Mention the words jam band to anyone and it usually conjures up the image of mellow longhairs The Grateful Dead, Little Feat and The Allman Brothers locked into an endless groove or, if you're really unlucky, Jools Holland assisting hot new bands with a spot of piano-boogie meandering. Well Leeds, your preconceptions are about to be trampled on.
Meet and Jam is usually found online helping musicians connect with each other in the digital realm – replacing the old 'need drummer' classified ads found in the music press and putting bands in touch with studios – but on Friday February 6 they're putting faces to names and coaxing musical spods out of their bedrooms and onto stages across the country.
They're bringing house bands, armed with a bag of well-known contemporary pop tunes, to venues in London, Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle and, most importantly, The Fox and Newt in Leeds for a modern-day jam session. The idea is simple: if you want to join in, you're very, very welcome. In fact, they demand it. Entry is completely free and the band strike up at 7pm.
If you still feel sheepish, forget the old hackneyed cliche that open mics and jams are deeply uncool. Mercury nominee Kate Tempest was a regular at open mics, as were Adele, Ed Sheeran and a legion of other big names. And you never know who'll be watching and taking notes.
The Fox and Newt, 9 Burley Street.