Boston Bluegrass Union

We are so excited to be returning to the Sheraton in Framingham again this year for JamVal 2025. JamVal 2025 is a weekend-long bluegrass “non-festival” focused on jamming held over President’s Day Weekend (February 14 – 16, 2025) at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel. There will be dozens of workshops and jams hosted by loads of amazing musicians and teachers, and one big difference from usual festivals: no big stage show to distract from the picking!

Due to the high demand for rooms at the Sheraton, the BBU will be holding a room lottery to determine who gets a room at JamVal 2025. If you’d like a chance to stay at the Sheraton (including the Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites), either in a picking room or a quiet room, you must enter the room lottery before it closes at the end of the day on Friday, January 10th. Most BBU Members can enter the room lottery for FREE by claiming their No-Cost Lottery Entry. Please read the complete description of the room lottery at https://bbu.org/events/jamval/

This year’s discounted room rate is $149 per night plus taxes and fees.

Although we had hoped to return with the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival this winter, ongoing renovations at the Sheraton make that impossible for February 2025. So instead, the BBU has decided to host one more JamVal, which we hope will be our last. We are looking forward to a full Joe Val Bluegrass Festival in February 2026 (our 50th year as an organization!).

The Sheraton building has been divided into three different hotels: the Sheraton is still in the front, but now there is a Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites on the back side of the building. JamVal 2025 will be spread across all three hotels. Because the Sheraton itself has been downsized and is currently under renovation, if you stayed in a specific room in the past, please do not expect to get it again this year.

To be determined – please check back here at a later date.

Below is info from the original JamVal; please check back here for updated information about JamVal 2025 soon.
Much like the full festival, we will be allowed to jam almost* everywhere in the hotel:
(1) On the Picking Floors (in and around the guest rooms): from Friday at 3 pm through the end of Saturday night (into early Sunday morning).
(2) On the First Floor (including in and around the Lobby, Bar & Restaurant): from Friday at 3 pm through the end of Saturday night (into early Sunday morning).
(3) On the Lower Level: from Friday at 6 pm through the end of Sunday night (into early Monday morning).

(*see below for where we cannot jam)

Below is info from the original JamVal; please check back here for updated information about JamVal 2025 soon.
Much like the full festival, we will be allowed to jam almost everywhere in the hotel with just a few exceptions:
(1) All Weekend Long: No jamming on the Quiet Floors (in and around the guest rooms), however since the hotel is under renovation, we will not know exactly which floors those are until it gets closer to JamVal.
(2) Sunday Only: No jamming on the First Floor – including in and around the Lobby, Bar & Restaurant – on Sunday because the Sheraton will be welcoming new guests. But jamming on the First Floor – including in and around the Lobby, Bar & Restaurant – WILL be permitted from Friday at 3 pm through the end of Saturday night (into early Sunday morning).
(3) Friday Afternoon Only: No jamming on the Lower Level before 6 pm on Friday.
(4) No jamming on the Picking Floors (in and around the guest rooms): before Friday at 3 pm and after the end of Saturday night (into early Sunday morning).

No, you will not need to reserve a room at the Sheraton to attend JamVal, but you will need to have a valid wristband to participate in any of the scheduled activities such as workshops, teacher-led jams, etc.

All of the scheduled activities such as workshops, teacher-led jams, etc. will be held on the Lower Level of the Sheraton.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a Kids’ Academy at JamVal, however, we hope to return to the Sheraton Framingham Hotel for a full festival in 2026, including the Kids’ Academy. And children under 12 are FREE all weekend long.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer Master Classes, Fast Track Classes, etc. at JamVal, however, we hope to return to the Sheraton Framingham Hotel for a full festival in 2026, including Friday-daytime classes.

The schedule will vary from day to day, but here are the most important details:
Friday
3 pm: Hotel check-in begins
3 – 6 pm: Jamming begins on the Picking Floors (in and around the guest rooms) and the First Floor only
6 pm: the Lower Level will officially open (please come to the ticket table on the Lower Level near the elevators to get your wristband)
7 pm: the first scheduled jams and workshops will begin on the Lower Level
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Late-Nights
We will have access to the entire Lower Level for 24 hours a day from 6 pm on Friday through the end of Sunday night (into early Monday morning), so Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights’ jams can go all night!
Saturday & Sunday Morning
Workshops and jams will begin at 10 am on both Saturday & Sunday
Sunday
10 am: workshops and jams will begin
1 pm: the final scheduled workshops and jams will end
After 1 pm: we’ll still be able to jam on the Lower Level through the end of Sunday night (into early Monday morning)

Yes, the main styles other than bluegrass that will be represented at JamVal are Old-Time and Swing. We will have a variety of Old-Time and Swing workshops and jam sessions. But it’s also likely that other related styles of music will also be represented at JamVal… anybody interested in Swedish nyckelharpa? It just depends on who shows up!

