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Saturday (May 2nd) on Bluegrass Signal -- 4:00-5:30 pm on KALW, 91.7 FM in Bay Area -- music from this epic concert ... a download of which can be yours when you support KALW during our On-Air Membership Campaign.
Visit THIS SITE for details and to make your contribution. Thanks!!!!
April 30, 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 hope you can hear and/or play some music soon -
PeterT
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CONCERTS
Molly Tuttle & Ketch Secor -
- April 30: Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
- May 1: Sweetwater, Mill Valley
- May 2: Golden State Theatre, Monterey
April 30: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
April 30: Rare Company - The Liberties, SF
*****
Saturdays (11:30 am - 1:30 pm): Bluegrass Breeze - Salesforce Park,
425 Mission St., SF
May 2: Tom Bekeny, Evan Ward, Scott Gates & Tom Sours
May 9: Mission Hill
May 16: Sweet Sally Duet
May 23: Sibling Revelry (Bethany Sorkey & Siblings)
May 30: Alisa Rose & Friends
June 6: San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival (11:15am - 6pm, 2 stages)
June 13: The Jasper Manning Band
June 20 - The Good Bad
June 27: Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
July 4: Rare Company
July 11: Charlie Torch
July 18: Evie Ladin & Sophie Wellington
July 25: Miraculous Weekend
Aug. 1: The Buckeye Boys
Aug. 8: David Thom, Billy Moore & Scotty Gates
Aug. 15: The Rounder Circle
Aug. 22: Significant Otter
Aug. 29: Hey Lonesome
Sept. 5: Critical Grass
Sept. 12: Bluegrass Holiday
Sept. 19: Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
Sept. 26: Burl Haggard
*****
May 1: Newfound Road - Morgan Hill Grange
May 2 (11 am): Savannah Blu - Marin Mart, Larkspur Landing
May 2 (11:30 am): Taylor Mountain - Berkeley Bay Festival, Shorebird Park, Berkeley
May 2: Bluegrass Holiday; Pleasant Valley Music - Red, White and Bluegrass - Rocklin
May 3 (1 pm): Savannah Blu - Waterhawk Lake Club, Rohnert Park
May 4: Jasper Manning Band - JASPER TURNS 21! - Blondies, SF
May 5 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 5: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 6: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 6: Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra (from Norway) - Ashkenaz, Berkeley
May 7: Foghorn Stringband; Le Vent du Nord - The Freight, Berkeley
May 7: Blue & Lonesome (with Yoseff Tucker & Helen Foley) - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
May 7: The Whiskey Squirrels - The Liberties, SF
May 8: Feral Friday Square Dance - The Polish Club, SF; KC & the MooNshine Band; Mike Lewinski calling; preceded (6:45 pm) by old time jam
May 11: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondies, SF
May 12 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 12: Shelby Means Band - Otter Opry, Monterey
May 12: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 13: Foghorn Stringband - Tower Theater, Fresno
May 14: Blue & Lonesome (with Yoseff Tucker & Helen Foley) - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
May 14: Tom Bekeny & Friends - The Liberties, SF
May 14: Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem - house concert in Oakland; houseconcert-at-att-dot-net
May 15: Johnny Campbell Band - Plough & Stars, SF
May 16: Shelby Means Band; Mission Blue - Occidental Center for the Arts
May 18: Sibling Revelry (Bethany Sorkey + sibs) - Blondies, SF
May 19 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 19: Purple Mountain Majesty Band - Sam's BBQ, San Jose
May 20: East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; Band: Round Top Stringband; Caller: TBA; preceded by an old time jam
May 21: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Alan Bond & Skedaddle -
- May 21: The Liberties, SF
- May 23: house concert in Montclair (Oakland); ne_swik-at-yahoo-dot-com
- May 24 (4 pm: Depot Cafe & Bookstore, Mill Valley
May 22: Tribute to Rambling Jack Elliot featuring Ramblin’ Jack Elliott Band (Sean Allen, Paul Knight, Kendrick Freemen, & Friends), Jason Crosby, Maria Muldaur, Eric & Suzy Thompson, Mike Beck Lowell, ‘Banana' Levinger, Jessie DeNatale, Kathy Kallick, others - The Freight, Berkeley
May 23 (2 pm): Taylor Mountain - Farmer's Market - Walnut Park, Petaluma
May 23 (4 pm): Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Blue Barn, Novato
May 23: Goat Hill Girls - Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., LG
May 23: Sweet Sally - Live on the Lawn, Chico
May 24 (2 pm): Goat Hill Girls - Cooper-Garrod Winery, Saratoga
May 24 (4 pm): Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Depot Cafe & Bookstore, Mill Valley
May 25 (noon): The Rocky Wheels - Rio Nido Roadhouse
May 25: Tony Trischka’s Earl Jam with Michael Daves - The Freight, Berkeley
May 25: The High Water Line - Blondies, SF
May 26 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 27: Bay Area Special - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 28: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
