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Back in the early days of the Westman Jams, We used to hold one major outdoor jam every year down at the Grand Valley Campgrounds just North-West of Brandon, Manitoba. We’d have an entire weekend of music, camping and barbeques… the whole nine yards. We would have several campfire sites where Jammers could gather in small groups and play music all night long. There was a shed like structure with twin sliding doors on the East and West sides to let air pass through and sunlight in and that was where we’d setup our amplifies, microphones and sound board for the afternoon jamming (just in case it rained). There was all the amenities of life like showers, bathrooms and electricity and because one of our jammers knew the park owner, we got a pretty sweet deal as far as camping out went.
It was a wonderful event while it lasted but eventually the park owner grew ill and died of cancer and the park fell into disuse. So came to an end the annual Grand Valley Campground Jam. Below are some photographs taken during some of these jams. Many are shot within the barn-like structure of the park shed where we setup our equipment. Nothing lasts forever but the things that last the longest are memories and here are a few from the Grand Valley Campground Jams.
In 2005 Westman Jams held it’s first and, I still think, it’s best out door campground Jam down at the GrandValley Camp Grounds just North-East of the city of Brandon. On the weekend of July 22nd, 23rd and 24th almost all the Westman Jamers showed up either to camp over or just to play during the day. The event was a smashing success and would begin a trend of annual Summer Campout Jams that would take place for several years after.
The photos above are General pictures taken at the Campout Jam over many years but the link below takes you to a page of photos taken during the 2005 Weekend Campout Jam at Grand Valley. Click the banner below to go to this page of photos.
The Second Annual Grand Valley Campout Jam Weekend took place on July 21st, 22nd & 23rd of 2006. It was an even bigger bash then the first one and, like it’s predecessor, it was a huge success. The link banner below will take you to it’s photo album if you click upon it.On weekend of the 8th, 9th and 10th of June, 2007, the Westman Jams held it’s third Annual Grand Valley Campout Jam at the Grand Valley Camp Grounds just North-East of Brandon, Manitoba. Below is a banner link that will take you to it’s photo album page. Click on the banner below to go there now.On the weekend of June 20th through to the 22nd Westman Jams held it’s Grand Valley Camp-out Jam for the year 2008. We celebrated the fine weather with lots of music and socializing. Click on the banner link below to go to the photo album page of pictures taken at this jam.(from the Westman Jams Photo Album #6)In June of 2009 Westman Jams held its 5th Annual Grand Valley, Campout Jam. The turnout was tremendous and all kinds of new faces appeared at the mic.
These photos all came from the Westman Jams Photo Album #8. Why not click on the banner link below to go to the photo page for this jam. Here is a clickable banner link to the photo page of the Grand Valley Camp-out Jam of 2010. Click the banner below to go there now.
The Grand Valley Weekend, Campout Jam was held for the last time over the weekend of June 17th to the 19th of 2011. My recollections are suspect, under any conditions, but in this case I wasn’t even at this jam so this may not have been the very last Grand Valley Jam Weekend but if it wasn’t I have no further photographic resources or memories to speak of any following it. There are many things that I wish would never have ended, but all good things do, eventually, and so too did the Annual Grand Valley Weekend, Campout Jams.
I would sum them up as a great idea that was pulled off with great flair. A series of unforeseen circumstances brought this event to a final close in 2011, although we didn’t know that this was going to happen yet.
Of all the jams that, I have personally attended, The Grand Valley Jams where the most rewarding, and that’s saying something. Sadly I don’t have all that many pictures of this last jam, at Grand Valley Park, but those that I do have may be perused if you click on the banner below.
Westman Jams 