About this Event
Staunton Jams Presents: Sunday Grand Finale with The Judy Chops & The House Guitar at Blackfriars Playhouse
Get ready for a spectacular Grand Finale as we conclude the Staunton Jams 2026 Spring Festival with hometown heros, The Judy Chops & The House Guitar!
Join us at the beautiful Blackfriars Playhouse for an evening filled with good vibes, great players, and collaborative, acoustic tunes. The Sunday Finale brings together community-music icons with decades of experience to honor the collaborative traditions of "jamming" in Old Time, Honky Tonk, Bluegrass, Jug Band, Blues, and Alternative-Folk styles as they pay tribute to local legends and our beloved musical community.
The Judy Chops:
Since 2008, The Judy Chops have been wowing audiences with their deft musicianship and high-energy live shows. This six piece band has evolved from a Shenandoah Valley favorite into one of the hottest acts in the Virginia music scene. Their unique take on Americana is a fusion of modern and vintage musical styles, blending elements of swing, blues, rock, and soul for a sonic experience Huffington Post calls 'genre-defying!'
William (Reverend Bill) Howard- electric guitar + vocals
Molly Rose Murphy- rhythm guitar + vocals
Mike Pressel- trumpet, aux percussion + vocals
Rachel Smith- baritone saxophone, aux percussion, vocals
Jims Hinkle- bass
Jess Bergh- drums
The House Guitar:
“The House Guitar” is the name of a group of Staunton musicians who’ve played together forever and a day - often gathered around a beat up old Gibson LG that lived on a shelf in a back room in another era. If you’re a musician in Staunton you’ve probably played it; If you’re a music lover in Staunton, you might have heard it!
The band is dedicated to seeing that this instrument keeps on keeping time, staying in tune, and ringing out loud- and the good news is that this guitar knows a lot of songs! Including some local chestnuts written by Dwane Knowles that were probably written on the house guitar.
At the Sunday Finale with The Judy Chops at Blackfriars Playhouse, The House Guitar will be joined by more guitars, fiddles, strings, reeds, and voices all gathering in song to celebrate the best part of Staunton: it’s Jams!
Pete Aaslestad- guitar, vocals
Sarah Lynna- bass, vocals
Chris Davis- guitar, vocals
Rene Devito- fiddle
Ted Lawhorn- lap steel, guitar, fiddle, vocals
Billy Friar- guitar, vocals
Emerson- harmonica, vocals
TJ Crow- (in absentia) mandolin, vocals
American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse:
The Blackfriars Playhouse is open year-round for performances of Shakespeare’s plays and contemporary works in productions hailed by The Washington Post as "shamelessly entertaining." - Visit Staunton
Nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse has delighted hundreds of thousands of audience members from all over the world. "At the American Shakespeare Center, our mission is to advance understanding, imagination, and community by illuminating Shakespeare through performance, research, and education in the Blackfriars Playhouse and beyond. We are a theatre for all—welcoming new audiences and deepening engagement through accessible programming and outreach. Our commitment to Staunton, VA, and the surrounding community includes student aid, local partnerships, and collaborations with universities, businesses, and cultural institutions—strengthening ties between arts, education, and culture on a local and global scale." - American Shakespeare Center
Staunton Jams:
Staunton Jams was founded by Sarah Lynch in 2004, and after a 20+ year tradition in Downtown Staunton, is in the process of achieving official nonprofit status. Staunton Jams is 100% community-funded and offers free, outdoor music at the E&E Main Stage on Beverley Street as well as some ticketed events at Sponsoring Satellite Venues.
Since 2004, this event has grown into a vibrant three-day downtown festival featuring multiple venues, regional talent, and fair pay for performers—all while supporting local philanthropic efforts, and building community through music.
This spring, our focus is on raising awareness and support for local mental health services, as May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. All sponsorship, donations, and proceeds from The Festival go straight back into our mission to build community through music. "Live music serves as a vital community “glue,” strengthening social bonds, enhancing mental well-being, and driving local economies through shared experiences. By creating vibrant spaces for connection, live music turns strangers into acquaintances and strengthens cultural pride."
Staunton Jams is presented by 106.3 WQSV, Queen City Music Studios, and The Judy Chops, and is organized by an all volunteer administrative team.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 South Market Street, Staunton, United States
USD 0.00