May 28: The Lickety Split String Band - The Liberties, SF
May 31 (2 pm): Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
*****
June 1: Hey Lonesome - Blondies, SF
June 2 (4 pm): Taylor Mountain - Farmer's Market - Downtown Novato
June 2: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
June 3: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
June 4: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
June 4: The Deep Thicket Dwellers - The Liberties, SF
June 5: Natalie & Brittany Haas - The Freight, Berkeley
June 5: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma
June 8: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondies, SF
June 9: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
June 11: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
June 11: The Jasper Manning Band - The Liberties, SF
June 12: Eric Thompson's Dead Roots Revival (with Paul Kotapish, Corbin Pagter, Mark Schatz, Keith Terry, Sam Reider, Suzy Thompson) - Ashkenaz, Berkeley
June 12: Mission Blue trio - Bee Kind Bakery, Dunsmuir
June 13: Mission Blue - Dunsmuir Railroad Days
June 14 (5 pm): Sweet Sally - Sailing Goat Restaurant, Richmond
June 14: The Far Out Johnnies - The Lucky Horseshoe, SF
June 15: The Deep Thicket Dwellers - Blondies, SF
June 18: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
June 18: TBA - The Liberties, SF
June 20: Taylor Mountain - Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Bldg, Cloverdale Senior Center
June 22: TBA - Blondies, SF
June 25: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
June 25: TBA - The Liberties, SF
June 26: Crying Uncle - Otter Opry, Monterey
June 27: Iris Dement - The Freight, Berkeley
June 28 (4 pm): Sweet Sally - Woodhouse Blending and Brewing, Santa Cruz
June 29: Burl Haggard - Blondies, SF
*****
July 1: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
July 2: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
July 2: The Jacob Joliff Band - The Freight, Berkeley
July 2: The Johnny Campbell Band - The Liberties, SF
July 3: Sweet Sally - Live on the Avenue, San Anselmo
July 3: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma
July 3: Charlie Torch - The Side Door, Sacramento
July 4: Charlie Torch - World One Festival, El Cerrito
July 6: Bluegrass Holiday - Blondies, SF
July 7: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
July 8: Chis Stapleton's All-American Road Show with special guest Molly Tuttle - Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
July 9: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
July 9: Charlie Torch - The Bistro, Hayward
July 9: Barkley Cove - Otter Opry, Monterey
July 10 (3 pm): Taylor Mountain - Penngrove Pub
July 11 (11:30 am): Charlie Torch - Salesforce Park, SF
July 10 (5 pm): Taylor Mountain - Matanzas Creek Winer, Santa Rosa
Sweet Sally -
- July 9: The Liberties, SF
- July 12 (5 pm): Hopmonk Sebastopol; with Broken Compass Bluegrass
- July 15 (6 pm): Golden Gate Park Bandshell, SF
- July 17: Ruhstaller Farm, Dixon
- July 18 (4 pm): Park Station, Alameda
July 13: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
July 14: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
July 16: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
July 16: TBA - The Liberties, SF
July 17: Sierra Hull - HopMonk Novato Cookout Concert Series
July 17: Stillhouse Junkies - The Back Room, Berkeley
July 18: Dan Tyminski - Sweetwater, Mill Valley
July 20: Rare Company - Blondies, SF
July 23: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
July 23: Marin County Breakdown - The Liberties, SF
July 27: The High Water Line - Blondies, SF
July 28 (12:30 pm): Taylor Mountain - Hopmonk Sebastopol
July 30: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
July 30: TBA - The Liberties, SF
Kathy Kallick & the Windfalls -
- July 30: The Torch Club, Sacramento
- July 31: The Freight, Berkeley
- Aug. 1: The Lost Church, Santa Rosa
*****
Aug. 1 (4 pm): Taylor Mountain - Fogbelt Brewing Company, Santa Rosa
Aug. 1: Alan Bond & Skedaddle - house concert in Oakland; ne_swik-at-yahoo-dot-com
Aug. 2: Daley & Vincent - The Freight, Berkeley
Aug. 3: David Thom, Billy Moore & Scotty Gates - Blondies, SF
Aug. 4: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
Aug. 5: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
Aug. 6: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Aug. 6: David Thom, Billy Moore & Scotty Gates - The Liberties, SF
Aug. 7: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma
Aug. 10: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondies, SF
Aug. 13: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Aug. 13: Sweet Sally - The Liberties, SF
Aug. 14: Sweet Sally - Rancho Nicasio
Aug. 14: Taylor Mountain - The Yard at Altamont General Store, Occidental
Aug. 15 (8:30 am): Taylor Mountain - Farmer's Market, Healdsburg Farmers Market
Aug. 15: Sweet Sally - house concert in Berkeley
