acoustic stage #2:*****
9:00-10:30:
& their BarnJam CD Release Party for "Winter in Lexington"
(winners of UD's 2004 Battle of the Bands)
julie BROCK
TODD DAY WAIT (boco como)
Liz Klug (columbia, MO) picked up where the African Master Drummers left off at the last BarnJam leading a
Drum Circle
1am till Dawn (BYOD)
Ann Bourke's review of BarnJam 9 (April, 2002):
(shamelessly lifted from her website www.AnnBourke.com)
Why hello there, good lookin's. I have to tell you, Barn Jam was a great time once again. Thanks to everybody who came to the party. How 'bout that Dave Cronin? My guitar turned to me and said, "Now why don't you ever play me like THAT?" and I said, "Because I'm a mere mortal." Not to start rumors about Dave being supernatural, only to start rumors that Dave is *possessed* by the supernatural. There's a difference. For more information on this, please read my book, Secrets About Dave That Only I Know And That He Would Probably Deny If Questioned. I'm sure you'll find it to be an enchanting read. Once again, those While Supplies Last boys just rocked my world. For more information on them, please visit www.geocities.com/rowlante. Kudos as well to Mike Walter!, Kelley Haldeman!, Joe Lipinski!, Sound Storm!, and all of the other fabulous performers! As they say in Britain and should say all the time over here in the colonies, too, "Good show! Bloody marvelous show, everyone! All right then, let's have some scones and tea."
4/14/2000 Flyer News reviewed by Vic Harrison:
The equation is simple. Take a huge barn and lots of land, throw in a warm bonfire and a night's worth of live music and you get BarnJam. The biannual concert, hosted by adjunct faculty member Eric Suttman, will be held Saturday, beginning at 8 p.m. and lasting well into the night. "The music rocks until midnight, then the guitar and drum circle around the bonfire has been known to last until sometime between 4:20 a.m. and dawn," Suttman said. Camping is available and encouraged, with Suttman opening his five acre farm, .commonground., for anyone to drop by for a free hot dog or two or to stay all night. This installment's featured acts are UD's own While Supplies Last (including Suttman on bass) and Duck Sauce, as well as the singing duo of Ann Bourke, senior English major, and UD graduate Kelley Haldeman. Past BarnJams have boasted such acts as Third Wish, Uncle Sam's Dream Machine, The Kilwein Family Tree-o and even Vice President of Student Development Bill Schuermann. "And I'm negotiating for Moxy Fruvous for next fall," Suttman added. Only 15 minutes from campus, BarnJam is a benefit concert to support The House of the People, a Dayton shelter for Rwandan refugees. A $3.00 donation is requested. Upon admission, people can enjoy not only the music, but the bonfire and tie-dye booth as well. Suttman has helped produce CDs recently for all three groups, making this BarnJam event a triple CD release party. "I bought a cool old farmhouse on five acres, took one look at the huge barn and started building a big stage in it," Suttman said. "BarnJam was born. I figured it'd be the perfect way to throw parties and also raise money and awareness for The House of the People. It should be a cool, dry night under the stars, but as always, it's rain, shine or mud," said Suttman. Jeremy Chmielewski, senior chemistry major and member of While Supplies Last is excited at the opportunity. "This will be my second time, and it's unique in a way because it's an event that gives a new perspective to local live music."
April 20, 2002, barn jam 9
reviewed by: ann bourke
Lordy, lordy, you shoulda been there. Seriously. I'll fill you in. Tim wore a "Tar Wars" t-shirt and commented about the genius of Microsoft Paint (it's a brilliant program, I concur). Jeremy continues on the path toward morphing completely with John Lennon, to a nice result. Eric seemed exuberant, as always, that his farm was packed with people, though one couldn't help notice a sadness in his eyes, possibly linked to the mysterious disappearance of his overalls earlier that eve. And Steve sat behind his set like a cross between Neil Peart and Gandhi, kicking out some great sound while patiently sacrificing his tambourine to Kelley and I so that we, too, could join in the fun. Which brings me to the music. Ahh, WSL, I sing your praises once more. I regret that I missed the opening song since I was tending to the bear that had gotten loose - again! - in the crowd. (Will we ever have peace?) But! I made it to the barn in time to hear the tail end of "My Days" and a whole lotta "Ob La Di," which is an excellent fit for the band. On to "The World Revolves Around You," a catchy new song by Jeremy. Catchy, indeed. Just try to get this one out of your head. Love it. Nice work, Germ. Then, what's this? "I've Got a Feeling." Exxxcceellllent. The boys punched out "Sex Pants" next, leading to my realization that one of my favorite moments in any WSL concert is the part where Jeremy says, "Fine creation!" It's a brief moment, but an honest one, and if it were up to me, it would become a huge moment wherein all four of the boys stop playing and give a big thumbs up. (Vic, your line is: "Ann, this is why it's not up to you." Heh.) Anyway, next! up was "Fountain of Cool," which will always be one of my favorite songs, period. Then came "Salmonella," a glorious musical list of what we lay people call "Bodily Nastiness." I first heard it sung in my living room last December, and the song is so rapid-fire fast and chock full of technical terms that it still makes me laugh out loud when Tim says, "Sing along!" On to the end... There was a rare absence of "Last Night" last night, which I had to mention just because I wanted to say, "last night last night." Capping off the night instead was a version of "First Tube" so good, SO GOOD, that one could close one's eyes and pretend that Trey and the gang were right there in Dayton, OH. But why would you want to do that when you could open your eyes and see While Supplies Last, instead? Good show, gentlemen...
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Thanks to Tim Rowland, Ann Bourke, & Vic Harrison for letting us lift their reviews.
Check out the While Suppiles Last official website
Check out Ann Bourke's Website
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