HONESDALE, WAYNE CO. (WOLF) — The Cooperage Project hosted its monthly Acoustic Bluegrass Jam on Tuesday in Honesdale, bringing local musicians and music enthusiasts together for an open-circle session.

The gathering is open to all ages and skill levels, whether someone is picking for the first time, polishing their chops, or simply enjoys listening.

Caleb Johnson, group leader for the Acoustic Bluegrass Jam, said the meet-up is designed to be approachable for newcomers and players who are building their skills.

“When I started coming, I wasn’t playing. I was just spectating. I was pretty new to guitar at the time. It kind of felt like a big undertaking to sit in a circle with a bunch of people playing when you’re not that good, but everybody was super welcoming. And just as you go along and you start to hear a couple of the same songs, you start to pick it up, and it’s a beautiful thing,” said Johnson.

Johnson said he has been surprised by how deeply rooted bluegrass is in the area, with strong local fiddle and banjo players and a mix of younger and older musicians sharing tunes and passing songs along.