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.

A bit of housekeeping: The NCBS/SCBS Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair will remain an early MAY event, and will still be our glorious celebration of springtime and the kick-off of the outdoor festival season. It will no longer also celebrate bluegrass month. We look forward to the creation of new fall-related bluegrass month traditions, both locally and internationally. Meanwhile, the coming month is crowded with bluegrass events. See you where the music is!

If you’re not yet an NCBS member, please join us. Besides the Bluegrass by the Bay newsletter, members also receive discounts on many events sponsored by NCBS and our sister organizations, and help to support local bluegrass music.

The Plymouth Kids On Stage.

The members of the Northern California Bluegrass Society will be out enjoying the biggest crop of bluegrass festivals of the entire year during the month of September. Plus, beginning this year, September (not May!) is Worldwide Bluegrass Month. It’s time for some musical fun. Here is where you can join us:

Inside Jake's Barn (Photo: Dick Estill)

2-6 —  Strawberry Fall Music Festival, Camp Mather, Yosemite.

8-12 – Berkeley Old Time Music Convention, downtown Berkeley.

10-12 — Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival, San Martin-Ludewig Ranch Park, San Martin, sponsored by NCBS.

Under the Old Time Bluegrass parachute in Lower Lake.

11 — Old Time Bluegrass Festival, Anderson Marsh State Historical Park, Lower Lake.

17-19 — Bluegrassin’ In The Foothills, Amador County Fairgrounds, Plymouth.

Music In The Eastern Sierras.

17-19 — Millpond Music Festival, Millpond Park, Bishop.

17-19 — American River Music Festival, various venues (near) Folsom.

18-19 – Julian Lions Banjo & Fiddle Music Festival, Julian.

24-26 — Hobb’s Grove Bluegrass Festival, Hobb’s Grove, Sanger.

24-25 – Old Grove Festival, Armstrong Redwoods State Park, Guerneville.

25 – Pickin’ On Pinot — Bluegrass In The Vineyard, Goldeneye Winery, Philo, sponsored by NCBS.

27-October 3 — International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention, Nashville Convention Center, Nashville, TN.

Looking ahead to October:

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (October 1-3), SNBA Logandale Festival (October 8-10), NCBS Volunteer Party (October 9), CBA Fall Campout (October 15-17).

American River Kids.

The Dillards -- Dean Webb, Mitch Jayne, Doug Dillard & Rodney Dillard -- are inducted into the Bluegrass Hall Of Fame at the 2009 IBMA World Of Bluegrass.

The farm has plenty of shady jamming space, picnic tables, and the friendly members of the Johnson Family. The friendly members of the Abbott Family will be ready to jam with you!

Cost: FREE.

Date & Time: Saturday, August 28, 2010, Noon-7:00pm.

Bring: (All optional) Instruments, Friends, A Picnic, Chairs.

Location: The Johnson Farm, 16385 Two Bar Road, Boulder Creek, CA.

Directions from Los Gatos: Highway 17 South to Scotts Valley. Take the Mt. Hermon Rd. exit and turn right. Go all the way into Felton where it dead-ends. Turn right. Immediately, make another right on Highway 9. Take Highway 9 to Boulder Creek. At the stop sign in Boulder Creek, continue on Highway 9 for another mile and Two Bar Road will be on your right. Follow the signs!

Directions from Santa Cruz: Highway 17 North to Scotts Valley. Take the Mt. Hermon Rd. exit and continue straight until it dead-ends in Felton. Turn right. Immediately, make another right on Highway 9. Take Highway 9 to Boulder Creek. At the stop sign in Boulder Creek, continue on Highway 9 for another mile and Two Bar Road will be on your right. Follow the signs!

Nice Weather: Mostly Sunny, Afternoon High 69 Degrees. (Bring along a jacket.)

And remember…All of your friends will be there!

(Presented by the Abbott & Johnson Families and the Northern California Bluegrass Society.)

28 — Johnson Farm Pickin’ Party, Boulder Creek.

SEPTEMBER

10-12 — Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival, San Martin.

20 — Last day to nominate Bands and Musicians for 2011 Northern California Bluegrass Awards.

25 — Pickin’ On Pinot — Bluegrass In The Vineyard, Goldeneye Winery, Philo (sponsored by NCBS).

27-October 3 — IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Nashville.

OCTOBER

9 — NCBS Volunteer Party.

23 — RBA The Tuttles With A. J. Lee Concert, Mountain View.

25 — Last day to submit independent documentary films for 2011 Bluegrass On Broadway Film Festival.

NOVEMBER

6 – RBA Blue Highway Concert, Mountain View.

DECEMBER

3-5 — Brookdale Bluegrass Festival, Brookdale & Boulder Creek.

4 — RBA Frankie Nagle & Primary Colors Concert, Mountain View.

31 — Band applications due for 2011 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival.

The FREE gathering is presented by the Johnson Family, the Abbott Family, and the Northern California Bluegrass Society.

Time: Noon-7:00pm. Location: 16385 Two Bar Road, 1 mile north of Boulder Creek on Highway 9. The Johnson Farm is 1 3/4 miles up Two Bar Road on the left. Bring (all optional): Friends, instruments, food & drink.

Tradition: Luke & Kyle Abbott always kick off the first jam in the tiny playhouse “barn,” seen and heard around the world on YouTube.