Blue Skies Adult Music Camp - 2025
July 27th – July 30th
Cajun and Country
Be in a country/cajun band with Ball and Chain. This stream is good for those with at least a competent beginner ability on typically country and cajun musical instruments: guitar, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass. We will be learning by ear so being able to read music is not necessary.
Mornings will be spent in two groups. Jody will take the guitar players and Michael will work with the rest.
The guitar sessions will be working on rhythm guitar suitable for country and cajun music. We’ll cover some basic theory including the chord number system that’s so handy for jam sessions. The melody players will spend time learning the songs with Michael.
Afternoons will be spent working together as a full band, rhythm and melody together. This includes harmony singing.
Ball and Chain
Jody and Michael go together like mashed potatoes and gravy. Jody Benjamin’s singing style is an easy marriage of sincerity and humour that comes from her wit and her love of the old country music she sings.
Michael Ball has a sweet tone to his fiddle playing and an ear for melody and space seldom heard.
Together these experienced performers make a sound fuller than you’d expect from only two musicians. Steeped in the traditions of old time country, Cajun, and bluegrass, their song list is varied, interesting, and fun. From Roger Miller to George Jones, from Dennis McGee to the Balfa Brothers. From Hank Williams to Jody Benjamin herself, the songs are great and the delivery lightly outrageous.
The group’s seventh album, Satisfied, captures the energy and excitement of their live shows beautifully. This highly listenable new album is an impressive addition to a list that also includes Bare Bones (2001), Trouble all the Time (2003), Live at the Bayou (2005), The Hank Sessions (2007), Louisiana Love Bug (2009) and Surrender (2014).