Here are a few important details about tickets for JamVal:

No physical tickets will be issued, although registered attendees will receive a wristband when they check in. All ticketing will be done online, and we will have a list of registered attendees when you arrive. Please bring your ID with you when you come to check in. Single-day passes will be available for sale in mid-January. Tickets will still be available for sale at JamVal itself. Both weekend and single-day passes will be available for sale at the ticket table on the Lower Level (near the elevators). You can purchase tickets at the event with cash, credit card, or by check.

Yes, single-day passes are valid until 7 am the next morning as follows:
Friday-Only Pass: Friday at 6 pm until Saturday at 7 am.
Saturday-Only Pass: Saturday at 10 am until Sunday at 7 am.

JamVal is for jammers, learners, and listeners alike, and just like other weekend-long bluegrass events, we do not have discounted tickets for those who don’t jam.

Below is info from the original JamVal; please check back here for updated information about JamVal 2025 soon.

Yes, The Postern Grille Restaurant and Bar will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the duration of JamVal. The Sheraton will also be providing a variety of quick eats at different times throughout the weekend. The food concession will be set up at the base of the Central Staircase, just across from the Carlisle Room for the following meals:
Friday Dinner: from 6:30 until 8 pm (and possibly later)
Saturday Lunch: from noon until 1:30 pm (and possibly later)
Saturday Dinner: from 6:00 until 7:30 pm (and possibly later)

Below is info from the original JamVal; please check back here for updated information about JamVal 2025 soon.

[Yes, the room closest to the elevators on the Lower Level, the Ashland Room which is normally used for the Showcase Stage at Joe Val, will be used for the JamVal Stage on Saturday from noon until 9 pm as follows:

Open Stage from noon until 2:30 pm: Bring your jam to perform on stage. Sign up immediately beforehand to perform a short slot on the JamVal Stage.
Band Scramble Performance from 3 until 4:30 pm: Sign up by 12:30 pm in the Carlisle Room to join a band for the afternoon and perform! See below for further details.
Bluegrass Karaoke from 5 until 7 pm: Sing or play a song with a house band of ringers. The JamVal 2025 Bluegrass Karaoke House Band will be announced soon.
Performance from 7:30 until 8:45 pm: check back here for an announcement of a performance by any guest jammers.]

Below is info from the original JamVal; please check back here for updated information about JamVal 2025 soon.

[If you’ve ever played in a jam session, or if you can play three chords in rhythm, then you can join the Bluegrass Band Scramble at JamVal! People enter the Band Scramble individually, and bands are created by picking names out of hats – roughly one for each instrument so that all the bands have the musicians they need. You and your new bandmates then have a two-hour practice session to prepare songs for a short stage performance. Rich Stillman will guide you through the process; here’s the schedule:
Noon until 12:30 pm — Band Scramble Sign-Up
12:30 pm until 1 pm — Band Formation
1 pm until 3 pm — Rehearse with your new bandmates
3 pm until 4:30 pm — Band Scramble Performances
Goals: The Band Scramble will give people a chance to develop their jamming and performing skills. No one who enters has any idea who they’ll be playing on stage with just hours later – your bandmates are picked at random, and it’s up to you as a group to find your strengths – and even your band name – and get ready for a short performance on stage in front of your friends.
Entry and Registration: Participants should sign in at noon on Saturday and indicate their instrument and whether or not they sing. If you sing but don’t want to play an instrument, please indicate “singer” as your instrument. Please note: singers are encouraged to join us even if they don’t want to play an instrument!
Band Selection: Bands will be selected by choosing roughly one of each instrument from a hat. The decision of the hats is binding, although we reserve the right to make adjustments to be sure all bands have enough pickers and singers.
Preparation and Performance: Each band will be assigned a practice space and will prepare roughly three songs for stage performance, including introductions of the tunes and the band members. Preparation should include the selection of a band name as well. The tunes selected for the performance should include one instrumental at most. Rich will provide a list of common songs on Saturday, but you can also email him in advance at [email protected]
Space in the Band Scramble is limited, so please try to arrive early!]

Below is info from the original JamVal; please check back here for updated information about JamVal 2025 soon.

We are excited to welcome two wonderful vendors so far offering instruments and accessories:
Rick’s Musical Instruments
Mockingbird Music

Send an email to [email protected] indicating your interest and you will receive details about volunteering at JamVal.