The Pretty Shaky String Band

Old-Time Music Jam in East Lansing, Michigan

Pretty Shaky String Band

Attention Shakys and Friends

November 25, 2026 (Wednesday) 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm 

The Shakys WILL NOT be able to meet at Peoples Church because the building will be closing at 6:00 pm. INSTEAD we will be meeting at Bath United Methodist Church, 13777 Main St., Bath, MI. When coming into Bath on Webster Rd continue north on Webster Rd past Clark Rd to the parking lot behind the church. If that lot is full, parking is available across the street in the elementary school parking lot. Time will be the same 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. This will be a one time location change only! 

 

The Pretty Shaky String Band Chord Book is here… in two flavors!!!

Pretty Shaky String Band Chord Book 2026 – Chords and Photos

Pretty Shaky String Band Chord Book 2026 – Just the Chords

You can also find these at “Tunes We Play” here. 

 
The Shakys meet at Peoples Church in East Lansing, MI starting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. If the weather is good, we will meet outside, bring your own chairs and drinks.
 
If the weather is not good, we will meet in the newly remodeled, air-conditioned social hall in the basement of Peoples Church in East Lansing.
 
The church building closes at 9:30 so if we are meeting indoors, we will have to be out by then. If we are meeting outdoors, then a bathroom in the church will not be available after the building closes.
 

The Pretty Shaky String Band is an open jam session that mostly plays old time music (from Appalachia, the Midwest, and specifically Michigan) depending on attendees that particular session. The group meets every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Peoples Church in downtown East Lansing, Michigan.

The Pretty Shaky String Band is an East Lansing institution. In 2023 the Pretty Shaky String Band was nominated for and received a Michigan Heritage Award from the Michigan Traditional Arts Program at Michigan State University. The Shakys have been meeting each Wednesday night for over forty-five years. Many of Michigan’s finest folk musicians are Shaky alumni. Primarily an old-time folk music jam, the Shakys also perform at various farmer’s markets and events in the area.

The Shakys are a friendly and laid-back group. Musicians of all levels are welcome. We follow a round robin format, so everyone gets a chance to pick tunes. Originally strictly an old-timey session, we also embrace some Celtic and French-Canadian influence. If you are looking for an old-time music jam in Mid-Michigan, players and listeners are always welcome!

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If you’d like to join us but don’t know how to play an instrument, MSU’s Community Music School offers lessons and classes geared toward adult beginners. Click here for more details, or email us.

When:
Wednesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Location:
The basement of The Peoples Church
200 W Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
*There’s free parking at the church, accessible from Grand River Ave

3/28/17 Jam

March 29, 2017

By the time I arrived, which was around 8pm, there were 13 musicians. Red Haired Boy – A Bill Cheatum – A Little Billy Wilson – A Devil’s Dream – A Booth Shot Lincoln – A Shenandoah Falls – A Road to Malvern – A Crow Creek – A Who’s Been Talking to Dinah? – … More 3/28/17 Jam

3/22/17 Jam

March 22, 2017

There were about 14 people in attendance. The author noted the following tunes, played roughly between 8pm and 9:45pm. Little Billy Wilson – A Red Haired Girl – A Water bound – A Bill Cheatham – A Old Joe Clark – A John Brown’s Dream – A Bill Walker’s Tune in A Hangman’s Reel – … More 3/22/17 Jam

2016 Pretty Shaky String Band Reunion

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