Bakersfield, CA
January 14-17, 2027
The Great 48 Bluegrass Jam is returning to the Bakersfield Marriott hotel Thursday, January 14 through Sunday, January 17 (MLK Weekend). This four-day event is packed with hosted and free-form jams, instructional workshops, a band scramble and performances.
Room reservations will open on September 1 for CBA members (as well as current members of other represented bluegrass associations), and September 15 for the general public. You will find the code for the discounted CBA room rate on this page. Mark your calendar now, since rooms typically sell out quickly.
ALL ACCESS PASS
The cost for the full four-day event is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. This will entitle you to attend ALL the hosted and instructional jams*, performances, and other activities, TBA. This small fee will allow the CBA to continue producing this very popular event. The pass will be available on-line starting September 1, and on-site at the event. This page will be updated as the event details are finalized, so check back often.
*excluding the Wernick Method, which is a separate offering.
JAM CLASSES RETURN
Gail and Mike Thomas will be returning with their very popular Wernick multi-benefit “how to jam” classes. The Wernick Method classes provide students with the knowledge on how jamming is done, with hands-on practice playing bluegrass with other people. This is a three-hour class, and will be offered at three separate times between Thursday and Saturday. Class size is restricted to a maximum of 12 participants per session. Tuition is $60 for the class, and can be purchased online in advance, or at the event (unless it’s sold out). The registration link will be posted here on September 1.
TAKE THE JAM TRAIN
There’s a reason our new Great 48 logo features a train– you can jam with your friends ridin’ on the San Joaquins from points North to Bakersfield!
We’ll post the specific “jam” train routes as soon as they are available.
AMTRAK SAN JOAQUINS SCHEDULE (This link points to routes currently in service which typically don’t change much. However, the official January 2027 AMTRAK schedule is not yet available on Amtrak).