Down By Riverside

The Jam Down By Riverside (potluck)
2025-06-08 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-11 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-13 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-09 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Venue: Arts Collaborative Medford, 162 Mystic Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
The Jam Down By Riverside is a direct descendent of the now defunct Blues Jam at the Porch Southern Fare & Juke Joint, which was a descendant of the Johnny D’s blues jam. The jam is for building community and building skills. We welcome people of all ages, abilities, styles and instruments to join in the jamming. We do not have a strict Blues Only jam rule, but probably 85% of the repertoire is blues or blues-derived music. Please come to play or listen.
The jams are on the Second Sundays of the month from 4 – 7 PM.
We’re putting out a special call to teachers and their students to join us and we’re specificly trying to facilitate connections between people with more experience and folks with less experience.
What to expect:The Jam is first come – first served, meaning you get into the pool to play when you arrive and sign up. There will be 3-4 different groups per hour depending on attendance. More people = shorter sets and more sets, so more people are able to play. The host will put different bands together based on the abilities and instrumentation available from the attendees. Each group will have a bandleader (often the lead vocalist) who will call songs, solos, starts, breaks and endings.
This is a potluck event, so bring food to share or bring you own eats. We will have beverages for sale for your convenience.
Please Do bring your own instrument, cable, sticks, microphone, and small harp amps.Please Do not bring your own guitar amp and unless you have talked to the host in advance.
Volunteers will provide the following backline for players: drumkit, bass rig, 2 guitar amps, 2 direct boxes, microphones, monitors, PA system. We are taking donations of various equipment for backline. Please inquire about a donation. In particular we are looking for a small drumset and <15w guitar amps or modeling pedals.
We will ask for donations to offset the cost of the event and to show support for our organization.

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Soundbath with Hendrik
2025-05-18 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-04-20 15:00 - 16:30
What’s a Soundbath?A soundbath is a performance of sound or music which is intended to relax, to spiritually heal, and to create a meditative state. Hendrik will play gong and singing bowls for this program. Often the sounds are long, deep sustained tones and harmonic resonances that happen higher above droning fundamental tones. The sound serves as a focal point for meditation. Instead of trying to focus on nothing or on the breath, the participant concentrates on the sound as it changes and develops.
What to Expect:Please bring a yoga mat or meditation cushion with you. Several people have also brought blankets and pillows. You will get the option to sit in a cushioned chair if desired.
Program FlowThere will be an introductory discussion where participants can check in with the group. Lately this has included discussions about stressors, anxiety and depression. We will do some breathwork to relax a bit before the actual music. The soundbath will last about 60 minutes. After the bath, we will also have time to discuss the experience, check in with our community, and plan how to support each other.

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Autumn Hollow Release Party
2025-05-03 19:00 - 22:00
Doors open at 6 PM. Shows starts at 7 PM. 2 delicious sets of Autumn Hollow. This show is produced by Down By Riverside an is happening at 162 Mystic Avenue in Medford, the Arts Collaborative Medford.
Sons Lunaris will be providing a psychedelic liquid light show. Melrose’s Follow Your Art will have a table to share what they do.
Revelry Food Truck will be sellling New Orleans Food and there will be beer, wine, and a special cocktail as well as sodas, seltzers and water.
Arts Collaborative Medford is located in the front of the same building as Theory Wellness Dispensary. The spaces in the parking lot that are closest to the street are reserved for concert goers.

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The Johnny Williams Band - Acoustic & Electric Blues
2025-04-19 19:00
A night of acoustic and electric blues from The Johnny Williams Band. Down By Riverside’s productions at Arts Collaborative Medford offer a fantastic listening room experience with no bad seats.
This show is to benefit Down By Riverside as they help build a great art and community space.

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Cheryl Arena's Wonderful Blues Band / Potluck
2025-03-06 18:00 - 21:00
Tickets & Donations

This Potluck Concert is a Pay-What-You-Can show, which means the tickets are free, but we ask each person to donate to help pay for the event if they can. We also ask that people bring food to share if they are planning on eating.

Cheryl Arena is wonderful singer, songwriter and blues harp player. She will be performing with her band featuring Eddie Scheer on drums, Ted Bukowski on Bass and the talented Mike Dibari on guitar.
All of the players are wonderful, as are the songs. This is great music to dance to, either in blues styles, swing dance styles and just freeform wiggling in time.

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Mardi Gras 2025 with Glen David Andrews!
2025-03-02 15:00 - 20:00
Come for the authentic Mardis Gras musical experience with the Prince of the Treme, Glen David Andrews!

Please join us for an afternoon and early evening of music, dancing, authentic food, delicious drinks and celebration at our concert featuring the Glen David Andrews Band! Let loose and immerse yourself in the NOLA atmosphere as we celebrate Mardis Gras 2025.
The event will be held at Arts Collaborative Medford at 162 Mystic Ave in Medford, next to Atlas Liquors and in front of Theory Wellness Dispensary. Invite some friends and bring your dancing shoes. Get ready to experience the culture and Carnival energy of Mardis Gras!

