Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club

Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
2027-02-10 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-02-17 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-02-24 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-03 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-10 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-17 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-24 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-31 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) and 7 more dates | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come, bring an acoustic instrument.
The Boathouse Jam is hosted by the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club to activate our shoreline while fostering the continued resurgence of acoustical collaborations in Brooklyn. We are inclusive of all – young & old, new & seasoned musicians. Just bring a smile and your musical instrument and/or your voice to join our one night makeshift band.
Free but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged, limited beverages are provided.
The Boathouse is located at 165 2nd Street, Brooklyn NY between Bond Street and the Gowanus Canal. Sessions are rain or shine, we gather outside the Boathouse unless it’s cold or raining then we move inside.

Since 1999, the Dredgers have empowered people to care for the Gowanus Canal through advocacy, conservation, and education. Our organization promotes waterfront stewardship and is raising awareness of sewer overflow issues that affect our Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY.
More information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE

Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
2027-02-16 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-02-23 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-02 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-09 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-16 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-23 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-03-30 18:00 - 20:30, 2027-04-06 18:00 - 20:30 and 6 more dates
Tuesday evenings, 6-8:30 April through October.
At the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse 165 2nd Street between Bond and the Gowanus Canal. We are excited to expand our musical offerings with this new weekly jam.
Dredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore
Jam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega
What Jug band and String band music?
Let’s start with String band music. Black String band music, which will be our focus, was created by Southern Blacks and pre-dates the Blues & Jazz. Groups which consisted of mostly stringed instruments (guitar, banjo, bass, violin, mandolin, ukulele, etc) performed a wide variety of songs and styles for all manner of social functions and for personal enjoyment; two-steps, waltzes and breakdowns for dances, ballads and love songs, humorous & novelty songs, as well as blues, jazz, and pop tunes as they came into fashion. This genre, sadly, was under-represented by the burgeoning recording industry in the 1920’s and 30’s, which helped contribute to its already declining popularity in the wake of the success of the Blues and Jazz: though groups like the Mississippi Sheiks and the Dallas String Band did make great and popular recordings. The genre never completely died out, however, and is alive and well today thanks to the perseverance of its practitioners and the dedication of its fans, which has led to a rediscovery and a new appreciation by audiences young and old.
Jug band music developed in the early 20th century within Southern Black communities and was essentially a string band with a jug used as a “poor man’s tuba”, in the role of a bass instrument. Other household items as instruments were popular as well; washboard and/or spoons for percussion, washtub bass, and kazoo. These combined with the guitars, banjos, mandolins/violins of the traditional string band, along with the harmonica, made for a unique sound that won the hearts of the public in the early days of the recording industry. The Memphis Jug Band and Cannon’s Jug Stompers recorded well over a hundred examples of blues, ballads, pop and dance numbers – and they’re just the tip of the iceberg. The genre found new life in the Folk Music Revival of the 1960’s and remains popular to this day.
These sessions will be open to Intermediate and above players, and we encourage you to sing along and bring a song to lead. To lead a song, you will be expected to sing it loudly enough for those around you to hear, to know the key you will sing in, and to explain the chord changes and form of the song if need be. We may also discuss some ideas for performing in an ensemble to help everyone find their place in the music.
Papa Ernie Vega is a NYC singer, instrumentalist, bandleader, teacher, songwriter and performing/recording artist. He has over 20 years of professional experience and has performed at the Newport Folk Festival, the Jug Band Jubilee and the Osaka Jug Band Festival. He also taught and performed at the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival from 2016-2021. He is a lover of fine cheap food, old movies, humor, and photography.
More information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE

FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
2027-03-27 16:00 - 21:00
Hop into a Gowanus Dredgers canoe and paddle at your own pace inside the protected Gowanus Canal. Enjoy discovering the canal’s unique mix of wildlife and urban waterway infrastructure, practice your paddling skills, or take a guided audio tour and learn more about the history, cleanup and revitalization of our favorite urban waterway.
We’ll outfit you with a life jacket (which must be worn at all times) and paddle, offer some basic instruction on how to paddle and safety tips on how to use a canoe, and help you set off on your own self-guided journey. Trips may be limited to 20 minutes if there’s a crowd — but usually we just expect you to return to the dock 15 min. prior to closing.
Who can participate? Paddling is for everyone! Free walk-up canoeing is open to all ages. Groups, families, solo paddlers, and intrepid first dates are all welcome! Minors require a guardian’s signature to participate, and all participants must sign a waiver.
What should I wear? Dress for the weather: wear sunscreen, hats, and bring a water bottle — and bring layers if there’s a breeze! Close-toed shoes are recommended, and wear clothing you don’t mind potentially being splashed.
Is it really free? Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs.
Can I volunteer? Yes! You can sign up to volunteer here. No prior experience is required, but we love return volunteers! Note: Volunteer shifts run from 30-minutes before the start of the program through the first two hours, or from the middle of the program to 30 minutes after the end of the scheduled time.
