John Lanham Jam Day – a free event chock-full of family fun – will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Village in Yellow Creek Park. With musical performances, dancing, snacks, crafts, and more, the event will honor the life of John Lanham and benefit two local nonprofits.
While the event is free, donations to CrossRoads Inc. shelter and food pantry are encouraged. The Knottsville Lions will also be on site grilling and serving free food, splitting donations for the food with CrossRoads.
Lanham is best known as an old-time fiddler and avid fiddle player of Old Time Music. He passed his passion for music and dance down to his grandsons, Randy and Barry, who regularly host jamborees for the community.
“Our grandfather introduced old-time music and dance to us, and it’s because of him that we’re doing this,” Barry Lanham said. “This is what he loved to do. He was a humble man and always very patient with us growing up.”
While John referred to the music as old-time, others often refer to it as traditional or mountain music. Barry said his grandfather was a product of the depression, and music and dance were their primary means of entertainment.
“This was all they had. It was free to do, and all ages could enjoy it together,” he said. “The same can be said for this event. We want to keep his memory alive and the heritage and tradition of old-time music.”
Jamming – the concept of gathering with friends and family in an unorganized fashion to play music – will highlight the event.
“He loved jamming and playing the old-time songs he grew up with and passed on to generations,” Barry said. “He also loved traveling to different fiddle events and festivals.”
John would have been 98 years old this November, and Randy said this is all to celebrate him and his musical legacy.
“We grew up listening to him jam with others at festivals, barbecues, nursing homes, in people’s homes, and at a square dance,” Randy said. “He had many friends that played music and danced and he loved it. He would often say, ‘music is the best medicine, better than any pill you can get from a doctor.'”
The brothers had a jam at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum last year shortly after Johns’ passing, and roughly 200 people showed up. That inspired them to make it an annual event.
The Lanhams encourage attendees to dress in their Halloween costumes and come ready to trick-or-treat. They have also planned several other games and activities throughout the day, including a square dance at noon.
“What’s great about playing old-time and Bluegrass music is that it is a family-friendly gathering, and that is the way we want to keep it,” Randy said.
