Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

Our largest event, the Good Old Fashioned has been held each summer since 1994. It features three wonderful days of California bands on the main stage, as well as hot campground pickers on the side stage between main acts. The GOF is also legendary among festival fans for both the quality and quantity of campground jamming.

The festival takes place on the second weekend in August at Bolado Park, just south of Hollister.  There is a tree-filled, shady campground for tent camping and a spacious meadow for RVs. The weather in August is typically comfortably warm during the day, with nights that range from mild to cold (pack layers!) The GOF is kid friendly, with a Kids on Stage program for budding bluegrass musicians and a wonderfull volunteer-staffed crafts and activities corrall next to the audience area.

Please note that there are absolutely no dogs or pets of any kind permitted at Bolado Park, except for service dogs, which must be in uniform at all times.  Any ticketholders or volunteers who arrive with a pet will not be allowed to enter the festival grounds. To avoid unpleasantness and enjoy your festival, please respect this policy and make other arrangements for your pet.

Handicapped camping spots are available. Please contact Mike Fisher at 831-336-2185 to reserve a spot.

The GOF flier also serves as ticket order form for mail order tickets. Tickets are also available online, in the Members Area for NCBS members or here for non-members.
Applications are now being accepted from bands that would like to play at the 2010 festival.

We always need volunteers to help run the festival. Click here for the volunteer form.

News

Three-Week Reminder: December 31 Is Deadline For Good Old Fashioned Band Applications

Three-Week Reminder: The deadline for band applications for the main stage at the 2012 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is December 31, 2011. The festival features California-based bluegrass bands and is set for the second weekend of August at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).

2012 GOF Band Application

One Month Reminder: 2012 GOF Band Applications Due On December 31

One Month Reminder: The deadline for band applications for the main stage at the 2012 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is December 31, 2011. The 19th GOF festival will be held the second weekend of August at Bolado Park, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).

2012 GOF Band Application

National Broadcast Focuses On NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

The music of the 2011 NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be featured in a national broadcast of Bluegrass Signal being presented on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country.org this week. The program is a rebroadcast of the Peter Thompson radio show from KALW-San Francisco in early August, just before the festival.

Bluegrass Country.org

GOF Program Broadcast Schedule (all times Pacific):

Sunday, November 27 — 7:00pm

Monday, November 28 — 10:00pm

Wednesday, November 30 — 3:00am

Thursday, December 1 — 5:00pm

GOF Program Playlist:

theme -
BILL MONROE & THE BLUE GRASS BOYS: Big Mon (58)/Blue Grass, 1950-1959 (Bear Family)

FLATT & SCRUGGS TRIBUTE BAND: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke/Live at the Freight & Salvage 2/15/11
KITCHEN HELP: Roustabout/Kitchen Help
WINDY HILL: Get In Line Brother/Let’s Go To The Fair

CIRCLE R BOYS: Foggy Mountain Top/Rare Bluegrass Recordings
ALHAMBRA VALLEY BAND: Til The End Of The World Rolls Around/Willow Pass Road
DARK HOLLOW: Someday We’ll Meet Again Sweetheart/2011 Demo

LUKE ABBOTT: Little Sadie/Take Me Home
BEAN CREEK: I Love You & You Don’t Even Know/Nightbird
SUSIE GLAZE & THE HILONESOME BAND: One More Mile/Live From The Freight & Salvage

OMGG: Sunny Side of the Mountain/Obviously Minor Guys & a Gal
SOUTH COUNTY SPECIAL: A Face In the Crowd/Live At the 2010 Brookdale Festival
CALIFORNIA PEARLY BLUE: Cabin On a Mountain/Demo

ROCK RIDGE: Drifter’s Prayer/Drifter’s Prayer
BORDER RADIO: The Other Side of the Door/Americana Brand
SIDESADDLE & CO.: Forever In Our Hearts/Queen For A Day

Six-Week Reminder: GOF Band Applications For August 2012 Are Due By December 31, 2011

Six-Week Reminder: The deadline for applications by bands wishing to perform on the main stage at the 2012 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is December 31, 2011. The 2012 festival will be held  the second weekend of August at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos.

2012 GOF Band Application

Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Set For Thursday-Sunday, August 9-12, 2012

The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s 19th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held Thursday-Sunday, August 9-12, 2012 at Bolado Park, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).