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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260830T133000
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CREATED:20260525T004237Z
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UID:10001339-1788096600-1788103800@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:A Persistence of Cormorants Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:A Persistence of Cormorants is a summer-long poetry reading series on our shoreline featuring accomplished and exceptional poets from the New York area\, many of who live in Brooklyn. On each of the scheduled Sundays\, from 1:30 to 3:30\, up to four featured poets will read for 10 to 15 minutes each. \nGerry reads poetry at the canal\nThe readings will be followed by open mic time limited to ten readers (one poem no longer than 3 minutes) who have signed up the day of the reading on a first come basis. \nReading will be outdoors at the Gowanus open shoreline and we invite you to engage with the emerging Gowanus Canal habitat as we witness the EPA conduct their SuperFUN/d cleanup program. Event may move to inside the boathouse if it begins to rain or we want to escape the summer heat. If other activity is occurring on the street or esplanade\, event may move inside. \nParticipation is free but we encourage donations to sustain the efforts of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club\, an advocacy stewardship organization who has been representing neighborhood interests for over two decades. \nMay17 Linda Lerner\, Patricia Carrigton\, Abigail Welhouse\, Bill Lessard \nJune7 Susan Michele\, Gregory Crosby\, Melinda Wilson\, Dennis Nurkse14 Donna Masini\, Richard Smith\, Maria Lisella\, Elizabeth T Gray Jr.28 Elaine Sexton\, Karen Hildebrand\, Don Yorty\, Judith Lee Herbert \nJuly12 David Catz\, Estha Wiener\, Shean Nevin\, Katherine Swett19 Sarah Wallace\, Ashley Mabitt\, Zoe White\, and Michael T. Young26 Broadstone Books: S.H. Case\, Myra Malkin\, Vera Salter\, Stephanie Laterza\, David Mills\, Lucia Cherclu \nAugust2 Jiwon Choi\, Amy Holman\, Miranda Beeson\, Sarah Sarai9 Kimiko Hahn\, Joanne Solfrian\, Sam Cha\, Mervyn Taylor16 KGB: John Demming\, Selena Spier\, Tyler Allen\, Penny Susan Lewis\, Jada Gordon23 Karen Neuberg\, Scott Hightower\, Indran Amirthanayagam\, Neil Shepard30 Titanic \nSeptember13 Hilary Sideris\, Tom Sleigh\, Austin Alexis\, Kristine Esser-Slentz20 Joanne McFarland\, Ruth Danon\, Brad Vogel\, David Formanek27 Amy Lemmon\, Jane Rosenberg LaForge\, Richard Levine\, Nicole Callihan \nOctober4 Lisa Andrews\, Lisa Badner\, Arden Levine\, Anthony Capo11 Broadstone Books: Amy Barone\, Margo Taft Stever\, Billy Cancel\, Mary Moloney
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/a-persistence-of-cormorants-poetry-reading-3/2026-08-30/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Arts,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/A_Persistence_of_Cormorants-crop.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001033-1788285600-1788294600@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-09-01/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000869-1788372000-1788381000@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-09-02/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260905T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260905T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T142652Z
CREATED:20260425T230243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T142652Z
UID:10001164-1788613200-1788627600@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWe’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. \nWho 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. \nWhat 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. \nIs it really free?  Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs. \nCan 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.
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/free-walk-up-paddling-2nd-st/2026-09-05/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:On the Water
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Paddle-2nd.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260906T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260906T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T142652Z
CREATED:20260425T230243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T142652Z
UID:10001165-1788699600-1788714000@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWe’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. \nWho 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. \nWhat 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. \nIs it really free?  Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs. \nCan 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.
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/free-walk-up-paddling-2nd-st/2026-09-06/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:On the Water
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Paddle-2nd.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001034-1788890400-1788899400@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-09-08/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260909T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260909T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000870-1788976800-1788985800@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-09-09/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T220000
DTSTAMP:20260419T213716Z
CREATED:20260419T213606Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260419T213716Z
UID:10001103-1789236000-1789250400@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Ukulele Cabaret
DESCRIPTION:For twenty years the Ukulele Cabaret has provided a stage for musicians\, artists and performers from New York’s underground ukulele scene. \n\nTed and Jason of Sonic Uke started the cabaret in May 2005 in the back of Julius bar in West Village. After outgrowing our stage there we settled in for a residency at legendary East Village gastropub Jimmy’s 43\, with cameos at Barbes\, The Zipper Factory and Banjo Jim’s before moving to The Red Room at the KGB Bar — an East Village speakeasy that in 1914 was the headquarters of Emma Goldman’s Secret Society of anarchists.
