Mark your calendar with these key July-October dates of Northern California Bluegrass Society-related events:

JULY

15 — Deadline for last-minute candidate statements in NCBS board election, for publication in the August Bluegrass By The Bay magazine.

16-18 — NCBS Boulder Creek Bluegrass & Old Timey Festival, Summer Edition (formerly, the Brookdale Bluegrass Festival).

21 — NCBS-sponsored Leon Russell Concert.

25 — Last day to purchase discount advance tickets to the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival.

AUGUST

7 — NCBS-sponsored Frankie Nagle CD release party.

11 — Mailed ballots must be received at NCBS PO Box for NCBS board election.

13 — Last day to purchase IBMA World of Bluegrass convention tickets at advance NCBS member price.

13-15 — NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival.

14 — NCBS Board of Directors election.

22 — Last day to purchase discount advance tickets to Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival.

28 — NCBS Johnson Farm Pickin’ Party.

SEPTEMBER

10 – Last day to purchase IBMA World of Bluegrass convention music passes at advance NCBS member price.

10-12 — NCBS Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival.

27-October 3 — IBMA World of Bluegrass convention.

OCTOBER

9 — NCBS Volunteer Party

The July issue of Bluegrass By The Bay is now available in PDF format online in the Members Area. You must be an NCBS member who has registered on the website to access it.

Subscribers to the paper edition can expect to find copies in their mailbox soon.

The Renaissance Hotel At The Nashville Convention Center

Thinking about skipping the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World Of Bluegrass Convention due to cost considerations? Here is some recession-busting good news from the IBMA.

Northern California Bluegrass Society Members can take advantage of the IBMA decision to “unbundle” a portion of the week’s activities — and save some serious money on a trip to Nashville. Because NCBS is a long-time organizational member of the IBMA, NCBS members can register at the best prices for the convention.

The best value for the week-long convention is the $340 Complete Convention Registration purchased by July 7. However, if your funds are short, the NEW $140 Music Pass will offer admission to the official conference showcases and after-hours showcases all during the week, and to the weekend’s 3-day bluegrass festival Fan Fest. These shows offer the very best of both established and emerging bluegrass acts from around the world — an “Only at IBMA” listening opportunity. Although there is much more to this excellent convention, the Music Pass portion is worth the trip to Nashville. Advance Music Pass deadline is September 10.

The IBMA World Of Bluegrass and Fan Fest runs September 27-October 3 at the Nashville Convention Center. Full convention registration also includes seminars, networking opportunities, the trade show, some meals and many other programs, as well as the musical performances.

How to get the discount: Have current NCBS membership, register for the WOB convention as member of an IBMA Member Organization by the July 7 or September 10 deadlines.

NCBS Membership

The Northern California Bluegrass Society is on Facebook! You can join in by “liking” our page. We LIKE being liked! In a less formal sense, NCBS will like you back, so it’s all good.

Facebook is a free social networking website. After registering, you can easily find the Society page by clicking on the above link or by searching for the “Northern California Bluegrass Society.” What won’t work as well is searching for “NCBS” — there are plenty of them on Facebook!

Due to the  BBB Editors (and the rest of us) heading up to Grass Valley this week, the deadline for Candidate Statements for the NCBS Board of Directors August 14, 2010 Election has been extended to June 23, 2010. E-mail (or otherwise submit) to Bluegrass By The Bay ( Editors) bluegrassbythebay (at) gmail (dot) com.