DFNW Pocket guide
Welcome to your 2026 DjangoFest Northwest Pocket Guide
Tuesday, September 15
7:30 PM | WICA Mainstage
3 Parts Bourbon & Café Impromptu
wednesday, September 16
6:30 PM | Zech Hall Patio, WICA
Ranger and the Re-Arrangers
7:30 PM | WICA Mainstage
Hot Club of Troy & Pearl Django
Thursday, September 17
10:00 AM | Langley United Methodist Church
Getting the Right Sound/Gypsy Jazz Rhythm Guitar with Jimmy Grant
In this workshop, guitarist Jimmy Grant breaks down what it really takes to get the classic gypsy jazz rhythm sound — the kind that makes the whole band feel solid and swing hard. It’s not just about technique — it’s about touch, tone, time feel, and knowing your role.
We’ll cover:
The mechanics of La Pompe, step by step
How to get the right attack, muting, and chord voicings
The difference between “just playing chords” vs. really supporting the music
Tips for getting better tone and feel
Whether you’re newer to the style or looking to refine your groove, this workshop will give you tools to make your rhythm sound authentic, clean, and swing in the gypsy style
12:00 PM | Langley United Methodist Church
Tips and Tricks for Simple Tunes with Gismo Graf
Join Gismo Graf as he takes tunes apart together with you, the participants, exploring the structures and discovering of the music and what can be done with them. He will demonstrate how he personally approaches learning and working on new tunes, while responding to the individual needs and questions of the participants. By the end of the workshop, everyone should leave with a handful of effective, practical ideas that they can immediately apply to their everyday guitar playing.
6:30 PM | Zech Hall Patio, WICA
Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints
7:30 PM | WICA Mainstage
Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews All-Stars & Leah and I
Friday, September 18
10:00 AM | Langley United Methodist Church
Lead Guitar Phrasing with Sam Farthing
My insight into how the greats "sing" through their instruments. I will teach the melody and chords to the Django song "Folie a Amphion", as well as teach and explain some 0f the best phrases from the 2 choruses of solo and how to get the right sound out of the instrument when playing them. Ideal for people with experience in the genre but all are welcome.
10:00 AM | Langley United Methodist Church
Getting Started with Unaccompanied Chord Melody Gypsy Guitar with Ray Bergstrom
Can you relate…?
Someone asks, “Hey, can you play me a song?” but all you know are single-note lines or rhythm playing.
You’re asked to do a solo gig but you can’t play unaccompanied for more than a few minutes, let alone for two hours.
You learned some straight-ahead chord melody, but it relies on fingerpicking and doesn’t translate to gypsy picking on a gypsy guitar.
I used to share these frustrations. However, the great swing guitarist Jonathan Stout inspired me to learn to perform solo, unaccompanied, and with a pick. Now, I’m comfortable playing solo gypsy guitar for hours.
In this workshop, I’ll share the methods, tips, and resources that helped me go from “licks guy” to “guy who can do a three-hour solo gig at the drop of a hat.”
11:30 AM | Langley United Methodist Church
Demystifying thematic improvisation with Jimmy Grant
Django was a master of repetition! He could take a simple concept and use it a million different ways. During this course, I want to demystify how Django pulled some of this off.
We'll break down how to turn arpeggios into lines. We'll look at how you can take simple arpeggios (or not-so-simple ones!) and turn them into hip lines, working through both major and minor 2-5-1s.
I'll focus on some lines pulled directly from Django, Bireli, and even Robin Nolan.
This course requires some basic knowledge of the guitar.
11:30 AM | Langley United Methodist Church
Efficient Practice and Accompanying Skills in Gypsy Jazz with Tim Kliphuis
Tim Kliphuis is the leading voice on gypsy jazz violin, having worked with the Rosenberg Trio, Fapy Lafertin, Angelo Debarre and more.
He will teach two topics:
straight from the Grappelli-Django Camp, his Efficient Practice workshop which will help you get better study results on standards;
his trademark Accompaniment, which turns your violin into a modest but swinging comping instrument with shades of guitarists Django Reinhardt and Barney Kessel.
1:00 PM | Zech Hall Patio, WICA
The Lone Fir Hot Club
2:00 PM | WICA Mainstage
John Jorgenson Trio
6:30 PM | Zech Hall Patio, WICA
Doug Munro and La Pompe Attack
7:30 PM | WICA Mainstage
Gonzalo Bergara Quintet
saturday, September 19
10:00 AM | Langley United Methodist Church
Advanced Gypsy Rhythm with Michael Horowitz
This advanced rhythm workshop will teach you the sophisticated harmonic and rhythmic devices used by gypsy jazz legends Django Reinhardt, Bireli Lagrene, Stochelo Rosenberg, etc. You will learn rhythmic techniques such as the Shuffle, Long, Hit, Roll, Triplet, Double Time, Tremolo, and Syncopation. Additionally, you will learn how to instantly reharmonize any jazz tune with the following techniques: Adding Tensions, Tritone Substitution, ii-V subs, Gypsy Style Turn-Arounds, Line Cliches, and Deceptive cadences. Some of the most advanced and beautiful Gypsy style chord shapes will also be demonstrated.
1:00 PM | Zech Hall Patio, WICA
Dan Fair Fanfare
2:00 PM | WICA Mainstage
Pino Noir & Grappelli's Django
6:30 PM | Zech Hall Patio, WICA
The InstaMatiques
7:30 PM | WICA Mainstage
Gismo Graf Quintet
sunday, September 20
10:30 AM | WICA Mainstage
Do’s and Don’ts with Gismo Graf with friends
4:00 PM | WICA Mainstage
Stella Heath & The Nick Lehr Memorial Performer Djam
FESTIVAL LOUNGE
All roads lead to the Festival Lounge! Meet and mingle with the artists, join or listen to the djam sessions, lift a glass at the bar, and enjoy!
Location: Whidbey Island Center for the Arts
HOURS
Wednesday, Thursday: 5pm - 10 pm
Friday, Saturday: Noon - Midnight
Sunday: Noon - 10pm
Join us at the Festival Lounge during the event for the ultimate relaxation and socializing experience. Enjoy free access to the outdoor second stage, a no-host bar, a merchandise tent, and more. Whether you want to meet and mingle with the artists or simply relax with a drink while listening to warm-ups and jam sessions, the Festival Lounge is the place to be.
Food & Drink
Langley’s culinary scene is a celebration of the island’s abundant natural resources and the creativity of its chefs and food artisans. From farm-to-table dining experiences that highlight local produce and seafood to cozy cafes and vibrant farmers’ markets, the food culture here is deeply connected to the land and sea. Eating in Langley is not just about nourishment; it’s an exploration of flavors, traditions, and the innovative spirit that defines the island’s community.
Explore the island
Whidbey Island has to offer plenty of fun things to do: charming seaside towns, unspoiled beaches, world class cuisine, a vibrant arts community and unlimited recreational possibilities!
fairgrounds
Discover the serene fairgrounds campground on Whidbey Island, located at 819 Camano Avenue in Langley, Washington. Easily accessible for long vehicles, the entrance is conveniently positioned at the intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Langley Road/Camano Avenue. Whether you’re coming from the North or South on State Route 525, clear directions ensure a smooth arrival. Enjoy a peaceful stay surrounded by the natural beauty of Whidbey Island.