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/ukulele-cabaret-4/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BP_Nightof1000Dollys_042124-23-1.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T153000
DTSTAMP:20260607T003655Z
CREATED:20260525T004237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260607T003655Z
UID:10001340-1789306200-1789313400@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:A Persistence of Cormorants Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:A Persistence of Cormorants is a summer-long poetry reading series on our shoreline featuring accomplished and exceptional poets from the New York area\, many of who live in Brooklyn. On each of the scheduled Sundays\, from 1:30 to 3:30\, up to four featured poets will read for 10 to 15 minutes each. \nGerry reads poetry at the canal\nThe readings will be followed by open mic time limited to ten readers (one poem no longer than 3 minutes) who have signed up the day of the reading on a first come basis. \nReading will be outdoors at the Gowanus open shoreline and we invite you to engage with the emerging Gowanus Canal habitat as we witness the EPA conduct their SuperFUN/d cleanup program. Event may move to inside the boathouse if it begins to rain or we want to escape the summer heat. If other activity is occurring on the street or esplanade\, event may move inside. \nParticipation is free but we encourage donations to sustain the efforts of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club\, an advocacy stewardship organization who has been representing neighborhood interests for over two decades. \nMay17 Linda Lerner\, Patricia Carrigton\, Abigail Welhouse\, Bill Lessard \nJune7 Susan Michele\, Gregory Crosby\, Melinda Wilson\, Dennis Nurkse14 Donna Masini\, Richard Smith\, Maria Lisella\, Elizabeth T Gray Jr.28 Elaine Sexton\, Karen Hildebrand\, Don Yorty\, Judith Lee Herbert \nJuly12 David Catz\, Estha Wiener\, Shean Nevin\, Katherine Swett19 Sarah Wallace\, Ashley Mabitt\, Zoe White\, and Michael T. Young26 Broadstone Books: S.H. Case\, Myra Malkin\, Vera Salter\, Stephanie Laterza\, David Mills\, Lucia Cherclu \nAugust2 Jiwon Choi\, Amy Holman\, Miranda Beeson\, Sarah Sarai9 Kimiko Hahn\, Joanne Solfrian\, Sam Cha\, Mervyn Taylor16 KGB: John Demming\, Selena Spier\, Tyler Allen\, Penny Susan Lewis\, Jada Gordon23 Karen Neuberg\, Scott Hightower\, Indran Amirthanayagam\, Neil Shepard30 Titanic \nSeptember13 Hilary Sideris\, Tom Sleigh\, Austin Alexis\, Kristine Esser-Slentz20 Joanne McFarland\, Ruth Danon\, Brad Vogel\, David Formanek27 Amy Lemmon\, Jane Rosenberg LaForge\, Richard Levine\, Nicole Callihan \nOctober4 Lisa Andrews\, Lisa Badner\, Arden Levine\, Anthony Capo11 Broadstone Books: Amy Barone\, Margo Taft Stever\, Billy Cancel\, Mary Moloney
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/a-persistence-of-cormorants-poetry-reading-3/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Arts,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/A_Persistence_of_Cormorants-crop.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001035-1789495200-1789504200@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260916T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260916T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000871-1789581600-1789590600@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T142652Z
CREATED:20260425T230243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T142652Z
UID:10001166-1789822800-1789837200@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWe’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. \nWho 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. \nWhat 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. \nIs it really free?  Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs. \nCan 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.
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/free-walk-up-paddling-2nd-st/2026-09-19/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:On the Water
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Paddle-2nd.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260920T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260920T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T142652Z
CREATED:20260425T230243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T142652Z
UID:10001167-1789909200-1789923600@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWe’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. \nWho 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. \nWhat 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. \nIs it really free?  Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs. \nCan 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.
