By Grace Weaver, editor of The Iron Blade
Ferrum, VA, September 15, 2026 — As the sun began to set to the west of the Scott Pavilion on Monday night, the sound of Appalachian instruments strummed through the air, while local children flatfoot danced, barefoot, in the center of a singing crowd.
Outside of the inner, instrumental circle, others gathered, clapping, smiling, and singing along to the local music.
This scene is set each week at Monday Night Jams, a highlight of campus and community life at Ferrum College.
Director of Appalachian Music and Assistant Professor of Music and Theatre Emily Blankenship-Tucker has led Monday Night Jams since 2022. While considered an on-campus event, jams have become a gathering for those across the Ferrum area.
“Orchestra Appalachia hosts,” Blankenship-Tucker began, “but it’s grown much bigger than that. There are lots of community folks of all ages, and it’s just a really, really wonderful time with lots of musicians. Everyone is welcome.”
Every Monday, the group meets at 7 p.m. beneath the Scott Pavilion (at the farm museum on Rt. 40). During the winter, sessions are moved inside, either to the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, or to Grousbeck Hall. Recently, the crowd has only been growing–of both those playing and listening to music.
“Jam has really grown over the last few years,” reported Blankenship-Tucker. “There are a number of musicians who come fairly regularly, and there are lots of folks that come to sing along, or dance, or even just listen in pretty regularly too.”
Local musician Bobby Radford is one of these individuals, having attended jams for the past three years. (He is facing out in a red shirt in the photo with dancers.) Radford plays the guitar, mandolin, bass, and piano, among other instruments, and appreciates the environment that Monday Night Jams create.
“It’s the camaraderie,” Radford said, reminiscing on the event he sees as special, “musical people, friends, neighbors, and people learning new songs, and we just have fun. That’s why it’s called a jam.”
At the age of 73, Radford also has a lifelong passion of making music. Although if asked, he says humorously:
“I don’t make music. I make noise. And I hope that it’s a joyful noise.”
Junior Madison Cox, who studies environmental science and music, also loves to make joyful noise every Monday night with others in the Appalachian area.
“I love the community and how welcoming it is,” Cox noted.
Cox plays the guitar and fiddle, and as a local student, has been attending jams since 10th grade. (She is playing guitar in the photo while Blankenship-Tucker plays the fiddle to her right.)
Blankenship-Tucker agreed.
“We always have a fairly nice group, and it’s really uplifting,” said Blankenship-Tucker.
In addition to hosting jams, Orchestra Appalachia, the student music group on campus, has also been busy across the region over the summer. Members such as Cox traveled to attend fiddler’s conventions, among other events where those who could attend could gather and play.
“Orchestra Appalachia had some gigs that we did,” led Blankenship-Tucker, “and some of the members did some fiddler’s conventions together–going together, camping out, jamming, and just being a part of different musical events going on in the region through the summer. But now, it’s nice because we are all back together as one big group and looking forward to the semester.”
As the semester begins and continues, the music group plans to play at the Franklin County Agricultural Fair this weekend, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival in October, and the Grand Ole Ferrum Opry in December.
Monday Night Jams will also continue, and Blankenship-Tucker encourages all that can to attend.
“It’s really wonderful to get to hang out with neighbors, students, folks that are a part of the college, folks that aren’t part of the college–one big musical community,” Blankenship-Tucker said. “I think it’s a big celebration of where we are, in Appalachia.”
The Iron Blade is a fully online student newspaper at Ferrum College, available to all for free. It published this article September 1.
The photo with evening shadows is by Grace Weaver. The other photos are by Dr. Bob Pohlad.
For more updates on music events and many more photos and videos, see the Ferrum College events calendar and the Facebook page Appalachian Music at Ferrum College.
Ferrum’s Monday Music Jams, which occur year-round every week, are affiliated with The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.
Click here for information about the Ferrum College academic programs in music and theatre.
