Coffee Shop Jam Sessions | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 7/7/2012

Every Saturday morning Cappuccino on Collins in Mandan plays host to local musicians. Coffee drinkers got a taste of some espresso while they enjoyed some free tunes.

"I think our jams surprise a lot of people with the talent in the area and the people will walk in and that haven`t been here before and if there`s a jam going on more often than not they`ll sit for a while," said musician Kelly Kiemele.

Six years ago Kiemele was looking for a venue for local musicians to get together and jam. When his daughter Tara became the owner of Cappuccino on Collins, he brought his talents there.

"She`s kind of developed a reputation as far as a good place to go Saturday mornings for music," Kiemele said.

Regular customers have come to expect the acoustic tunes of the guitar and mandolin as they walk in Saturday mornings, coupled with the sound of friendly chatter and dripping espresso.

"Good music, and it`s the good quality old-time stuff and they just seem to know it and it flows out of them so easily," said customer Alice Gerhardt.

Aaron Hummert started playing there about a year and half ago and tries to make it out weekly. "What I enjoy most I guess is just how friendly everybody is and just a wide variety of music."

If the jam sessions look informal, that`s because it is. Musicians don`t need to call ahead. Anyone can show up with an instrument and join in the jam. While some things have changed over the past six years, the sound of string has stayed the same.

Kiemele said, "It`s got the sound that I like, and I like a variety of styles of music. It`s all acoustic. It`s what your instrument can get out without having to rely on electronics."

The musicians start playing around 9:00 a.m. and continue until around noon.

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