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/free-walk-up-paddling-2nd-st/2026-09-20/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:On the Water
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Paddle-2nd.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260920T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260920T153000
DTSTAMP:20260607T003655Z
CREATED:20260525T004237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260607T003655Z
UID:10001341-1789911000-1789918200@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:A Persistence of Cormorants Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:A Persistence of Cormorants is a summer-long poetry reading series on our shoreline featuring accomplished and exceptional poets from the New York area\, many of who live in Brooklyn. On each of the scheduled Sundays\, from 1:30 to 3:30\, up to four featured poets will read for 10 to 15 minutes each. \nGerry reads poetry at the canal\nThe readings will be followed by open mic time limited to ten readers (one poem no longer than 3 minutes) who have signed up the day of the reading on a first come basis. \nReading will be outdoors at the Gowanus open shoreline and we invite you to engage with the emerging Gowanus Canal habitat as we witness the EPA conduct their SuperFUN/d cleanup program. Event may move to inside the boathouse if it begins to rain or we want to escape the summer heat. If other activity is occurring on the street or esplanade\, event may move inside. \nParticipation is free but we encourage donations to sustain the efforts of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club\, an advocacy stewardship organization who has been representing neighborhood interests for over two decades. \nMay17 Linda Lerner\, Patricia Carrigton\, Abigail Welhouse\, Bill Lessard \nJune7 Susan Michele\, Gregory Crosby\, Melinda Wilson\, Dennis Nurkse14 Donna Masini\, Richard Smith\, Maria Lisella\, Elizabeth T Gray Jr.28 Elaine Sexton\, Karen Hildebrand\, Don Yorty\, Judith Lee Herbert \nJuly12 David Catz\, Estha Wiener\, Shean Nevin\, Katherine Swett19 Sarah Wallace\, Ashley Mabitt\, Zoe White\, and Michael T. Young26 Broadstone Books: S.H. Case\, Myra Malkin\, Vera Salter\, Stephanie Laterza\, David Mills\, Lucia Cherclu \nAugust2 Jiwon Choi\, Amy Holman\, Miranda Beeson\, Sarah Sarai9 Kimiko Hahn\, Joanne Solfrian\, Sam Cha\, Mervyn Taylor16 KGB: John Demming\, Selena Spier\, Tyler Allen\, Penny Susan Lewis\, Jada Gordon23 Karen Neuberg\, Scott Hightower\, Indran Amirthanayagam\, Neil Shepard30 Titanic \nSeptember13 Hilary Sideris\, Tom Sleigh\, Austin Alexis\, Kristine Esser-Slentz20 Joanne McFarland\, Ruth Danon\, Brad Vogel\, David Formanek27 Amy Lemmon\, Jane Rosenberg LaForge\, Richard Levine\, Nicole Callihan \nOctober4 Lisa Andrews\, Lisa Badner\, Arden Levine\, Anthony Capo11 Broadstone Books: Amy Barone\, Margo Taft Stever\, Billy Cancel\, Mary Moloney
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/a-persistence-of-cormorants-poetry-reading-3/2026-09-20/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Arts,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/A_Persistence_of_Cormorants-crop.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260922T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260922T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001036-1790100000-1790109000@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-09-22/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000872-1790186400-1790195400@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-09-23/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260927T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260927T153000
DTSTAMP:20260607T003655Z
CREATED:20260525T004237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260607T003655Z
UID:10001342-1790515800-1790523000@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:A Persistence of Cormorants Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:A Persistence of Cormorants is a summer-long poetry reading series on our shoreline featuring accomplished and exceptional poets from the New York area\, many of who live in Brooklyn. On each of the scheduled Sundays\, from 1:30 to 3:30\, up to four featured poets will read for 10 to 15 minutes each. \nGerry reads poetry at the canal\nThe readings will be followed by open mic time limited to ten readers (one poem no longer than 3 minutes) who have signed up the day of the reading on a first come basis. \nReading will be outdoors at the Gowanus open shoreline and we invite you to engage with the emerging Gowanus Canal habitat as we witness the EPA conduct their SuperFUN/d cleanup program. Event may move to inside the boathouse if it begins to rain or we want to escape the summer heat. If other activity is occurring on the street or esplanade\, event may move inside. \nParticipation is free but we encourage donations to sustain the efforts of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club\, an advocacy stewardship organization who has been representing neighborhood interests for over two decades. \nMay17 Linda Lerner\, Patricia Carrigton\, Abigail Welhouse\, Bill Lessard \nJune7 Susan Michele\, Gregory Crosby\, Melinda Wilson\, Dennis Nurkse14 Donna Masini\, Richard Smith\, Maria Lisella\, Elizabeth T Gray Jr.28 Elaine Sexton\, Karen Hildebrand\, Don Yorty\, Judith Lee Herbert \nJuly12 David Catz\, Estha Wiener\, Shean Nevin\, Katherine Swett19 Sarah Wallace\, Ashley Mabitt\, Zoe White\, and Michael T. Young26 Broadstone Books: S.H. Case\, Myra Malkin\, Vera Salter\, Stephanie Laterza\, David Mills\, Lucia Cherclu \nAugust2 Jiwon Choi\, Amy Holman\, Miranda Beeson\, Sarah Sarai9 Kimiko Hahn\, Joanne Solfrian\, Sam Cha\, Mervyn Taylor16 KGB: John Demming\, Selena Spier\, Tyler Allen\, Penny Susan Lewis\, Jada Gordon23 Karen Neuberg\, Scott Hightower\, Indran Amirthanayagam\, Neil Shepard30 Titanic \nSeptember13 Hilary Sideris\, Tom Sleigh\, Austin Alexis\, Kristine Esser-Slentz20 Joanne McFarland\, Ruth Danon\, Brad Vogel\, David Formanek27 Amy Lemmon\, Jane Rosenberg LaForge\, Richard Levine\, Nicole Callihan \nOctober4 Lisa Andrews\, Lisa Badner\, Arden Levine\, Anthony Capo11 Broadstone Books: Amy Barone\, Margo Taft Stever\, Billy Cancel\, Mary Moloney
