Just jamming
Bluegrass musicians enjoy coffee bar sessions
When Dan Lund starts to sing, a gathering of bluegrass fans begin to sing along as an informal gathering of musicians fill the Coco Moon in downtown Brainerd with sound from times past.
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Every other Thursday, bluegrass musicians congregate at the Brainerd coffee bar to play. The event is billed as a Bluegrass Jam but country songs sneak into the mix. One thing for certain is everyone in the audience as well as the musicians know the songs. They play a repertoire of old favorites that most people in the Midwest grew up singing or humming.
Throughout the year, bluegrass musicians from the area gather every other Thursday night to play at Coco Moon in downtown Brainerd. The informal group has a following of fans who sip their coffee and sing along with the country tunes.
The best part of the concert is that it is free. If someone leaves, the band looks over and jokes, "please don't leave."
They participate because the musicians love to sing and play, which is evident by the smiles that cross their faces while performing.
Ray Philippi of rural Brainerd led the gathering of musicians in a bluegrass song. The group draws upon Philippi's experience of staying on key and remembering the words of the old favorites.