The Tuttle Family and A. J. Lee will perform at a special after-school Ice Cream Concert on Friday afternoon, February 27, at the elegant Young’s Ice Cream Emporium in downtown Redwood City. The show is part of the free NCBS Bluegrass On Broadway Festival, February 26-March 1, 2009. More details soon!

The Northern California Bluegrass Society will present three early-season festivals during a 6-week period in February and March. These events are designed to be convenient and affordable. Make your plans now to enjoy some great bluegrass close to home!

- “San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival,” February 5-14 (SF, Berkeley, Alameda). Many great events with prices running from free to moderate to pricey.

- “Bluegrass On Broadway,” February 26-March 1 (Redwood City). Concerts, bluegrass authors, films, and the Northern California Bluegrass Awards. All free.

- “Brookdale Spring Bluegrass Festival,” March 13-15 (Brookdale, 10 miles north of Santa Cruz). Shows and jamming, Santa Cruz-style! Modest admission charge for all events.

Information about these NCBS events is on this website; more details will be posted as they become available.

The 18th annual RBA concert season rolls into 2009!

Great shows and a great time for all! Refreshments include NorCal’s greatest pies — sweet and savory — and the sound is by the one and only Paul Knight. The venue has been remodeled, and now boasts a new stage, floor, drapes (which helps the sound), and chairs with PADDED SEATS. Tickets for RBA shows are $18/advance, $20/day of show.

At the First Presbyterian Church
1667 Miramonte Avenue at Cuesta Drive, Mountain View
Jamming starts at 5:30 - doors open at 7:00. Shows Start at 8:00
Pie and Coffee - Fine Folks

February 7th, 2009
Claire Lynch Band

Some of The Claire Lynch Band members’ accolades include International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year and two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album (Claire); two IBMA Guitar Player of the Year awards (Jim Hurst); two IBMA Bass Player of the Year awards (Mark Schatz); and two Florida State Championships on both fiddle and mandolin (Jason Thomas). Claire has released six albums on Rounder, plus a half-dozen others, Jim has released six of his own albums and played on many sessions, and Mark has released two albums on Rounder and played on oh, say, another 50 albums.

“Claire Lynch is one of the classiest acts in bluegrass today, capable of turning bonafide classics like Jimmy Martin’s “Hey Lonesome” and the Osborne Brothers’ “Up This Hill And Down” into her own, even as she pays homage to the brilliance of the originals. Her infinitely expressive voice has earned her guest appearances with the likes of Dolly Parton, but it’s best heard in front of her own band — anchored by guitarist Jim Hurst, it also includes fiddle and mandolin player Jason Thomas and redoubtable bassist Mark Schatz, most recently of Nickel Creek. That’s a formidable lineup, and Lynch wisely gives them plenty of room to shine, but in the end, it’s her sensibilities — and talents — that shape the sound into one delicious whole.” Jon Weisberger, The Nashville Scene

For the rest of the 2009 RBA season, see below.

February 28th, 2009
Blue Highway

Winners of 2008 IBMA Awards for Song of the Year (”Through the Window of a Train,” the title track of their most recent release on Rounder) and Dobro Player of the Year (Rob Ickes, winning for the 10th time, making him the most awarded instrumentalist in the history of the IBMA Awards), Blue Highway celebrates a remarkable 15th anniversary together in 2009. They’ve won countless awards and #1 spots in the charts, and their most recent music might be their best. “It’s a testament to its immense talents and friendship that after 14 years together (that) Blue Highway keeps creating music that connects and entertains.” (Ken Tucker, Billboard)

Tim Stafford (guitar), Shawn Lane (mandolin/fiddle), Wayne Taylor (bass), Jason Burleson (banjo) and Rob Ickes (Dobro) combine to form one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass, excelling at every facet of the music, from instrumental dexterity to impeccable vocal interplay to literate, powerful songwriting. “‘Bluegrass supergroup’ may sound like an oxymoron, but you’ve earned the title when you boast five singer-songwriters whose résumés include stints with Earl Scruggs, Alison Krauss, and Ricky Skaggs. Why are these guys super? They can make your heart soar even as it’s breaking.” Bob Cannon, Entertainment Weekly

March 21st, 2009
Mac Martin & the California Travelers

April 25th, 2009
Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands

The Right Hands? Why that’s Tom Rozum, Craig Smith, Todd Phillips and Scott Huffman. You could spend a whole page talking about them!

Tickets are available now at www.RBA.org.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society sponsors all Redwood Bluegrass Associates concerts.

One Week To Go:

- Band applications for the August 7-9, 2009 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival are due on December 31, 2008.

Band Application Form:  <http://scbs.org/pdf/2009BandApplication.pdf>

- Second Round Ballots for the Northern California Bluegrass Awards are also due on December 31, 2008. Final ballots will be due on January 31, 2009. The February 28 awards ceremony will be held at the Bluegrass On Broadway Festival, February 26-March 1, 2009.

Jammers are welcome at the NCBS Bluegrass On Broadway Festival Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009. Sid Lewis from Chico will lead his popular “Jamming 101” workshop on Saturday, February 28 at the free Redwood City event.