Big Jam Stories

big jam stories presented to fairhaven firehouse theater 2024 sept 6th,7th,12th,19 - oct 24th - nov 1,21,22

A theater reading with music of an original epic historical fiction by 'nickels'. The story of ‘little boy' who lives on a huge log jam some time before the jam is ‘cleared. Told in eight nights, the marvelous fairhaven firehouse theater is hosting nickels and his storytelling and musical guests, as they bring to life the “land claim diary” and sing songs from the story of little boy & the big jam. Even local history buffs may not know much about the big jam in whatcom county, once located below ferndale's pioneer park. The ancient log jam was said to be host to an ancient forest and an ancient crossing, and was officially and eventually 'cleared' in 1877, allowing the first steampowered riverboats access to what is now ferndale and everson. The larger story of 'little boy of big jam' is told as fables, tall tales, and myth, in a way suitable and digestible by children, but not pandering to them, leaving the story open to being heard, and hopefully loved, by adults.

nickels (mark nichols), author/composer

Began studying music as a fifth-grader in ferndale schools and with private educators, before spearheading numerous middle school and high school bands. As a twenty-two year old he was active in the late 1980's seattle music scene and eventually became an orchestral arranger for the subpop label. he also released a four-record live musical on popllama records during that same era, and found himself pulled into the incredible seattle underground theater scene of the early 1990's. Over his lifetime mark has written many operas and a few novels, but none as rich as 'big jam stories', which revels in three decades of study, imagination, and work. The author composer of big jam stories has been employed by children of the setting sun as a composer, editor, and filmmaker for the last seven years, and much of what he has learned working in indian country is a subtle part of big jam stories. "I worked on a film for ferndale schools called "land acknowledgement", and the narrative gap between treaty signing in 1855 and the reallotment of the late 1800's is really what started me writing this book. I wondered, 'what got us to where we are today?' and i began reading and writing like mad. Eventually big jam stories started to appear, seamingly dropped out of the sky. Rather than go down the path of an historical novel i wanted to tell about the world of the frontier through the eyes of a child, in a manner and cadence which is exactly how i like stories told to me: a bit surreal, musical, poetic, cryptic, having lots of symbology, tunnels and secrets." In this case, the child has a mission, and that mission is to keep the 'land claim journal' for his family. Father is out in the ocean on his steam-powered riverboat and the great grandparents who have been taking care of the boy have become lost under the jam. Alone, little boy is in charge of keeping the land until the jam is 'cleared'. Of course he cannot do this and goes on an epic journey to find release from his loneliness.

Guests: jayne entwistle, julie lewis, robert bowman, aidan fay, logan brichta, ben workman-smih, and many others to be announced.

Dates: friday september 6, the riverboat, the slug the fish, origin stories, saturday september 7, life in big jam, thursday sept 12, alone in big jam, thursday sept 19, the all-night dance, oct 24, under the jam, november 21, life underthe jam, friday november 22nd, recap and conversation.

Tickets: big jam stories is free (with limted requests for donations), however we highly recommend you rspv! RSVP click here as seatting is limited. Event is by donation with contributions completely at the discretion of the audience. Come one come all. There is food, coffee, wine and beer available for sale at the firehouse cafe during the first half of the show. Support our community gathering place! Children with good listening skills are appreciated.