BLACKBERRY JAM 2024

HEYO, here is all of the information that’s been sent out about BBJ this year

July 24:

Hi friends! It’s Jam Time!
(This email is a little long but it’ll be over soon. Sorry and please read.)

A few announcements for you:

It might be helpful for those of you who don’t already know, to know that we do all this Blackberry Jam stuff in our spare time (we don’t have any spare time). So this year more than ever we are going to need your help crossing the finish line to Saturday afternoon when we can just jump in the lake. This means: putting your name in the volunteer sheet, lending a hand where it’s needed, jumping in to help if you see something needs doing and it isn’t done yet, contributing to Friday’s charcuterie experience and Sunday waffles, etc. The long-awaited volunteer sign up sheet is here. !!Big props to Chuck Jones for creating this!! Volunteering is the real sauce, and there’s some opportunities to pitch in on the sheet. If you bought a sliding scale ticket, you gotta help us with some stuff. Otherwise I guess we can’t make you, but you’d be a lot cooler if you did. Use the comment function on the sheet to enter your name into a cell (sheet isn’t editable).

We are seeking help transporting some gear (sound systems, easy ups, some black & yellows, etc) from the East Bay to the venue. Please holla at us (replying to this email works or most of you have our phone numbers) if you can help schlep some shit. It will be super, super helpful and we will appreciate it very much. We can discount a ticket or something for this kind of volunteer effort if that's a better incentive. Thank you! 

Car Camping! If you have purchased or intend to purchase a Car Camping spot (we have more available), please note that the available Car Camping spots on the property are limited to the spaces with red picnic tables between the Gate House and the kitchen. Luxe tents are still available too, and honestly a fantastic option if you don’t want to deal with a whole camping set up- we got you. 

Dogs. We love ‘em. The best. We don’t recommend bringing them to BBJ though. If you absolutely must bring your dog, they need to be attached to you via a leash of some sort at all times that they’re out and about. We know that is not ideal. Hence why you shouldn’t bring your dog. If you bring a dog you must be a Responsible Pet Owner and follow Mendocino Magic’s guidelines on pets.  

Weather. Laytonville will allegedly be mid 70s during the day, and low 50s at night. Prepare accordingly! 

Here is the rideshare sign up - use it if you need it. 

And now, a rough timeline of events! 

Friday, feel free to arrive anytime after 3pm. We will have folks at the gate (maybe you!) until midnight. Food and tunes at 8ish. We will attempt to create the longest charcuterie board in Mendocino Magic history. It’s a snacktivity. 

Saturday, coffee will be at the CCK, and Saturday Morning Cartoons and Cereal behind the Stage House. If you want to drink coffee and chat, do that where the coffee is and let the cartoon people watch their shows. Coffee is inherently more social than TV and that’s ok. 

Lake stuff will happen. 12pm. We got Obscenic, JK47, Truck Stop and Matt the Kat at Cannonball Camp. BYO shenanigans. 
Saturday evening, dinner and live bands. Late night vibes are at Loggers Camp with your DJ friends. 

Sunday is waffles (maybe a mimosa?), clean up, and head home! Please do help pick up the place- do a sweep for your stuff at the lake and around the campground, take some time to do a moop sweep, etc. Mendocino Magic makes negative dollars hosting the Jam every year, so being able to not cause a bunch of clean up work at the end of the weekend is ideal. Please take your trash with you. 

Drive safe y’all, see you soon, and don’t forget to check your expectations at the Gate!

Love,
Us

PS no night boating.

June 25:

Hello friends, we’re a short monthish away from BBJ shenanigans! 

Do you want to bring someone cool? Have a project you’re dying to schlep from the bay and set up for a weekend? Anything to pitch? We love the weird shit y’all come up with- let us know if there’s stuff you wanna do.  

Tickets
Tier 2 tickets are available at $150 for General Admission until June 30th. Get 'em while they’re less money than they will be on July 1st! (July 1st is soon.)

Friday Night Food Situation

Does the Jam just not have enough structure for you? Are you tired of aimlessly wandering through parties, unsure of how to contribute or where to find the snacks? Fear not! You are invited to join the Blackberry Jam Charcuterie Board of Directors. Join The Board, and share the honor of creating The largest Charcuterie Board in Mendocino Magic History. Sweet friends, as usual we are  co-creating a Friday night snackluck food experience. As a member of the Charcuterie Board of Directors, you will be tasked with the honorable duty of contributing whatever you want to this resplendent display of epicurean delights. Chef Dilemma and The Board are in charge of the evening-hopefully including cake (we know you didn’t forget it’s Emma’s birthday). Fill out this form if you’re interested in a small amount of responsibility/joining the Charcuterie Board of Directors. 


Live Musiccc

Jessica Malone and her band are playing the Great Oak stage on Saturday night, we're stoked, and you will be too when you hear them. Banda Sin Nombre is returning with their unique brand of folk music, performance art, drag and dance.  And for Something Different, we have the Talking Heads cover band Burning Down The House closing out the live music before we head down to the late night stage. 

Ways to contribute

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (and again): The Jam only happens because the folks invited (you) are cool and kind and want to do the damn thing. A real for the party by the party kind of vibe. Please sign up for volunteer shifts when we send em out. There are so many ways to help, and if everyone does a little bit, we can all party.  



Speaking of party...
Your favorite chaos inducing, mayo slinging, floating bar will be here! Small serious note, we are intentionally reeling in the alcohol vibe this year, so Bring Your Own Party (ie we’re not just giving out liquor), and look out for yourselves and your friends. Other fun activities on the water include: whatever the frick you want to do! 
Paddleboard Jousting? Bingo? Piracy? 

Jam on, 
Us

Sometime in April:

From the hearts, souls, and wallets of the people who brought you The Powertool Parade, The Trippy Tippy Barge Bar, Many Pigs, Some Jam Like One Time, A Burning Piano, Saturday Morning Cartoons & Cereal, and A Bunch Of Other Stuff You Never Asked For, comes this year’s Blackberry Jam: BBJ 2024: WE THINK IT’S THE 9TH ONE.

Where: Mendocino Magic

When: July 26-28th, 2024 (We know you didn't forget Emma Dilemma's birthday)

What: A Chill Weekend

Alright y’all, you know what to do. Tickets are up. They are pretty cheap, considering what you get for ‘em. They will go up in price as the weekend of July 26th gets closer. We also have canvas luxe tents available for you fancy folks, RV and car camping spots, and many blackberry bushes that may or may not ripen by the end of July (thanks climate change!).

This is a private event: It’s a Nice Time, and a privilege to attend. You have been invited because someone thought your presence would make it better. While you are welcome to invite friends who will be a good addition to the campout, please only invite responsible folks that you can vouch for. If your friend is being an ass, we reserve the right to tell them to kick rocks (and ask them to leave if necessary). 

Tix

Tier 1: $100 until April 30th

Tier 2: $150 until June 30th

Tier 3: $200 until July 25th

At the Gate: $250 (includes inconvenience fee)

Volunteer Opportunities: Talk to us! 

Food

Saturday night we’re treating y’all to a local dinner (gf + veg/an folks we won’t forget about you). Other, lighter meals will be provided (collaborative Friday dinner, Saturday morning Cartoons and Cereal, Sunday Waffle Brunch), but beyond that please prepare to feed yourselves and bring-your-own-whatever (we got you on coffee!).

Jams

Saturday evening we will have Jessica Malone Band out of Fair Oaks California, San Francisco’s own Banda sin Nombre, and the infamous Burning Down The House!) Other musicians and performers include favs such as Abuelita, Froyo Yoma, Truck Stop, and DJ Hey-It’s-Me-Again. 

Art
Have art? Like art? Feel compelled to bring art?  There's a form for that!

Expectations

As usual, this is a real DIY kind of situation. Low effort, high reward. BYOParty. Please volunteer, contribute, and help out where you can. We try to keep the costs of throwing this shenanigan as low as possible to enable our hard workin' pals to enjoy this "party for people who throw parties". That being said, if ticket cost is prohibitive to you, reach out- we want you to be there and will do what we can to help make that happen. 

Jam on. We love you.