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/a-persistence-of-cormorants-poetry-reading-3/2026-09-27/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Arts,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/A_Persistence_of_Cormorants-crop.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260929T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260929T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001037-1790704800-1790713800@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-09-29/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260930T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260930T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000873-1790791200-1790800200@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-09-30/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T142652Z
CREATED:20260425T230243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T142652Z
UID:10001168-1791032400-1791046800@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWe’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. \nWho 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. \nWhat 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. \nIs it really free?  Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs. \nCan 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.
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/free-walk-up-paddling-2nd-st/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:On the Water
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Paddle-2nd.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T142652Z
CREATED:20260425T230243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T142652Z
UID:10001169-1791118800-1791133200@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWe’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. \nWho 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. \nWhat 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. \nIs it really free?  Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs. \nCan 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.
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/free-walk-up-paddling-2nd-st/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:On the Water
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Paddle-2nd.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T153000
DTSTAMP:20260607T003655Z
CREATED:20260525T004237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260607T003655Z
UID:10001343-1791120600-1791127800@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:A Persistence of Cormorants Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:A Persistence of Cormorants is a summer-long poetry reading series on our shoreline featuring accomplished and exceptional poets from the New York area\, many of who live in Brooklyn. On each of the scheduled Sundays\, from 1:30 to 3:30\, up to four featured poets will read for 10 to 15 minutes each. \nGerry reads poetry at the canal\nThe readings will be followed by open mic time limited to ten readers (one poem no longer than 3 minutes) who have signed up the day of the reading on a first come basis. \nReading will be outdoors at the Gowanus open shoreline and we invite you to engage with the emerging Gowanus Canal habitat as we witness the EPA conduct their SuperFUN/d cleanup program. Event may move to inside the boathouse if it begins to rain or we want to escape the summer heat. If other activity is occurring on the street or esplanade\, event may move inside. \nParticipation is free but we encourage donations to sustain the efforts of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club\, an advocacy stewardship organization who has been representing neighborhood interests for over two decades. \nMay17 Linda Lerner\, Patricia Carrigton\, Abigail Welhouse\, Bill Lessard \nJune7 Susan Michele\, Gregory Crosby\, Melinda Wilson\, Dennis Nurkse14 Donna Masini\, Richard Smith\, Maria Lisella\, Elizabeth T Gray Jr.28 Elaine Sexton\, Karen Hildebrand\, Don Yorty\, Judith Lee Herbert \nJuly12 David Catz\, Estha Wiener\, Shean Nevin\, Katherine Swett19 Sarah Wallace\, Ashley Mabitt\, Zoe White\, and Michael T. Young26 Broadstone Books: S.H. Case\, Myra Malkin\, Vera Salter\, Stephanie Laterza\, David Mills\, Lucia Cherclu \nAugust2 Jiwon Choi\, Amy Holman\, Miranda Beeson\, Sarah Sarai9 Kimiko Hahn\, Joanne Solfrian\, Sam Cha\, Mervyn Taylor16 KGB: John Demming\, Selena Spier\, Tyler Allen\, Penny Susan Lewis\, Jada Gordon23 Karen Neuberg\, Scott Hightower\, Indran Amirthanayagam\, Neil Shepard30 Titanic \nSeptember13 Hilary Sideris\, Tom Sleigh\, Austin Alexis\, Kristine Esser-Slentz20 Joanne McFarland\, Ruth Danon\, Brad Vogel\, David Formanek27 Amy Lemmon\, Jane Rosenberg LaForge\, Richard Levine\, Nicole Callihan \nOctober4 Lisa Andrews\, Lisa Badner\, Arden Levine\, Anthony Capo11 Broadstone Books: Amy Barone\, Margo Taft Stever\, Billy Cancel\, Mary Moloney
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/a-persistence-of-cormorants-poetry-reading-3/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Arts,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/A_Persistence_of_Cormorants-crop.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001038-1791309600-1791318600@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000874-1791396000-1791405000@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-10-07/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261011T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261011T153000
