Acoustic Jams for the Joy of It
Acoustic jam sessions rooted in the spirit of the legendary Pizza Tapes, folk, bluegrass, and rock, played for the love of music, in a close casual setting.. All skill levels welcome. Bringing the "jam" back to the living room and local environments.
Our Story
Our Story Is a Continuation of their Story
In 1993 David Grisman, Jerry Garcia, Tony Rice recorded an impromptu jam. The sessions were recorded over two nights. It was rumored that a cassette copy was possibly taken or used as a tip to pay a pizza delivery driver. It was leaked and bootlegged for seven years until Grisman formally released the tracks in 2000 and named the album 'The Pizza Tapes'. We are a group of acoustic musicians who are inspired by the sessions and host our own versions of that experience. Like the original sessions, we play folk, bluegrass and rock music for the joy of jamming. We encourage all skill levels on acoustic instruments to join our existing sessions or start their own. We aim to create jamming sessions that capture the joy of music performance, not music perfection.
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The Spirit of the Session Lives On
Mel Smothers is the founder of this site, an avid fiddle player, and a passionate jammer who loves bringing people together for ongoing acoustic sessions in the spirit of the legendary Pizza Tapes. Inspired by the raw joy of those folk, bluegrass, and rock-infused jam circles, Mel wants to encourage players not only to join in, but to start their own 'pizza tape' jams in their local communities. He shares his approach with backing tracks from Strum Machine, simple set lists, and an open invitation to musicians of every skill level to come together for the pure fun of making music, learning tunes, and keeping the jam alive.
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A Relaxed, Welcoming Space
A Pizza Tapes jam is a relaxed, welcoming space where the focus is on fun, not perfection. Jammers of all skill levels sing, play acoustic instruments, and jump in on familiar tunes that keep everyone included, with the host offering simple guidance, charts, lyrics, and backing tracks through Strum Machine to help keep things moving. These sessions are free-spirited and non-judgmental, with plenty of room to bring a friend, share music, and enjoy the easygoing energy that makes each gathering feel more like a community hang than a performance. You can see our formulated song lists in advance, create your own song lists or share an original that is suited for the group. We use Strum machine as an aid in small groups, but its always optional. Creating your own songlist and sharing in advance is a great way develop your own jamming sessions or just following along with others.
"I showed up not knowing anyone, barely able to play a G chord. By the end of the night I was jamming alongside a fiddle player and a mandolin player I'd just met. That doesn't happen anywhere else."
Common Questions About Jamming With Us
Everything you need to know to show up, plug in (acoustically), and play.
Music Perfection Is Optional. Joy Is Not.
Garcia, Grisman, and Rice didn't book a studio — they pulled up chairs, tuned their instruments, and played. That's exactly what we do. Find a session near you, or use our guides to start your own gathering wherever you are. All you need is an acoustic instrument and a willingness to enjoy the ride.
Start or Join a Session