If you love the thrill of whitewater and the magic of live music in an unforgettable setting, then Jammin’ Through Desolation Canyon is your perfect escape. Combining the Green’s splashy Class III rapids with towering canyon walls, incredible riverside camping, and nightly jam sessions led by talented musicians, this one-of-a-kind trip is an unforgettable blend of adventure and song.
Featuring
For over 40 years, Joe Craven has made a living playing forward folk music tradition by mashing up ideas and instruments from a variety of unexpected places, creating new music altogether. Joe has recorded and/or performed with Jerry Garcia, David Lindley, David Grisman, Alison Brown, Howard Levy, Vassar Clements, Rob Ickes, and many other innovative artists. He is a featured artist/educator in the PBS television series Music Gone Public and, as an award-winning educator, he’s worked with bassist Victor Wooten, children’s music innovator Paul Reisler, and jazz percussionist Jason Marsalis. Whether with young men in a juvenile detention center, families in homeless shelters, a university lecture in Washington, jamming with Gnawa musicians in Morocco, on stage at Carnegie Hall with Stephane Grappelli, or on stage with an angel food cake pan in front of thousands of school kids in Scotland, Joe’s at home and loving every minute.
Erik Yates, a California-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, has spent the last two decades bringing that love to the world. His wide-open blend of soul, lyrical bluegrass, and Americana has garnered him fans nationwide through both his solo recordings and his steady contributions to six-piece powerhouse Hot Buttered Rum. He’s worked all over the US as a singer, sideman, soloist, and songwriter, and has performed, taught, and toured in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. “There’s always something to love,” he recently told Paste magazine, “something to learn from.”
About This Trip
Imagine a floating music festival where you’re both a student and a star, jamming alongside fellow travelers in one of the most remote river canyons in the West. Whether you’re a beginner, seasoned player, or simply a spectator, this trip is all about sharing acoustic roots music—from blues to bluegrass, Americana, and even a few Grateful Dead tunes. You’ll receive a digital songbook to keep, packed with folk classics to inspire you long after the trip. If you play, bring your favorite acoustic instrument—guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, ukulele—or add some rhythm with egg shakers or hand drums. Small accordions, harmonicas, and wind instruments are welcome, too! Interested in joining in on the fun but have never played before? No problem—we’ll help you borrow an instrument and get started. As Joe says, “Learn two chords, start strummin’… and you’re off & runnin’!”
Between jam sessions, we’ll raft the Green River through the heart of Desolation Canyon, navigating exciting Class III rapids and drifting through towering redrock canyon walls brimming with Wild West history. Each night, we’ll pull up to stunning riverside campsites, where guides will prepare incredible meals to fuel our days of music and adventure. Picture yourself playing under the stars, the sound of the river mingling with melodies, and waking up to fresh coffee and the sun rising over the canyon walls. With expert guides leading the way, delicious riverside dining, and the magic of music bringing it all together, this trip is the perfect blend of adventure, creativity, and wilderness renewal.
We will need to know in advance if you plan on bringing an instrument, so that we can coordinate transportation to and from the river. Please inform an Adventure Consultant upon booking what instrument you will be bringing, if any, along with its size.
