MADRID – The Madrid Dam Music Series kicks off Wednesday, June 27, from 6-8 p.m. with a bluegrass performance by the band Reed Family Generation Gap in Madrid Park.

Generation Gap is a family band that has been playing music together for over 40 years. The original family band consisted of husband and wife, Alice (bass guitar, keyboard, and vocals) and Steve (rhythm guitar and vocals), and Steve’s brother and wife, Mark (rhythm guitar and vocals), and Emily “Cookie” (drums).

This first group played together for about 17 years until Mark and Cookie retired from the band at which time, Alice and Steve’s two oldest sons, 20 year-old Jeffrey (drums and vocals) and 17 year-old Andrew (lead guitar, fiddle, and vocals) stepped in to fill the “gap.”

That lineup (also now known as The Reed Family) has performed together for more than 20 years. The youngest two sons, Benjamin and Zachary, have also been a part of the band at one time or another filling in on whatever instrument was needed at the time. Even the grandsons have filled in occasionally when needed.

While not a traditional Bluegrass group, the Reed Family opened the very first Madrid Bluegrass Festival on-stage on Friday night. This was a practice that was continued every year thereafter for the entire 25 years the festival was in operation.

Alice and Steve then moved inside the building and provided “round and square” dancing music from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. with a group composed of well-known local musicians. This group (better known as the “Madrid Gospel Group”), would then begin the Sunday morning festival performances with an hour of “country gospel” music.

As the Reed Family grew, all four sons and their wives and all but the very youngest grandchildren learned to play guitar. It is not unusual to find the family sitting around a campfire with about 20 guitars in hand, along with a mandolin or two, a banjo, a fiddle, and a lot of singing.

The band plays a variety of music, but primarily 50s and 60s, new and old country, and some classic rock. In addition to performing in almost every establishment in the North Country, they have also performed at many weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, graduation parties, field days, banquets, senior-citizen dances, barn-raisings, and have often donated their time for those in need at jamborees and for ARC gatherings.

The concert Wednesday will feature a tribute to the now defunct Madrid Bluegrass River Fest and the county Dairy Princess and her court will be on hand to help celebrate June as Dairy Month.

The following performances are scheduled in coming weeks:

July 4, Josh Barkley;

July 11, Mary Ann Casale and Tas Cru, blues and Americana;

July 18, Potsdam Community Band;

July 25, open mic night, with Burn the Evidence Band;

Aug. 1, Steelin' Country;

Aug. 8, Jack Kelly Band;

Aug. 15, Madrid Chorus and CFC Band;

Aug. 22, Microburst/Veteran's Nite; and

Aug. 29, Madrid-Waddington Tri-M honors night.

All performances are held on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. in Madrid Park this summer.

All MDMS events are free and family friendly with no strobe lighting, alcohol, or smoking.

There will be a concessions stand, 50 /50 raffle, quilt raffle, and silent auctions to raise money for the New Band Stand Fund Project. Donations will also be accepted.

The series Facebook page is Madrid Dam Music Series.

315-265-2047