BRC Activities

Our mid week jam in a Missouri village near the sprawling Lake of the Ozarks began about 2 decades ago. It originally convened in the activity room of a local MacDonald`s burger shop where the BRC craftsman joined the throng 15 years ago. Over time, however, the jam session has migrated stepwise to a nearby ice cream parlor, a yogurt shop, local church basements, and briefly to a coffee bar. A recent gig took place at a bicycle shop located in the shadow of the State Capital rotunda building which overlooks the Missouri River where the Lewis and Clark Expedition boated their way into the American Wilderness in 1804.

For a home base, the jam now happily resides in the activity room of the Eldon community center. For several years, the band has also periodically entertained at local retirement homes- much to the enjoyment of clients and staff.

At the conclusion of a recent afternoon performance at a nearby retirement facility, the staff supervisor asked us if our jam band had a name, so she could re-invite us again soon.  The group pondered this question in studied silence, until our gig coordinator and mandolinist (above kneeling) cheerfully announced, “The Rock Island McPickers!”  This unique moniker brought smiles and nods of approval from her fellow musicians.

As cited, our origins were in the aforementioned local burger shop which is located not far from remnants of the historic Rock Island Railway Line. The Eldon municipal park is named after this railroad system of yesteryear, and some of the original railroad tracks border the city park grounds where we jammed outdoors in a shelter house during the Covid  era. After all these years together, we are pleased to have a suitable name for our weekly assembly of Bluegrass jammers. For the backstory on the Rock Island Railway, please type in “petticoat” in the website home page search engine and a tap the enter key. This will take you to  the “Social Distancing., etc…..” posting of 10-24-20.  Scroll way down and read the text surrounding the group photo of the band wearing masks at the city park shelter house during the Covid days. Enjoy.

From the BRC: Keep on pickin`.

Every autumn as the temperatures begin to fall, the lake behind the BRC workshop gives up its summertime heat in plumes of morning mist.

When these ghostly clouds finally dispel, stunning sunrises reappear.

Whenever a musician brings a new instrument to our weekly Thursday night jam session, it is a tradition for the proud owner to celebrate by providing the jammers with an ice cream treat. Recently, one of our pickers arrived at the weekly get-together with a newly purchased shiny guitar. He treated us all to ice cream bars on the upper back deck of the BRC domicile on a mild autumn evening.

From the BRC: Have a pleasant Fall season.