The first round of nominations for the 2011 Northern California Bluegrass Awards opened at the GOF on August 13th and continues through September 20th. The Northern California Bluegrass Awards honor local, primarly non-touring bands and musicians. NCBS members are eligible to nominate their favorites. Stop by the NCBS booth at Jake’s Brown Barn Festival to fill out a nomination form.

The 2011 Northern California Bluegrass Awards presentation will be part of the Bluegrass on Broadway festival, to be held  January 27-30 in Redwood City.

Two Northern California Bluegrass Awards winners who missed the March 13 Redwood City ceremony due to a schedule conflict will receive their awards plaques at follow-up ceremonies in the South Bay.

Best Bass Player Paul Knight will be honored during the RBA concert in Mountain View this Saturday, April 10. Best Mandolin Player Ed Neff will be honored during his performance Tuesday, April 13 at Sam’s BBQ in San Jose.

The annual awards are determined by vote  of the members of the Northern California Bluegrass Society. To join the Society, click on “Membership” in the left column of this website. The 2011 nomination process will begin at the August 13-15, 2010 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in Tres Pinos and will end in the fall.

Best Male Vocalist (tie) Billy Pitrone performs with his band Bean Creek during the 3rd Annual Northern California Bluegrass Awards ceremony in Redwood City March 13th. The awards are part of Bluegrass On Broadway, a 4-day festival celebrating the art of bluegrass music presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society.

Jim Mintun, Pete Hicks, Billy Pitrone, & Sarah Eblen (Photo: Richard Brooks)

Northern California Bluegrass Awards 2010: Best Guitar Player and (tie for) Best Male Vocalist Yoseff Tucker performs during the ceremony in Redwood City, accompanied by Haley Pexton, part of the March 11-14 NCBS Bluegrass On Broadway Festival. Tucker’s Dalton Mountain Gang also won Best Bluegrass Band.

Haley Pexton & Yoseff Tucker (Photo: Richard Brooks)

Best Female Vocalist A. J. Lee performs at the 2010 Northern California Bluegrass Awards ceremony on March 13, accompanied by her mother Betsy Riger. The program was part of the Northern California Bluegrass Society’s 3rd Annual Bluegrass On Broadway Festival, held in Redwood City March 11-14.

Betsy Riger & A. J. Lee (Photo: Richard Brooks)