The Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of Directors has elected officers for the 2011-2012 year. Eric Burman of Bonny Doon is the new president. Mike Russell of San Mateo was re-elected vice-president. Jennifer Kitchen of Redwood City was elected secretary. Dave Williams of Mountain View was re-elected treasurer. The new officers will serve until August 2012.

The board also named Nancie Barker of Morgan Hill and Brenda Hough of San Jose as liaisons to the CBA.

SEPTEMBER

1 — Discount advance ticket mail order deadline (NCBS Member Discount), Bluegrassin’ In The Foothills.

5 — Extended online advance ticket deadline (NCBS Member Discount), Bluegrassin’ In The Foothills.

9 — Discount advance deadline (NCBS Member Discount — IBMA Organizational Member) for IBMA World Of Bluegrass Music Pass.

19 — Deadline for NCBS Member Nominations for Northern California Bluegrass Awards.

22 — Discount advance ticket deadline (NCBS Member Discount), NCBS Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival.

OCTOBER

31 — Independent documentary film submission deadline, NCBS International Bluegrass Music Museum Film Festival.

The annual election for the Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of Directors was held on Saturday, August 13 at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos, CA.

All candidates had prior NCBS board experience. Returning to the board after respective absences of 1 year and 11 years were Brenda Hough of San Jose and Ron Rose of Gilroy. Re-elected were Nancie Barker, Eric Burman, Penny Godlis, Michael Hall, Jennifer Kitchen, Mike Russell, and Dave Williams. Jessica Evans of Santa Cruz was not re-elected. Stewart Evans of Santa Cruz did not run for re-election and will retire after over two years of board service.

The new board will serve until August, 2012.

Joe Weed

Northern California Bluegrass Society Members will receive a discount to the International Bluegrass Music Association online seminar taught  by NCBS member Joe Weed entitled Recording Acoustic Instruments In Your Home Studio this Tuesday, August 16, 2011 (note correct day) at 4:00pm (Pacific Time). Register by contacting (Nancy Cardwell) nancyc (at) ibma (dot) org at IBMA.

Do you have a bluegrass band that’s just getting started, or are you interested in exploring the idea of recording your group to save some money and also just to enjoy the creative experience? This IBMA webinar will focus on how to maximize a small investment and transform living space into effective studio space.

Our presenter will be producer/artist/educator Joe Weed, who has presented similar “live,” immensely popular workshops on this topic at festivals across the country. Joe records acoustic music at his Highland Studios near Los Gatos, California. He has released six albums of his own, produced many projects for independent artists and labels, and does sound tracks for film, TV and museums. His documentary film “The Waltz To Westphalia,” was selected for the 2010 NCBS International Bluegrass Music Museum Film Festival in Redwood City. Read more about Joe Weed.

Regular webinar price: $50; NCBS Member Price: $40. NCBS is an International Bluegrass Music Association member organization and NCBS members receive the discount IBMA member price. Join: NCBS Membership.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society has had another successful year. It remains the nation’s most active regional bluegrass association.

This year, the NCBS Bluegrass On Broadway Festival enjoyed its best attendance, and included the popular Northern California Bluegrass Awards. The BOB’s NCBS International Bluegrass Music Museum Film Festival included 6 excellent films and a personal appearance by two Lousianna-based filmmakers.

The NCBS/SCBS Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair, now 3 decades old, opened the summer festival season with great bands and a nice crowd.  The former Brookdale Bluegrass Festival staged by Eric Burman and his crew is now the NCBS-sponsored Boulder Creek Bluegrass & Old Timey Festival and is held in March, July, and December each year.

The most enjoyable bluegrass weekend of the year is the NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in August, a showcase of our California bluegrass talent, and a gathering of musical friends and family. The event finances the work of the Society throughout the year.

NCBS is a key sponsor of Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival, which found new life this year after losing its original venue. The festival honoring California bluegrass pioneer Jake Quesenberry has moved one month later to the second weekend of October and 3 miles south to Gilroy.

The NCBS San Francisco Bluegrass & Old Time Festival has emerged as one of the nation’s best urban bluegrass festivals, with 10 days of concerts in San Francisco, Alameda, and Marin counties.

The NCBS also sponsored the Old Time Music Campout In The Country in Sebastopol and the PTA Palooza — a huge benefit concert for a local elementary school in Palo Alto. The NCBS-sponsored Johnson Farm Pickin’ Party with the Abbott and Johnson families is a glorious afternoon of music and friends in Boulder Creek.

The NCBS also sponsored and assisted with over a dozen other bluegrass concerts in Aromas,  Berkeley,  Mountain View, and Napa with another planned for San Francisco. NCBS also sponsored two bluegrass-related musicals at the Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma and the Paperwing Theater in Monterey. NCBS-sponsored jams are held throughout the Bay Area and Santa Cruz Area.

The NCBS Website has been substantially upgraded to provide complete information about the Society’s many projects and is updated daily. A new member e-newsletter, The NCBS Bluegrass News is now published each month, or more often if needed. The NCBS Facebook Page provides frequent updates about the organization’s activities and area bluegrass information. Bluegrass By The Bay magazine is available in both print and electronic delivery.

The NCBS National Stolen & Missing Instrument Page on the www.ncbs.us website is a free central-reporting location for theft victims and a service to potential buyers of used instruments. The NCBS offers free Consulting Services to area promoters and bands who need advice.

The NCBS Information Booth carries fliers for all area bluegrass events presented by any promoter or band. The booth was at  approximately 35 events this year.

NCBS members continue to volunteer at the national level with the International Bluegrass Music Association, Leadership Bluegrass, and the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

The Society’s hard-working volunteers and members make it all possible! Thanks for your support!

– Michael Hall, Past President and Content Editor