The Revelry Food Truck will be serving up authentic New Orleans cuisine!

Traditional Jazz ensemble, The Dixie Cookbook, will be performing the New Orleans jazz songbook at 4PM.

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Professor Harp's Classic Blues & Rock 'n' Roll / Potluck
2025-02-20 18:00 - 21:00
Tickets & Donations

This Potluck Concert is a Pay-What-You-Can show, which means the tickets are free, but we ask each person to donate to help pay for the event if they can. We also ask that people bring food to share if they are planning on eating.

Amazing Potluck Concert with Live Blues & Rock ‘n’ Roll with Boston’s Own:
Professor Harp
Although born and raised as Hugh Holmes of Boston, Mass., the emanations from his harmonica and vocals make it clear that Professor Harp has the blues of Texas and the whole wide Delta coursing through his veins.
The Professor was a rock ‘n’ roll drummer until ’69, when the Boston blues revival and a sterling performance he caught of blues harmonica great George Allen ‘Harmonica’ Smith, combined to lure him away from drums and into a full court press on the blues harp. “Undaunted!” he brags, by the vicissitudes of his life as blues man, front man, every kind of man, Professor Harp puts forth his commanding presence and exceptional talent, night after night.
Primarily playing a sparse, yet full-sounding brand of no-nonsense, no-frills Texas style blues, Professor Harp specializes in what he calls, ‘roots music’. “It’s whatever makes me feel good and moves me, so to speak.” Indeed it has evolved while continuing to move audiences for decades.
Under the influence of many diverse blues greats, Professor Harp has developed a robust playing style. He often utilizes the Leslie rotating-speaker sound system to give his harp a Hammond organ timbre, while he alternately and simultaneously employs the standard or traditional ‘electrified’ blues harp. The Professor tops this off by singing the blues with an infectious fervor, supported at his strictest insistence by only top-flight musicians on guitar, bass, and drums.

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Sound Bath & Meditation
2025-02-16 15:00 - 17:00
Tickets & Donations

The event is a Pay-What-You-Can event, which means the tickets are free, but we ask each person to donate to help pay for the event if they can.

Hosted by Hendrik of Down By Riverside and Kathleen Willis of Dawa Entheogenic Services
These days many of us are feeling depressed, anxious, or isolated. The primary mission of Down By Riverside is to foster feelings of connectedness and community with music. The program will focus on staying present in the moment and creating time and space to relax. Hendrik will focus on the sounds of the sound bath, while Kathleen Willis will focus on meditation and the spiritual practice of the event.
What’s a Soundbath?A soundbath is a performance of sound or music which is intended to relax, to spiritually heal, and to create a meditative state. Hendrik will play gong and singing bowls for this program.. Often the sounds are long, deep sustained tones and harmonic resonances that happen higher above the droning tones. The sound serves as a focal point for meditation. Instead of trying to focus on nothing or on the breath, the participant concentrates on the sound as it changes and develops. The actual sound bath will last about 40 minutes.
What to expect:Please bring a yoga mat or meditation cushion with you. You will also get the option to sit in a chair if desired or preferred.
There will be an introductory meditation before the sound bath. The actual sound bath will last about 40 minutes.
Kathleen is a professional Interfaith Chaplain, Certified Psychedelic -assisted spiritual care provider, and author with Wisdom Publications. She is authorized to teach and share transmissions from the Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist tradition by Khempo Migmar of the Sakya Institute for Tibetan Studies.
She will co-facilitate the sound bath lead by Hendrik. She will start with a short Tong Lin (giving&receiving) meditation practice. and at the conclusion of the sonic experience lead a short expressive-arts integration she has created combining the Kapala Practice of Lama Tsultrim Allione and prompted writing exercises which will allow participants the opportunity to set intentions before as well as reflect on their experience after the sound bath to add further layers to the somatic healing.
Kathleen Willis is the Founder of the retreat center DAWAFields: the Sanctuary for Artistic, Spiritual, & Psychedelic-Integrative Somatic Healing Practices (www.dawafields.com) in Corinth VT. She also has a private practice office at ACM in Medford MA (www.DawaEntheo.com) DAWA Entheogenic Services combining Expressive-arts, Psychedelic Assisted Integration consultation, and Somatic Practices.
Hendrik Gideonse is the founder of Down By Riverside, a non-profit focused on creating community with music, potlucks and individual connections.

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The Jam Down By Riverside (potluck)
2025-02-09 15:00 - 18:00
Tickets & Donations

We ask that participants contribute to the costs of the event by making a donation to Down By Riverside, Inc.