DTSTAMP:20260607T003655Z
CREATED:20260525T004237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260607T003655Z
UID:10001344-1791725400-1791732600@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:A Persistence of Cormorants Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:A Persistence of Cormorants is a summer-long poetry reading series on our shoreline featuring accomplished and exceptional poets from the New York area\, many of who live in Brooklyn. On each of the scheduled Sundays\, from 1:30 to 3:30\, up to four featured poets will read for 10 to 15 minutes each. \nGerry reads poetry at the canal\nThe readings will be followed by open mic time limited to ten readers (one poem no longer than 3 minutes) who have signed up the day of the reading on a first come basis. \nReading will be outdoors at the Gowanus open shoreline and we invite you to engage with the emerging Gowanus Canal habitat as we witness the EPA conduct their SuperFUN/d cleanup program. Event may move to inside the boathouse if it begins to rain or we want to escape the summer heat. If other activity is occurring on the street or esplanade\, event may move inside. \nParticipation is free but we encourage donations to sustain the efforts of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club\, an advocacy stewardship organization who has been representing neighborhood interests for over two decades. \nMay17 Linda Lerner\, Patricia Carrigton\, Abigail Welhouse\, Bill Lessard \nJune7 Susan Michele\, Gregory Crosby\, Melinda Wilson\, Dennis Nurkse14 Donna Masini\, Richard Smith\, Maria Lisella\, Elizabeth T Gray Jr.28 Elaine Sexton\, Karen Hildebrand\, Don Yorty\, Judith Lee Herbert \nJuly12 David Catz\, Estha Wiener\, Shean Nevin\, Katherine Swett19 Sarah Wallace\, Ashley Mabitt\, Zoe White\, and Michael T. Young26 Broadstone Books: S.H. Case\, Myra Malkin\, Vera Salter\, Stephanie Laterza\, David Mills\, Lucia Cherclu \nAugust2 Jiwon Choi\, Amy Holman\, Miranda Beeson\, Sarah Sarai9 Kimiko Hahn\, Joanne Solfrian\, Sam Cha\, Mervyn Taylor16 KGB: John Demming\, Selena Spier\, Tyler Allen\, Penny Susan Lewis\, Jada Gordon23 Karen Neuberg\, Scott Hightower\, Indran Amirthanayagam\, Neil Shepard30 Titanic \nSeptember13 Hilary Sideris\, Tom Sleigh\, Austin Alexis\, Kristine Esser-Slentz20 Joanne McFarland\, Ruth Danon\, Brad Vogel\, David Formanek27 Amy Lemmon\, Jane Rosenberg LaForge\, Richard Levine\, Nicole Callihan \nOctober4 Lisa Andrews\, Lisa Badner\, Arden Levine\, Anthony Capo11 Broadstone Books: Amy Barone\, Margo Taft Stever\, Billy Cancel\, Mary Moloney
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/a-persistence-of-cormorants-poetry-reading-3/2026-10-11/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Arts,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/A_Persistence_of_Cormorants-crop.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001039-1791914400-1791923400@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-10-13/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261014T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261014T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000875-1792000800-1792009800@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-10-14/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001040-1792519200-1792528200@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-10-20/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261021T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261021T203000
DTSTAMP:20260520T023953Z
CREATED:20260520T023813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T023953Z
UID:10000876-1792605600-1792614600@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
DESCRIPTION:The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come\, bring an acoustic instrument. \nThe 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. \nFree but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged\, limited beverages are provided. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSince 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/boathouse-bluegrass-jam-2/2026-10-21/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_3934-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261027T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261027T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T150127Z
CREATED:20260306T202919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T150127Z
UID:10001041-1793124000-1793133000@gowanusdredgers.org
SUMMARY:Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday evenings\, 6-8:30 April through October. \nAt 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.\nDredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore\nJam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega \nWhat Jug band and String band music?\nLet’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. \nJug 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.\nThese 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. \nPapa 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. \nMore information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE
URL:https://gowanusdredgers.org/event/gowanus-jug-string-band-sessions-3/2026-10-27/
LOCATION:Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse\, 165 2nd St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11231\, United States
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/heic:https://gowanusdredgers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2581-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR