Tomorrow's Bluegrass Signal -- 4:00-5:30 pm on KALW, 91.7 FM in Bay Area -- presents musical previews of upcoming events in the Bay Area and around Northern California, including those with Molly Tuttle, Peter Rowan, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Billy Strings, The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion, David Nelson, BOTMC performers, Infamous Stringdusters, Martha Spencer, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Stairwell Sisters (reunion), The Evie Ladin Band, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, and Hannah Mayree. R.I.P., Dolly.



Aug. 28, 2026

Greetings -

Welcome to your more-or-less monthly newsletter listing the bluegrass and old time music events in our region -- and providing information about Bluegrass Signal, the weekly radio program on KALW (Sat., 4-5:30 pm, 91.7 FM) and syndicated via Bluegrass Country.

Thanks for sending me (via bgsignal@comcast.net) additions and corrections regarding upcoming concerts, festivals, jams, instructional opportunities, and other events of interest to the community. Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for constantly-updated event listings and radio show playlists, as well as a number of other items and articles which you might enjoy.

I’m still hoping to add aspiring Producer/Hosts to the group of current DJs for Bluegrass Signal. Please contact me (via bgsignal@comcast.net) if you have any interest in presenting bluegrass and old time music on the radio. No experience needed!

Scroll to the end of this newsletter for some excellent bluegrass-related news!

I hope you can hear and/or play some music soon -

PeterT

CONCERTS & a couple dances

Aug. 28: Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band - Rancho Nicasio

Aug. 28: Deep Thicket Dwellers - Smiley's Saloon, Bolinas

Aug. 28 (4th Friday this month): East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; ​​band: Round Top Stringband; caller: Robin Fischer; preceded by an old time jam​

Aug. 29 (11:30 am): Hey Lonesome - Salesforce Park, SF

Aug. 29 (2 pm): Windy Hill - PV Palooza, Portola Valley Town Center

Aug. 29 (2 pm): Frog Face - Headlands Brewery, Walnut Creek

Aug. 29 (5:30 pm): Taylor Mountain - Wonderland Pizzeria, Monte Rio

Aug. 29: Charlie Torch - The Otter Opry, Monterey

Aug. 29: Bay Area Special - Murphys Irish Pub, Murphys

Aug. 29: Tara Firma Farms Barndance, Petaluma; music: International SuperModal, caller: Evie Ladin

Aug. 30 (1 pm): Taylor Mountain - The California, Santa Rosa​

Aug. 30: The Far Out Johnnies - The Riptide, SF

Aug. 30: Thompsonia (with special guest Frannie Leopold) - KZYX Summer Music Festival, Caspar Community Center

Aug. 31: Hey Lonesome - Blondies, SF

*******

Sept. 1 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

Sept. 1: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

Sept. 2: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

Sept. 3: Hannah Mayree - The Record, Point Arena

Stillhouse Junkies -

- Sept. 3: Smiley's Saloon, Bolinas

- Sept. 4 (10 am): Huckleberry Jam, Mendocino

Sept. 3: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Sept. 3: Significant Otter - The Liberties, SF

Evie Ladin Band -

- Sept. 3: OddFellows Hall, Davis

- Sept. 4: house concert in SF; debaddad-at-gmail-dot-com

- Sept. 5: Flipjack Ranch, Bonny Doon

Sept. 4: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma 

Sept. 5 (11:30 am): Critical Grass - Salesforce Park, SF

Sept. 5 (4 pm): Sidesaddle & Co. (w/ Sonia Shell) - Los Altos Hills Hoedown at the Westwind Community Barn; one set, followed (at 5:15 pm) by a dance

Sept. 7: Twang Peaks - Blondies, SF

Sept. 8 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

Sept. 8: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

Peter Rowan -

- Sept. 10: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma

- Sept. 12: Golden State Theatre, Monterey

Sept. 10: David Nelson Band (with Suzy & Eric Thompson, Lowell 'Banana' Levinger, Paul Knight); Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band - The Sweetwater, Mill Valley; a benefit for the After School Bluegrass Club Program

Sept. 10: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Sept. 10: The Nesters - The Liberties, SF

Sept. 11: Feral Friday Square Dance - The Polish Club, SF; KC & the MooNshine Band; caller TBA; preceded (6:45 pm) by old time jam

Sept. 11: Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band; Evie Ladin Band; Pacific Drive - Sebastopol Community Cultural Center; a benefit for Walker Creek Music Camp

Sept. 12 (11:30 am): Bluegrass Holiday - Salesforce Park, SF

Sept. 12: The New Acoustic Collective Quintet - The Waterwheel Saloon, Sonora

Sept. 12: The Nell & Jim & Kalei Trio - Side Door, Sacramento

​Sept. 13 (3 pm): Taylor Mountain - Smiley's Saloon, Bolinas 

Sept. 13 (5:00 pm): Scott Gates & Friends (Yosef Tucker, Zach Sharpe) - The Fox Den, Oakland; res: send $35 to https://paypal.me/FoxDenPiedmont (state "friends and family Gates" to avoid fees and provide email address)

Sept. 13: Stairwell Sisters (reunion) - 5th Street Farms, Berkeley * SOLD OUT *

Sept. 14: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondies, SF

Sept. 15 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

Infamous Stringdusters; Silas Herman & The Tone Unit -

- Sept. 15: Center for the Arts, Grass Valley

- Sept. 16: The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park

Sept. 17: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Sept. 17: Critical Grass - The Liberties, SF

Sept. 19 (11:30 am): Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band - Salesforce Park, SF

Sept. 19 (noon): Sweet Sally - Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival, Templeton

Sept. 19: The New Acoustic Collective Quintet - Wu Wei Tea Temple, Fairfax

Martha Spencer (with Lucas Pasley) - 

- Sept. 19: Crooked House concerts, Auburn; crookedconcerts-at-gmail-dot-com

- Sept. 20: The Back Room, Berkeley

- Sept. 23: Otter Opry, Monterey

Sept. 21: The Deep Thicket Dwellers - Blondies, SF

Sept. 22 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

Sept. 23: Tommy Emmanuel; Jack Tuttle & Scott Gates - The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper -

- Sept. 23: Center for the Arts, Grass Valley

- Sept. 24: The Freight, Berkeley

Sept. 24: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Sept. 24: Rare Company - The Liberties, SF

Sept. 25 (4th Friday this month): East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; ​Band: Round Top Stringband; Caller: Connor Maguire; ​preceded by an old time jam​

Eric & Suzy Thompson -

- Sept. 25: Folsom Opry, Folsom; john-at-shaunv-dot-com

- Sept. 26: house concert in Davis

​Sept. 26 (11:30 am): Burl Haggard - Salesforce Park, SF

Sept. 26: The New Acoustic Collective - Side Door, Sacramento​

Sept. 28: The High Water Line - Blondies, SF

Molly Tuttle -

- Sept. 29: Bing Concert Hall, Stanford

- Sept. 30: Warnors Theater, Fresno; with Lukas Nelson

Sept. 29 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF ​

Sept. 29: KALW’s Birthday Benefit Concert - The Warfield Theatre, SF; with BADBADNOTGOOD, Digable Planets, Rozzi, and KALW DJ Wonway Posibul

Sept. 30 (1 pm): Evie Ladin Band; Anna Levitt - Music Alive series at El Bethel Arms, SF

*****

​Oct. 1: An Evening Honoring Steve Earle - The Masonic, SF; musical director: Buddy Miller with Reckless Kelly, featuring Greg Liesz; performers include Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Molly Tuttle, Shawn Camp, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Victoria Williams, Elizabeth Cook, Stacey Earle, and … Steve Earle; Proceeds to benefit Sweetwater Spectrum, presented by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Oct. 1: The Whiskey Squirrels - The Liberties, SF

Oct. 2: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – The Fillmore, SF

​Oct. 2: AJ Lee & Blue Summit - Sweetwater, Mill Valley; Bandits On the Run open

Oct. 2: Billy Strings - Oakland Arena

Oct. 3: Old Crow Medicine Show - Sweetwater, Mil Valley; Ismay opens * SOLD OUT *

Oct. 5: Smoky Wine Dream - Blondies, SF

Oct. 9: Crooked Jades - McCloud River Mountain Music Series

Oct. 10: Hannah Mayree - Couchdate, Oakland

Oct. 12: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondies, SF​

Sister Sadie -

- Oct. 14: The Freight, Berkeley

- Oct. 15: Hopmonk Sebastopol

Oct. 15: Nathan Stanley & Constant Sorrow - The Back Room, Berkeley

Oct. 16: Bronwyn (Keith-Hynes); Charlie Torch - HopMonk Sebastopol

Sam Grisman Project -

- Oct. 17: Siesta Valley Bowl, Orinda

- Oct. 18: Hangtime Music Festival, Placerville



Oct. 18 (4 pm): "Suzy Sings Siebel" w/ Eric & Suzy Thompson - St. Albans Church, Albany 

The Jerry Douglas Band -

- Oct. 20: The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park

- Oct. 21: Felton Music Hall

Hannah Mayree - 

- Oct. 21: The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz

- Oct. 22: The Ivy Room, Albany

- Oct. 23: The Pearl, Walnut Grove

Sarah Jarosz - 

- Oct. 22: Golden State Theatre, Monterey; Sean Watkins opens

- Oct. 23: Uptown Theatre, Napa; Sean Watkins opens

Newberry & Verch -

- Oct. 28: house concert in Mountain View; sv-dot-houseconcerts-at-gmail.com 

- Oct. 29: The Back Room, Berkeley

- Oct. 30: Otter Opry, Monterey

AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Broken Compass -

- Oct. 30: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico

​- Oct. 31: The Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

​

Oct. 31: Lord of the Rings Halloween Square Dance - Ashkenaz;

band: Denethor's Supper (Skillet Licorice); callers: Evie Ladin & Robin Fischer

Nov. 3: Dirk & Amelia Powell - The Freight, Berkeley

Nov. 6: My Darling Clementine - The Back Room, Berkeley

California Bluegrass Reunion (Bill Evans + Sharon Gilchrist, Chad Manning, Jim Nunally, Mike Witcher, and Max Schwartz) - 

- Nov. 11: Otter Opry - United Methodist Church, Monterey

- Nov. 13: The Hopmonk, Sebastopol

- Nov. 14: The Freight, Berkeley

- Nov. 15: The Side Door, Sacramento

Nov. 15: Hannah Mayree - Unitarian Universalists Church, Petaluma

Nov. 21: Two Runner - Center for the Arts, Grass Valley

Dec. 5: The Crooked Jades - Otter Opry, Monterey

Dec. 10: The Fretliners - The Freight, Berkeley

Dec. 19: Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band - HopMonk Tavern, Novato

~~~ 2027 ~~~

Feb. 9: Rhiannon Giddens - Fillmore, SF

Feb. 12: Lonesome Ace Stringband duo (John Showman & Chris Coole) - Otter Opry, Monterey

April 10: Nathan Stanley & Constant Sorrow - Otter Opry, Monterey

FESTIVALS

Sept. 16-20: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention - Berkeley

Wed (9/16) 

Kick off square dance - Ashkenaz

Music: The Canote Brothers and Forty Drop Few + round robin callers

Thurs (9/17)

1:00 pm: Open jam; for location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam-at-gmail-dot-com

Workshops, Jams & Concert at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

  • Workshops (4pm): Southwest Fiddle (Elliot Kennedy) and Classic Banjo (Ethan Francis)

  • Two hosted jams: 4pm @ Starry Plough next door / 5:30 @ La Peña

  • Concert (7 pm): Joseph Decosimo & Stephanie Coleman; Brandon Godman Stringband; the new cohort of the Black Banjo Fiddle Fellowship: Samaria Marley, Shanice Richards, Sam Wilkins, Genell Zuciya

Fri (9/18)

1:00 pm: Open jam; for location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam-at-gmail-dot-com

Workshops, Jams & Concert at The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley

  • Workshops at 4 pm: 2-Finger Banjo (Joseph Decosimo); Fiddle (Stephanie Coleman); Ukelele (Jere Canote)

  • Hosted (by Jere & Greg Canote) jam at 5:00 pm outside The Freight

Concert (7 pm): Alice Gerrard with Reed Stutz & Suzy Thompson; Justin Robinson with Aaron Cooper; Forty Drop Few

Sat (9/19)

Concert, panel discussion, stringboard contest at the Berkeley Central Library 

  • 10:15 am on the 4th Floor: Family Concert with the Canote Brothers

  • 10:30 am on the 2nd Floor: Black Old Time Musicians Panel Discussion, moderated by Darcy Ford-James

  • 12 noon on the 2nd Floor: String Band Contest

  • 1:00 pm in the teen room on the 1st Floor: youth jam, hosted by members of the Manning Mud Stompers

  • time TBA in the Community Meeting Room, 3rd Floor: Book reading by Alice Gerrard - Custom Made Woman: A Life in Traditional Music

  • 2:00 pm on the 5th Floor: Old time open jam hosted by TBA

• 4:00 pm: Open jam; for location, email BOTMCAfternoonJam-at-gmail-dot-com

• 7:00 pm: Square Dance Party - Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley

music: Skillet Licorice; Justin Robinson & Aaron Cooper; Joseph Decosimo, Stephanie Coleman & friends; callers: Janine Smith; Evie Ladin 

• 6:00 pm: Deep Cut Dance for Those That Know Their Stuff - tricky squares w/ Janine

• 7:30 pm: Clogging workshop with Evie Ladin

• Open jamming in the back room: (8 pm) Song circle hosted by Mark Olson & Penny Critchlow; (9 pm) Jam hosted by Forty Drops Few

Sun (9/20)

Workshops and family dance at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley

  • 11:00 am - family dance; all dances taught and called by caller Janine Smith; music by Manning Mud Stompers​  

  • Workshops at 11 am: Fiddle (Greg Canote) and How to be Rooted in Tradition - all instruments (Justin Robinson​)

  • Workshops at 12:30 pm: ​Back Up Guitar (Candra Edwards) and Fiddle (Joseph Decosimo)

2-5 pm: Open jamming at Ohlone Park

• 2:00 pm: Friendly jam hosted by Robin Fischer & Rowan McAllister

• ​2:00 pm: Shred Sesh hosted by TBA​​​

Oct. 2-4: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival - Golden Gate Park, SF

Aaron Lee Tasjan, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott String Band, DUG, El Khat, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Hiss Golden Messenger, Hot Tuna Acoustic, Ismay, Jesse Welles, A Tribute to Joe Ely with the Flatlanders & Friends, John Craigie with the Coffis Brothers, Kam Franklin, Kathleen Edwards, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Mama's Broke, Molly Tuttle, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show, Reckless Kelly, Shawn Camp, Sierra Hull, Stacey Earle, Steve Earle & the Hardly Strictly Dukes, Tyler Ballgame, Yasmin Williams and William Tyler, ...

Oct. 2-4: Huck Finn Jubilee - Bonelli Bluffs, San Dimas (30 miles east of Los Angeles)

Oct. 15-18: Strawberry Fall Music Festival - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley

FALL 2026 STRAWBERRY IS CANCELLED.

JAM SESSIONS

JAM SESSIONS

SPENCE PRESENTS: Bluegrass Jam Series (7-11 pm); schedule:

7-8 pm: open jam; 8-9 pm: house band; 9-11 pm: open jam - except as noted

- Tuesdays: Woodhouse Brewing; 5-7 pm: open jam, ff by band performances

- 4th Tuesdays: Ashkenaz, Berkeley; Sept. 22: Redwood Flat

- 1st & 3rd Thursdays: Papermill Creek Saloon, Forest Knolls

- 2nd & 4th Thursdays: Peri’s, Fairfax

- 1st Fridays: Smiley’s Saloon, Bolinas

NOTE: the future of all these area jams is uncertain; check before attending.

Sept. 11 (5 pm): Bay Area Banjo Meet Up - The Freight, Berkeley

Sept. 27-30: JAMboree - Ruhstaller Farm, Dixon

Oct. 5-11: CBA Fall Campout - Lodi Grape Festival & Harvest Fairgrounds

Sept. 28, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Nov. 30 (7:30 pm): Community Mondays: Country/Bluegrass Jam with Richard Brandenberg - The Freight, Berkeley

Nov. 5-8: CBA's South State 48 - Carlsbad

REGULAR EVENTS

Sundays (4 pm): The Lucky Horseshoe, SF - performance jam led by house band; info: aaronzorndorf-at-californiabluegrass-dot-net

Sundays (6 pm): Tam Jam - invitational jam at Taste of Rome, 1000 Bridgeway, Sausalito

​Sundays (6 pm): Old Time Fiddle Jam - Two Rivers Cider, Sacramento

First Sundays (12 pm): Old Time Jam - Ely Stage Stop, Soda Bay Rd., Kelseyville; host/info: drcoffin-at-att-dot-net

First Sundays (1 pm): Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association - Hoover Middle School, Naglee & Park, San Jose

First Sundays (3 pm): Barbary Bluegrass jam - Belle Cora, 565 Green St., SF; host/info: inakabee-at-gmail-dot-com

First Sundays (3 pm): North Bay Old Time Music Sessions - Church of the Oaks, Cotati; ​host/info: heidi-dot-chesney-at-gmail-dot-com​

Second & Fourth Sundays (3 pm): Bernal Heights Old Time Jam - Progressive Grounds Cafe, Cortland and Bennington Sts., SF

Third Sundays (1 pm): SCVFA jam - South Bay/Peninsula parks (changes each month, cancelled if rain

Jan., May, Sept.: Washington Park, Sunnyvale

Feb., June, Oct.: Shoup Park, Los Altos

March, July, Nov.: Municipal Rose Garden, San Jose

April, Aug., Dec.: Mitchell Park, Palo Alto

Third Sundays (2 pm): Shred Sesh (old time jam) - The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; different host each month 

​Third Sundays (2:30 pm): Sebastopol Bluegrass Jam - Sebastopol Center For the Arts; info/host: redpencil-at-sonic-dot-net

Third Sundays (3 pm): Progressive Grounds Cafe, 400 Cortland St., SF

Fourth Sundays (noon): Marin Bluegrass Sessions - The Sweewater, Mill Valley; host/info: bruce-dot-sadownick-at-gmail-dot-com

Fourth Sundays (1:30 pm): California State Old-Time Fiddlers District 9 bluegrass and old time jams - United Methodist Church, Castro Valley; info: steve-dot-goldfield-at-gmail.com 

Fourth Sundays (3 pm): Redwood Cafe, Cotati; info: davidacarlson62-at-hotmail-dot-com

Fifth Sundays (1 pm): Sebastopol Grange Hall; info: socofoso-at-gmail-dot-com

Final Sundays (4 pm): Bluegrass jam - Drake’s Barrel House, 1933 Davis St., San Leandro; info: geoffreysargent-at-gmail-dot-com

Mondays (6:30 pm) open jam, followed (at 8:30 pm) by band performance - Blondie's, 540 Valencia St., SF; host/info: woodylauer-at-gmail-dot-com

Aug. 31: Hey Lonesome

Sept. 7: Twang Peaks

Sept. 14: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion

Sept. 21: The Deep Thicket Dwellers

Sept. 28: The High Water Line

Oct. 5: Smoky Wine Dream

Oct. 12: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion

Monday (7 pm): South Bay (Mostly) Old Time Jam - Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 E. Charleston Rd., Palo Alto

First Monday (6 pm): The Garage Jam - Out West Roadhouse, 321-2nd St., Petaluma; host/info: tedkuster-at-californiabluegrass-dot-net​

Second & Fourth Mondays (6:30 pm): Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma; info: tedkuster-at-californiabluegrass-dot-net

Tuesdays (6:30 pm): Point Jam - invitational jam at Hotel Mac, 50 Washington Ave., Point Richmond

Tuesdays (6:30 pm): Morgan Hill Grange

Tuesdays (7 pm): Hotel Utah, SF; host/info: woodylauer-at-gmail-dot-com

Tuesdays (7 pm): Old time jam

- odd Tues: Plough & Stars, SF; host/info: dinahbeatrice-at-gmail-dot-com

- even Tues: Zoom jam; steve-dot-goldfield-at-gmail.com for Zoom link and add'l info

First Tuesday (7 pm): Bluegrass Jam - Occidental Center for the Arts

Second & Fourth Tuesdays (6:30 pm): Dublin Heritage Center Park (usually in the Old Schoolhouse), Dublin; bob-dot-gisler-at-icloud-dot-com

Third Tuesday (5:30 pm): old time tune jam with Tony Phillips - 5th floor, Berkeley Public Library Central Branch; co-sponsored by BOTMC

Fourth Tuesdays (6:30 pm): Baygrass Collective Bluegrass Jam - Cato's Ale House, 3891 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; host/info: cheney-dot-munson-at-gmail-dot-com

Wednesdays (6:00 pm): East Bay Bluegrassers Jam - Rockin' Robbie's Music Store, 2nd Fl, 11231 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito; host/info: eastbaybluegrassers-at-gmail-dot-com

Wednesdays (6:00 pm): Hop Jam - invitational jam at Hop Dogma Brewing Co., 270 Capistrano Rd., Half Moon Bay

First & Third Wednesdays (6 pm): Grape Jam - invitational jam at Redwood Cafe, 8240 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati

3rd Wednesdays: old time jam - Winters Tavern, Pacifica

Thursdays (7 pm): Java Jam - invitational jam at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 W Main St., LG

Thursdays (7 pm): United Methodist Church, Monterey

Thursdays (7:45 pm): jam followed (at 9 pm) by band performance - The Liberties, 998 Guerrero St., SF; host/info: woodylauer-at-gmail-dot-com 

Sept. 3: Significant Otter

Sept. 10: The Nesters

Sept. 17: Critical Grass

Sept. 24: Rare Company

Oct. 1: The Whiskey Squirrels

First & Third Thursdays (7:30 pm): Marin Lutheran Church, 649 Meadowsweet Ave., Corte Madera; host/info: loew-at-comcast-dot-net

Second and Fourth Thursdays (6:00 pm): Old time music jam - Atlas Cafe, 3049 20th St. (at Alabama), SF; host/info: dzimej-at-gmail-dot-com

Fifth Thursdays (7 pm): Sonoma County Bluegrass Sessions: open jam with host band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma; host/info: tedkuster-at-californiabluegrass-dot-net

Saturdays (5:30 pm): Taco Jam - invitational jam at Baja Taqueria, 4070 Piedmont Ave., Oakland

Second Saturdays (11 am): Lucas Valley Old Time Jam - Rotary Village Community Center, San Rafael; everevolving-at-earthlink-dot-net

Second Saturdays (12 pm): Bluegrass Train Jam - Santa Clara Depot, 1005 Railroad Ave, SC; host/info: kennedymk-at-comcast-dot-net

Second Saturdays (4 pm): Baygrass Collective Bluegrass Jam - Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

Third Saturdays (1 pm): Americana slow jam - Liberties Bar, 998 Guerrero St., SF; deirdre-dot-cassandra-dot-music-at-gmail-dot-com​

NOTE: happening outside (weather permitting)



INSTRUCTION

ONLINE INSTRUCTION

Sept. 5 (11 am): Dom Flemons’ Mexican-American Roots & the Celebration of Lalo Guerrero - via The Freight

In advance of The Freight's Lalo Guerrero ("Father of Chicano Music") Legacy Festival on November 6-7. Dom’s virtual exploration of Mexican and Chicano musical heritage is presented with his wife/creative collaborator Vania Kinard.

First Saturday (10 am): Black Banjo Reclamation Project Online Study Group

Fall I series of online classes at The Freight, Berkeley, runs from Sept. 8 - Oct. 16, and includes:

• Cool, Easy Songs For Your Jam Repertoire with Richard Brandenburg (Tuesdays, 9/8-10/13, 7:00 pm)

• Introduction To Mountain Dulcimer with DJ Hamouris (Wednesdays, 9/9-10/14, 5:30 pm)

Next session of Fiddles at Four w/ Suzy Thompson on Zoom TBA

IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION

Mondays (2:30 pm): Bluegrass Harmony Singing with Avram Siegel - Manning Music, Berkeley; avram-at-avramsiegel-dot-com

Wednesday & Thursday evenings: Bluegrass Jam Classes with Avram Siegel - Manning Music, Berkeley; avram-at-avramsiegel-dot-com

Fall I series of in-person classes at The Freight, Berkeley, runs from Sept. 8 - Oct. 16, and includes:

• Beginning Fiddle with Erik Hoffman (Thursdays, 9/10-10/15, 5:30 pm)

• Fiddle Repertoire & Theory with Erik Hoffman (Thursdays, 9/10-10/15, 7:00 pm)

• Good, Basic Flatpicking Rhythm Guitar with Richard Brandenburg (Thursdays, 9/10-10/15, 7:00 pm)

• Jams Well With Others! with Richard Brandenburg (Thursdays, 9/10-10/15, 8:30 pm)

Sept. 19-20: Wernick Method Jam Camp with Mike & Gail Thomas - Hollister

Oct. 8-9: Wernick Method Jam Camp with Mike & Gail Thomas - Lodi

(Fall Campout)

Jan. 14-16: Wernick Method Jam Camp with Mike & Gail Thomas - Bakersfield

(Great 48)

Jan. 15-18: Wernick Method Weekend Jam Camp with David Abramson - Davis

BERKELEY OLD TIME MUSIC CONVENTION WORKSHOPS:

Sept. 17 (4 pm): La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

Southwest Fiddle (Elliot Kennedy) and Classic Banjo (Ethan Francis)

Sept. 18 (4 pm): The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley  

2-Finger Banjo (Joseph Decosimo); Fiddle (Stephanie Coleman); Ukelele (Jere Canote)

Sept. 19: Before the square dance dance at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley

• 6 pm: Deep Cut Dance for Those That Know Their Stuff - tricky squares w/ Janine

• 7:30 pm: Clogging with Evie Ladin

Sept. 20: Ashkenaz, Berkeley

  • 11:00 am: Fiddle (Greg Canote) and How to be Rooted in Tradition - all instruments (Justin Robinson​)

  • 12:30 pm: ​Back Up Guitar (Candra Edwards) and Fiddle (Joseph Decosimo)

Bay Area instructors include:

• Richard Brandenburg 
• Evie Ladin
• Carol McComb
• Avram Siegel 
• Eric Thompson 
• Suzy Thompson 
• Jack Tuttle
• Manning Music - Instructors: Chad Manning, Catherine Manning, Robin Fischer, Rowan McCallister, Leah Wollenberg, Yoseff Tucker, Arvram Siegel, Jasper Manning, Mike Witcher, Jesse Appelman, and Morgan Balfour​ 

​CBA music teacher directory

2026 MUSIC CAMPS

Sept. 10-13: American Banjo Camp - Port Orchard, WA

INSTRUCTORS: Bluegrass Banjo: Greg Cahill, Gina Furtado, Ned Luberecki, Steven Moore, Alan Munde, Mike Stahlman; Old Time Banjo: Riley Baugus, Hilarie Burhans, Joseph Decosimo, Maggie Lind, Ken Perlman, Lukas Pool; Other: Dale Adkins (mandolin), Greg Blake (bluegrass guitar), Greg Canote (old-time fiddle), Jere Canote (old-time guitar), Peter Langston (guitar/mandolin), Mick Nicholson (bass)

​

Oct. 23-26: Walker Creek Music Camp (between Marshall & Petaluma)

INSTRUCTORS: George Guthrie (Banjo, Bluegrass) • Clinton Davis (Banjo, Clawhammer) • Mike Wilhoyte (Guitar, Bluegrass)  • Tony Marcus (Guitar, Swing) • Dave Pascoe (Guitar, Level 1) • Allan Carr (Guitar, Celtic)  • Don Julin (Mandolin, Bluegrass) • Don Stiernberg (Mandolin, Swing) • Brian Wicklund (Fiddle, Bluegrass)  • Janie Rothfield (Fiddle, Old Time) • Leah Wollenberg (Fiddle, Celtic) • Mark Schatz (Bass) • Dave Keenan (Band Scramble) • Joe Craven (Group Jam Band) • Rebecca Stout (Singing, Old Time Repertoire)  • Nova Devonie (Simple Ukulele for Singing Repertoire) • Lucy Clearwater (Songwriting & Vocal Technique) • Krishna Feeney (Music & More! – Youth Program)

RADIO SHOWS

Bluegrass Signal is broadcast on Saturdays, 4:00 - 5:30 pm (Pacific) on KALW (91.7 FM in Bay Area). It is then archived for one week HERE.

Aug. 29: What's Goin' On?

Musical previews of upcoming area events with the Stairwell Sisters (reunion), Scott Gates, Peter Rowan, Molly Tuttle, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Martha Spencer, Justin Robinson, Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion, Infamous Stringdusters, Hannah Mayree, Forty Drop Few, Evie Ladin Band, Eric & Suzy Thompson, David Nelson, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Billy Strings, Alice Gerrard, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and …

R.I.P., Dolly Parton.

Sept. 5: Memorial Celebrations

Remembering Pat Enright with a 1973 show at The Freight with the Phantoms Of the Opry, plus music by others whom we’ve recently lost.

Sept. 12: Old Time Is Not A Crime

Allegra Thompson presents a preview of this year’s Berkeley Old Time Music Convention

Sept. 19: Happy Birthday, Kathy Kallick!

Featuring a brand-new release: From The Apple Tree.

Sept. 26: Happy Birthday, KALW!

All music from 1941, the year KALW began broadcasting.

Oct. 3: Across the Tracks

New releases & reissues.

Oct. 10: Fall Membership Campaign

KALW just turned 85, and this Next 85 Campaign is your chance to help us build for the future. Make your tax-deductible donations HERE and select one of our great thank-you gifts -- in addition to all our great programming!



Bluegrass Signal is also broadcast four times each week on Bluegrass Country. 

The initial broadcast of Bluegrass Signal is on Monday at 11 pm (Eastern time). The show is then rebroadcast on Wednesdays (midnight), Fridays (6 pm), and Sundays (midnight). The times given are EASTERN and the program is available HERE.

Bluegrass Country has an ARCHIVE PLAYER, so you can pick the date and (Eastern) time of broadcast to hear Bluegrass Signal -- or any of the other 33 shows on Bluegrass Country -- at your convenience!

NOTE: Pacific Time broadcasts of Bluegrass Signal on Bluegrass Country: 

Mon. (8 pm), Tues. (9 pm), Fri. (3 pm), and Sat. (9 pm). 

Aug. 25 – Sept. 1: Summer Membership Campaign

In honor of Bluegrass Country’s origins, all music is from 45s released in early 1967.

Sept. 2-5: Across the Tracks

New releases from AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Alan Bibey (feat Sierra Hull & Ronnie McCoury), Bronwyn, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, The Clover Valley Boys, Doyle Lawson & Jerry Salley, Justin Hiltner & Jon Weisberger, Ken & Brad Kolodner, The Larry Stephenson Band, Lindsay Lou, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, and Two Runner.

Sept. 7-12: North Of the 49th Grass

Recent releases of bluegrass and old time music from Canada.

Sept. 14-19: Live from 1975

Performances at the Englishtown (NJ) Music Hall by Del McCoury & His Dixie Pals, The Hotmud Family, Tex Logan & Don Stover, and others.

Sept. 21-26: What’s Goin’ On?

Musical previews of upcoming area events with the Stairwell Sisters (reunion), Scott Gates, Peter Rowan, Molly Tuttle, Infamous Stringdusters, Hannah Mayree, Evie Ladin Band, Eric & Suzy Thompson, David Nelson, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Billy Strings, and AJ Lee & Blue Summit.

Bluegrass Signal PLAYLISTS

Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for the June, July, and August playlists -- and all the others!

CONGRATS TO SOPHIA!

For more info on the IBMA Foundation and how you can donate, visit HERE

It'll be here before you know it ...