Ron Coon from Banks, Oregon, performs with the Columbia River Old Time Strings at the Minnehaha Grange in Vancouver, Feb. 23. The Columbia River Old Time Strings is a group that james to music from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s. The group is open for anyone to join.
Columbia River Old Time Strings members left to right) Dianne Glenn, Jerry Jacobs, Becky Coon, Mel Hansen, and Ron Coon during their performance at the Minnehaha Grange in Vancouver Feb. 23.
Six-year-old Megan Wilder and her grandmother Eilene Laing sang “You Are My Sunshine” for the crowd at the Minnehaha Grange in Vancouver Feb. 23.
Are you looking for a toe-tapping good time? The Columbia River Old Time Strings is a Western group that plays live music from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. The group meets on the second and fourth Saturday of the month to play at the Minnehaha Grange in Vancouver. There is an open mic from 6:30 – 7 p.m., and a group jam from 7 – 10 p.m.
The Columbia River Old Time Strings began at someone’s home in January 1977. Soon after the garage group became so large they needed to start renting larger places for their jam sessions. The Columbia River Old Time Strings has dwindled in recent years but they hope new members will start to attend so they can continue renting the Minnehaha Grange.
Anybody who likes western music is welcome to come; age does not matter. Don Morgan the president of the group said, “We had some kids come a couple months ago. They played the piano and did quite a good job. People really enjoyed it.”
“I would like to see the audience full, anyone that wants to come can bring their own instrument and get up on stage. If you don’t have an instrument you can get up there and sing, you can tell a poem, you can even get up there and dance if you want to,” Morgan added.
Mel Hanson, a member of Columbia River Old Time Strings for the past 35 years found out about the group from a friend. He enjoys the group because everyone is welcome.
“It is not a talent show or talent contest, it’s just a bunch of people getting together to have fun,” he said.
Hanson said the group has taught him a lot.
“They have helped me play better, the group has a lot of different experience levels to play with,” he explained. “Some people are really professional, while some are beginners.”
While a few of the attendees are not able to get up and dance because of physical limitations, there is still a dance floor available behind the seated area.
There is a suggested donation of $3 per person or $5 a couple for attending the jam session but it is not required. If you decide you would like to join the Columbia River Old Time Strings as a member there is a $10 fee, or for a couple, it’s $15.
As a member of the Columbia River Old Time Strings, you’ll have access to their newsletter, you can vote on anything that comes up, attend the group picnics and of course jam out. Every August the group members gather together for a summer picnic at the Lewisville Park in Battle Ground. Columbia River Old Time Strings also holds a dinner on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
“The picnic’s a big bash, a nice Sunday afternoon event where we eat and play music. They have been some of my favorite memories with the group,” Hanson said.
