Michigan is the Jam Music Capital of the World
World record set of 60 hours for longest continuous jam session
at UrbanBeat in Old Town, Lansing
SEPTEMBER • 2026
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Over 150 musicians broke the world record for the longest continuous jam session on Sept. 30, 2026 at 7:01pm!
The record, previously set at 57 hours by musicians in Grenada, Spain, was officially broken at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30. As the hour came near, three of the jam organizers – Terry Terry, John K. Addis and Jeff Boog – joined friends from The OtherBand to perform an ethereal, haunting free form soundscape to set the stage. Terry put down his flute and was shaking a rain stick to a hushed room as the hour rolled by. After Addis softly counted down the final seconds over the microphone, the audience exploded into applause. A host of guitar slingers, horns, signers and percussionists then crowded the stage and dance floor for three more hours of raucous, blues and gospel tinted music until the end was reached at 10 p.m., setting the new record at 60 hours.
“Lansing is now the Jam capital of the World,” said Terry Terry, owner of UrbanBeat, who came up with the idea of trying to set the record this spring. “We like to say we are the music capital of Michigan, with so many fabulous players, great venues and world-class education programs in the region. Bringing the players together to show our community how special music is to this region was a dream come true.”
Addis, who plays keyboards and drums, provided the logo, posters and marketing skills that brought attention to the extravaganza. Jeff Boog, bassist and pianist, connected many musicians to the event and handled the thankless job of scheduling. David Waymire, the fourth member of The Longest Jam committee, helped with communications and planning, and volunteered to oversee the long midnight to 8 a.m. stretches ensuring at least three musicians were on stage at all times, one of the committee’s rules for success.
Other criteria included no breaks in the music, not even for a few seconds, and no standard “songs,” although old folk tunes commonly used when musicians jam, like House of the Rising Sun, broke out spontaneously for a few moments. All musicians had to agree to a set of “Jam Commandments” before taking the stage, both to meet records requirements and to honor Terry’s vision of celebrating the creativity, endurance, and versatility of Michigan musicians.
“Seeing all these players come together, many literally meeting for the first time on stage, and making music up from the heart – no cover songs, no sheet music, all on the fly – was really special,” said Boog. “Horns and singers, banjos and bongos, marimba and violins, all communicating and communing. Experimental music was flying around the room for hours on end, and it always revolved to something familiar and comforting.”
Addis said the outpouring of singers and players was gratifying. “There was a point where some of us worried about finding 25 players to make this happen. A week before the event, we saw we had hit 50 signups, and Jeff had filled all the slots with at least three players. After the event began, even more flocked in to show their talent and spirit, hitting over 100 unique musicians by day two.”
Participating artists ranged from local amateurs to internationally-recognized professionals, including keyboardist Jim Alfredson, bassist Rodney Whittaker, The Voice contestant Lucas Holiday, and countless others.
Waymire reflected on those long early morning hours. “We had a few stalwarts that played for four or five hours with minimal breaks from 2 a.m. until 8 a.m. Bassists took over for guitar players that needed a break. Guitar players hopped on drums. The UrbanBeat’s talented sound engineers grabbed sticks and took their turn as percussionists. We got down to just three on stage for a few minutes early Tuesday morning, and they created a gentle, swirling, carefully listened to landscape of sound just as the sun was coming up. You can’t plan moments like that.”
All 60 hours of The Longest Jam were recorded and livestreamed. A submission packet is being prepared for the Guinness World Records organization. Organizers are also considering a documentary on the preparation and execution of the event.
The event was produced by the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art, which brings arts and music productions including the Michigan BluesFest and Jazzfest Michigan and Michigan FunkFest to Lansing each year.
Thank you to our Sponsors
Sponsors included Michigan Optometrist Association, Cold Plunge Records, mConnections Marketing Agency, Elderly Instruments, McLaren Health Care, The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Dan Templin, Capitol Area Blues Society, Cravings Gourmet Popcorn, Jazz Alliance of MidMichigan, the Stan Craig Band, John K. Addis and Addis Enterprises, Zivic, Terry Terry, UrbanBeat, MessageMakers, David Waymire, Toni Alexander and Jeff Boog and the 800 G band.
The World’s Longest Jam committee has evolved a definition of a jam:
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At least three musicians on stage at all times.
Musicians will be rotated in and out at regular intervals. -
Continuous music with no breaks.
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No "songs" as generally defined, although pieces of music
in the public domain and original music are welcome. -
Music can be produced with acoustic, electronic,
or vocal instruments -
A variety of genres (minimum number of 10 genres).
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No pre-recorded music.
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Commendments
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Longest Jam Commandments
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