ADRIAN — On the second Saturday of every month, from September through April, the halls of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Adrian ring with harmony.
The church is the site of the Maumee Street Jam, an informal group of musicians who gather to enjoy both music and friendship. The music covers folk, bluegrass, classic country — lots of styles, but all acoustic, no amplification allowed.
The Maumee Street Jam grew out of the West Adrian Jam, a gathering that started in 1999 at what was then the West Adrian United Church of Christ, said Marilyn Mullins, a hammered dulcimer player who helped found that group. Some of the players also used to take part in a jam in Palmyra.
When the West Adrian location no longer worked out, the pastor at First Presbyterian, who was also a musician, offered the group a new home at the downtown Adrian church.
“We’ve been there ever since,” Mullins said, “and the church members are just awesome.”
Church members prepare a meal — typically hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, and pie — which is offered up for a freewill donation.
“Hats off to the people that put this together,” Mike Gleason of Manchester said while enjoying dinner in the fellowship room before the January jam.
“It wouldn’t happen without them,” his wife, Susan, agreed.
After dinner, the musicians take up their instruments and begin to play. It’s an informal affair, with the players taking turns choosing a song. Each member leads the group on the tune they chose, and everybody else chimes in.
At the January jam, the group grew over the course of the evening to five guitars, one banjo, two violins, and one upright bass — plus a handful of audience members, who are always welcome.
“It’s usually light during the winter because a lot of us are in Florida,” Mullins said.
“There’s usually 15 to 20 when the snowbirds come back.”
When attendance is higher, the musicians will sometimes split into two groups, with more experienced players in the chapel and less experienced musicians in the fellowship room.
Musicians come from all over to participate, with many driving at least an hour to get to Adrian.
People attend the jam for lots of different reasons, but in addition to the music itself, the camaraderie of playing in an ensemble is something many group members mention.
Mullins said that she and her husband, Jack, appreciate the friends they get to play music with at the jam.
“We enjoy all the people that come,” Mullins said.
“It’s just fellowship together with friends.”
Howard Pennington, one of the church members who helps put the evening together, agreed.
“It’s a real friendly group,” he said.
The Maumee Street Jam is always looking to welcome new people, and they’d especially like to see some younger musicians get involved and help carry on the tradition.
Mullins said that many of the regular musicians are happy to help newcomers.
“Everybody’s welcome,” she said.
The Maumee Street Jam meets starting at 6 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month, September through April, at First Presbyterian Church, 156 E. Maumee St., Adrian. For details, go to facebook.com/groups/79602539959. Both musicians and audience members are welcome, and no signup is needed — people are welcome to just drop in.