PLEASE NOTE: This JAM is from 3 – 6 PM. This is 1 hour early to avoid conflict with the Superbowl. Normally the jam will run from 4 – 7 PM on the Second Sunday of the Month
The Jam Down By Riverside is a direct descendent of the now defunct Blues Jam at the Porch Sounthern Fare & Juke Joint, which was a descendant of the Johnny D’s blues jam. The jam is for building community and building skills. We welcome people of all ages, abilities, styles and instruments to join in the jamming. We do not have a strict Blues Only jam rule, but probably 85% of the repertoire is blues or blues-derived music. Please come to play or listen.
We’re putting out a special call to teachers and their students to join us and we’re specificly trying to facilitate connections between people with more experience and folks with less experience.
What to expect:The Jam is first come – first served, meaning you get into the pool to play when you arrive and sign up. There will be 3-4 different groups per hour depending on attendance. More people = shorter sets and more sets, so more people are able to play. The host will put different bands together based on the abilities and instrumentation available from the attendees. Each group will have a bandleader (often the lead vocalist) who will call songs, solos, starts, breaks and endings.
This is a potluck event bring food to share or bring you own eats. We will have beverages for sale for your convenience.
Do bring your own instrument, cable, sticks, microphone, and small harp amps.Do not bring your own guitar amp and expect to play through it unless you have talked to a host in advance.
Volunteers will provide the following backline for players: drumkit, bass rig, 2 guitar amps, 2 direct boxes, microphones, monitors, PA system. We are taking donations of various equipment for backline. Please inquire about a donation. In particular we are looking for a small drumset and <15w guitar amps or modeling pedals.
We will ask for donations to offset the cost of the event and to show support for our organization.

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Soundbath & Meditation
2025-01-26 15:00 - 16:30
Hosted by Hendrik of Down By Riverside and Kathleen Willis of Dawa Entheogenic Services
These days many of us are feeling depressed, anxious, or isolated. The primary mission of Down By Riverside is to foster feelings of connectedness and community with music. The program will focus on staying present in the moment and creating time and space to relax. Hendrik will focus on the sounds of the sound bath, while Kathleen Willis will focus on meditation and the spiritual practice of the event.
What’s a Soundbath?A soundbath is a performance of sound or music which is intended to relax, to spiritually heal, and to create a meditative state. Hendrik will play gong and singing bowls for this program.. Often the sounds are long, deep sustained tones and harmonic resonances that happen higher above the droning tones. The sound serves as a focal point for meditation. Instead of trying to focus on nothing or on the breath, the participant concentrates on the sound as it changes and develops. The actual sound bath will last about 30-35 minutes.
What to expect:Please bring a yoga mat or meditation cushion with you. You will also get the option to sit in a chair if desired or preferred.
There will be an introductory meditation before the sound bath. The actual sound bath will last about 30-35 minutes. An expressive arts integration will follow the sound bath.
Kathleen is a professional Interfaith Chaplain, Certified Psychedelic -assisted spiritual care provider, and author with Wisdom Publications. She is authorized to teach and share transmissions from the Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist tradition by Khempo Migmar of the Sakya Institute for Tibetan Studies.
She will co-facilitate the sound bath lead by Hendrik. She will start with a short Tong Lin (giving&receiving) meditation practice and at the conclusion of the sonic experience lead a short expressive-arts integration she has created combining the Kapala Practice of Lama Tsultrim Allione and prompted writing exercises which will allow participants the opportunity to set intentions before as well as reflect on their experience after the sound bath to add further layers to the somatic healing.
Kathleen Willis is the Founder of the retreat center DAWAFields: the Sanctuary for Artistic, Spiritual, & Psychedelic-Integrative Somatic Healing Practices (www.dawafields.com) in Corinth VT. She also has a private practice office at ACM in Medford MA (www.DawaEntheo.com) DAWA Entheogenic Services combining Expressive-arts, Psychedelic Assisted Integration consultation, and Somatic Practices.
Hendrik Gideonse is the founder of Down By Riverside, a non-profit focused on creating community with music, potlucks and individual connections.

Tickets & Donations

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The Longest Night: a Potluck Solstice with Music
2024-12-21 17:30 - 21:00
The Longest Night: Potluck Solstice with Music
with Hosts Brad Faucher & Hendrik GideonseDec 21, 2024 Doors 5:30 Show 6-9 PMDown By Riverside @Arts Collaborative Medford162 Mystic Avene, Medford, 02155

This Saturday night (December 21, 2024) is the Winter Solstice and I am hosting a potluck event for Down By Riverside, Inc. with Brad Faucher that night, to celebrate the longest night, which is when the days start getting longer again. We’re at Arts Collaborative Medford where there’s quite a bit of free parking.

The “Longest Night” seems very symbolic for what we have coming up in the next four years.

Doors are at 5:30 and at 6:00ish I will start the evening by leading a meditation while playing my 32″ unlathed gong. This is a very special instrument that is quite an experience. The idea is to concentrate on the sound. Most people find it very relaxing and enjoyable.

Brad Faucher will join me and we’ll improvise together and then play through a bunch of old classic blues and soul music. Then we’ll invite musicians to join us, so bring your axe if you would like to join.

We will have non-alcoholic drinks for sale. This is a potluck event and we’re asking for people to pay what they can to defray costs. If you’re broke, please come anyway.

Hendrik Gideonse

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