Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys

The 2012 Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be a four-day event, held August 9-12 at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister). Gates will open at NOON on THURSDAY, August 9.

Thursday afternoon and evening will be reserved for jamming;  stage music will begin on Friday, as in past years. GOF Staff will be the only attendees allowed early entry into the festival.

Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair

Strawberry Spring Music Festival

The month of May will bring NCBS members plenty of bluegrass fun, with festivals every weekend.

Please plan to come on out and join us!

MAY

5 — NCBS/SCBS Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair with Harmony Grits, Abbott Brothers, Bean Creek, Earthquake Country. Noon-5:00pm, Duck Pond Stage, San Lorenzo Park, Santa Cruz. FREE.

Hicks-Dabney Campout

10-13 – Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, various venues, Parkfield.

16 – NCBS Film Festival, Atascadero.

19 — Jamming For Safe Access Festival, Sonoma Valley Moose Lodge, Sonoma.

19-20 — Gilroy Hot Springs Music Festival, Henry Coe State Park, Gilroy.

24-28 — Strawberry Spring Music Festival, Camp Mather, Yosemite.

25-28 — Hicks-Dabney Bluegrass Campout, Bolado Park, Tres Pinos.

Earthquake Country

The 2012 Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair is set for Saturday, May 5, Noon-5:00pm at the Duck Pond Stage in San Lorenzo Park, next to the courthouse in downtown Santa Cruz. The FREE spring gathering has been presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society/Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society every May since 1987.

Attendees will enjoy a great afternoon of music with Bean Creek, The Abbott Brothers, Harmony Grits and Earthquake Country. Information about the upcoming outdoor bluegrass festival season will be available. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnics and plan to enter the raffle with tickets to many of the summer events. Food will be sold.

Mike McKinley and his happy group of volunteers will be there to greet you. And remember — all of your friends will be there!

The Napa Valley Ramblers

Saturday, April 14th was a big day for the Northern California Bluegrass Society.

The first-ever A Day Of Bluegrass hosted by the Golden State Revue and sponsored by NCBS went off without a hitch in St. Helena. The festival mostly featured local Napa Valley bands — a huge boost for the music in an area that has not had a bluegrass festival since the early 1990s!

St. Helena Star Coverage

Loafer's Glory

That evening in Mountain View, NCBS wrapped up its 18th year of sponsorship of the Redwood Bluegrass Associates Fall-Winter-Spring Concert Series with a performance by LA’s Loafer’s Glory. The excellent music was preceded by the tasty annual RBA BBQ Dinner.

Next Up: The FREE Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair on Saturday, May 5.

Thanks for your support!

The Mission City Coffee Roasting Company, a popular acoustic music concert venue in Santa Clara, will close on Sunday April 15, 2012. A musical farewell gathering will be held 5:00-9:00pm.

Over the years, Dick Brundle’s Fiddling Cricket Concerts (and other presenters) have brought numerous folk shows to this excellent venue. The Northern California Bluegrass Society has often helped out with the bluegrass-related performances. The Mission City will be much missed by area fans.

Some of the musicians on the regular Fiddling Cricket roster will play on Sunday evening. A $10 donation is requested. Performers (so far): Dale & Marilyn Barcellos with Larry Weissenborn, Michael McNevin, Michael Stadler, Sherry Austin, Jay Howlett & Rolfe Wyer, George Kincheloe and Marty Atkinson.

Mission City Coffee Roasting Company, 2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara.

Fun: The NCBS A Day Of Bluegrass this Saturday, April 14 is the first bluegrass festival in Napa Valley in over 15 years and will feature some new Napa Valley bands and some great out of town talent. This will be a relaxed, fun bluegrass gathering in a historic St. Helena venue with plenty of time and space for jams. Our gracious hosts, The Golden State Revue, will greet you and your friends!

Band Schedule:

SATURDAY, April 14

10:00 am — Doors open

10:30am — Pickle Creek

11:30 — Napa Valley Ramblers

1:00 — Laura Lind & Searle Whitney (Carter Family Sing & Jam Along)

12:30pm — The Bluegrass Vermin

1:30 — Long Haul

2:30 — Sara Rodenburg

3:30 — Golden State Revue (Host Band)

4:30 — Snap Jackson & The Knock On Wood Players

5:30 — David Thom Band

7:00 — Festival ends

Tickets: Only $15. There will be plenty of tickets at the door.

Venue: The Native Sons Of The Golden West Hall is located at 1313 Spring Street in downtown St. Helena.

Directions: St. Helena is located in the Napa Valley, north of Napa on Highway 29. Coming from the south, turn left on Spring Street. 1313 Spring Street is about 2 blocks down on the left.

Weather: A beautiful day in the Napa Valley — Sunny. High 66, Low 42.

Food: You are welcome to bring your own food and drink if you like. Food service will be available onsite, plus the charming eateries of downtown St. Helena await us.

Lodging: There are a number of small inns and motels near the festival location.

Fine Local Wineries: Yes.

Information: The NCBS Information Booth will be there to let you know about upcoming bluegrass events.

This is going to be fun — come on out and join us!

The Golden State Revue

The Northern California Bluegrass Society will present these summer 2012 festivals for your enjoyment. More information can be found on this website.  Ya’ll come!

April 14 — A Day Of Bluegrass

The Driftless

Native Sons Of The Golden West Hall, 1313 Spring Street, St. Helena. 10::00am-7:00pm. Presented by the Golden State Revue & sponsored by the NCBS. Snap Jackson & The Knock On Wood Players, The David Thom Band, Golden State Revue, Sara Rodenberg, The Bluegrass Vermin, Long Haul, & Pickle Creek, Laura Lind & Searle Whitney. First bluegrass festival in the Napa Valley in over 15 years.

May 5 – Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair

FREE. Duck Pond Stage, San Lorenzo Park, next to the courthouse in downtown Santa Cruz. Noon-5:00pm. Presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society/Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society. The Abbott Brothers, Bean Creek, Earthquake Country, Harmony Grits. Food, Raffle. Since 1987.

May 16 – Bluegrass Film Festival

FREE. 9190 Harvest Way, Atascadero. (805) 365.7111. 7:00-10:00pm. The 3-hour version of the longer January festival in Redwood City will come to the Central Coast. Presented by Roger & Rosemary Siminoff & NCBS. First time event.

July 13-15 – Summer Boulder Creek Bluegrass & Old Timey Festival

Scopazzi’s Restaurant & other venues in downtown Boulder Creek. Presented by Eric Burman & Brookdale Bluegrass & sponsored by NCBS. Cactus Bob & Prairie Flower, The Juncos, Common Cents, The String Slingers, The Driftless, and more. Formerly held at the now-closed Brookdale Lodge. Since 1998.

The Central Valley Boys

August 9-12 – Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

Bolado Park, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister). A benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society. 27strings, Abbott Brothers, Amazing Dr. Zarcon’s Breathing Machine, Bean Creek, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, Border Radio, Carr Creek Crossing, Central Valley Boys, Circle R Boys, Common Cents, David Thom Band, Earthquake Country, Faux Renwah, Highway 65, Highway One, Houston Jones, Hydra-Matic Drive, JEDD Brothers, Kids on Stage, Lampel Brothers, Oak Grove, Sidesaddle & Co., Sidetrack, South County Special, Susie Glaze & The Hilonesome Band. Since 1994.

Coming in the Fall: October 12-14 – Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Reunion, Gilroy.

Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair

Your design can be on the 2012 Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival T-Shirts! (And you can win valuable prizes!)

Six-Week Reminder: T- Shirt designs are due by May 31, 2012.

Complete Contest Details