CAMDEN – In what has become tradition and an event to look forward to, K2 Music held another Music After Hours jam Friday, April 28. This time around it was acoustic music, but the jams have seen blues, country and ukulele nights. Musicians, from near and afar, some beginners and some professional, migrate to K2 Music at the end of each month for the much anticipated musical sessions.

Regardless of your level of talent, everyone gets a moment in the spot light. Mac Economy and Harvey Curtis, owners of K2 talked the program's success.

It's a great time," said Curtis. "Acoustic night tonight is just another in the series that we have at the end of each month. We have no idea what next month will be, but we'll decide by the end of next week."

Curtis said the idea for Music After Hours actually came from a friend and customer of the music store.

"He has been a good friend and good customer from way back then we were at Northern Kingdom," said Curtis. "He just came in and said he had some ideas for us, so Mac, he and I sat around throwing ideas for it around, we came up with it, Mac came up with the name and we've been doing it for four years."

Economy said what astounds him is the level of talent of the musicians who attend.

"You just never know who is going to walk through that door," he said. "It could be a basic beginner; we had a guy here tonight who only played on a few songs, but it just made his night because he came and got to be part of something bigger then himself."

No one is rushed, everyone is polite and everyone gets a turn.

"Then there are the guys who have played for years professionally," Economy said. "They are there and they are very kind, but people of all levels participate. We want to make sure everyone gets a chance who wants to play. It's very laid back and it just about having some fun and playing some music."

Curtis said he encourages people to attend even if they only know one chord.

"I told someone today to just show up and play that one chord," he said. "As long as you leave with a smile on your face, that's the thing."

You never know if five people or 25 people will walk through the door.

"Sometimes there's more spectators then musicians and sometimes it's the opposite," said Economy." Sometimes it's like five people and we are like, holy cow, this is the best night ever and other times there's like 25 people and we're like, holy cow, this is the best night ever. It's not about the numbers."

Both Economy and Curtis agreed that Ukulele night is the biggest night for the Music Jam.

"They come out of the woodwork," said Curtis. "People come up from Boothbay and down from Ellsworth. Ukuleles are a big part of our sales here. I sold three of them just today."

Economy said acoustic music is what's happening right now.

"We sell some keyboards, a few electric guitars here and there, bass guitars and a few drum sets," he said. "In the end it's Ukuleles, acoustic guitars and then keyboards as far as sales."

Last year K2 Music held an outdoor country music jam complete with a stage and seating with a dozen bands and performers playing to a parking lot full of spectators. Curtis said they are looking to repeat that.

"Our friend, Fred Thompson, who is a petal steal guitar player, got that whole thing started and it evolved from a Music After Hours event," he said. "We called him up when he came back from Florida and we asked him if he wanted to come over for a country night."

Curtis said at the end of the night they asked Thompson if he wanted to do a concert.

"He said yes and then he said he would put together something," said Curtis. "As soon as he gets back from Florida again this year, we're going to pencil in a date and we'll do it again sometime in August."

Economy said that with summer months coming, they love to have people play in front of the store.

"Anybody who wants to come any day that the weather is good is welcome to stand out there and play," he said. "We don't pay, it's just a chance to play, and sometimes you'll catch me out there just playing music when it's slow."

Curtis said he's heard Economy out front playing and when he stops you all the customers at Scott's Wagon applauding.

"It's an open call for anyone who wants to stand out on our front porch and play, by all means come and play," said Economy, "You would be welcomed."