Aug. 15: Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Band - McCloud River Inn
Aug. 17: The Rounder Circle - Blondies, SF
Aug. 20: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Aug. 20: The Deep Thicket Dwellers - The Liberties, SF
Aug. 23: Charlie Torch - Old St.Hilary’s, Tiburon
Aug. 24: The High Water Line - Blondies, SF
Aug. 27: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Aug. 27: Twang Peaks - The Liberties, SF
Aug. 29: Charlie Torch - The Otter Opry, Monterey
Aug. 30 (1 pm): Taylor Mountain - The California, Santa Rosa
Aug. 31: Hey Lonesome - Blondies, SF
*****
Sept. 3: Significant Otter - The Liberties, SF
Sept. 7: Twang Peaks - Blondies, SF
Sept. 10: The Nesters - The Liberties, SF
Sept. 14: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondies, SF
Sept. 17: Critical Grass - The Liberties, SF
Sept. 19 (noon): Sweet Sally - Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival, Templeton
Sept. 21: The Deep Thicket Dwellers - Blondies, SF
Sept. 23: Martha Spencer Trio - Otter Opry, Monterey
Sept. 24: Rare Company - The Liberties, SF
Eric & Suzy Thompson -
- Sept. 25: Folsom Opry, Folsom
- Sept. 26: house concert in Davis
Sept. 28: The High Water Line - Blondies, SF
Oct. 1: The Whiskey Squirrels - The Liberties, SF
Oct. 2: Billy Strings - Oakland Arena
Oct. 5: Smoky Wine Dream - Blondies, SF
Oct. 12: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondies, SF
Oct. 16: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes - HopMonk Sebastopol
Oct. 18: "Suzy Sings Siebel" with Eric & Suzy Thompson - St. Albans Church, Albany
Newberry & Verch -
- Oct 29: The Back Room, Berkeley
- Oct. 30: Otter Opry, Monterey
Dec. 5: The Crooked Jades - Otter Opry, Monterey
Feb. 12, 2027: Lonesome Ace Stringband - Otter Opry, Monterey
FESTIVALS
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April 30 - May 2: Sierragrass Festival - Ahwahnee
host band: AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Caleb & Reeb & the Cali Cut Ups, Trey Wellington, Never Come Down, Jesse Appelman’s West Coast String Band Project, Windy Hill, Lottie Doddies, Late For the Train, Sentimental Gentlemen, Charlie Torch, The Olllam, Vetiver, Skyway Man, Kelly McFarling, Wolf Jett, Evoflo, The Trespassers
May 2-3: Berkeley Bluegrass Festival - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
May 2: Jason Carter Band, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, (Lobby) Critical Grass
May 3: Tatiana Hargreaves Band with Michael Daves, Caleb & Reeb & the Cali Cutups, Tony Furtado Trio, (Lobby) Bay Area Special
plus workshops and jams
May 7-10: Parkfield Bluegrass Festival - V6 Ranch, Parkfield
Foghorn Stringband, Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, Vickie Vaughn Band, Damn Tall Buildings, Shelby Means, Dave Stamey, Water Tower, SLO Country Stumblers, Critical Grass, Kings River Boys, Amber Cross
May 21-25: Strawberry Spring Music Festival - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
Della Mae, Darrell Scott String Band w/ Rob Ickes, Mr Sun, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Flatpick Hotel, Caltucky, Deep Thicket Dwellers, Larry & Joe, Evie Ladin Band, Bill Kirchen Band w/ Nina Gerber, Eliza Gilkyson w/ Nina Gerber, Keith Greeninger w/ Nina Gerber, Duo Quartet, Abby Posner & the Big Fall, Las Cafeteras, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Marley’s Ghost, Peter Case, Sugarcane Jane, The Real Sarahs, Puffball Collective
June 6 (11:15 am - 6 pm): The San Francisco Bluegrass & Old Time Festival - Salesforce Park, 425 Mission St., SF
BG Stringband, The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion, Bitchcraft, Critical Grass, Bluegrass Holiday, square dance (Robin Fisher calling), many others tba
June 18-21: California Bluegrass Association’s Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
Main Stage: The Bluegrass Cardinals, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, The Price Sisters, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Missy Raines & Allegheny, Hard Drive, Caleb & Reeb & the Cali Cutups, Bruce Molsky & Darol Anger, California Bluegrass Reunion, Broken Compass Bluegrass;
California Showcase Bands: Sweet Sally, Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion, Critical Grass, Bay Area Special, Deep Thicket Dwellers; Vern's Stage: Alan Bond & Skedaddle, Cantara Loop, Crooked Jades, Evie Ladin Band, The Far Out Johnnies, Frog Face, Grass Valley Stringband, Honey Buckets, Lillies Of the West, Long Forgotten, Mission Blue, The New Acoustic Collective, Redwood Flat, The Rounder Circle, Significent Otter, Silver City, Stoney Mountain Ramblers.
Also:
- Artist In Residence: Scott Gates
- June 19: The Black Banjo Project presentations: “Exploring Banjo Reclamation as a Pathway to Black Liberation,” plus showcase performance commemorating Juneteenth with Hannah Mayree, Kele Nitoto, Tula B. Strong, Deidra Hall, and Anne Harris.
- June 19 & 20: Square dances in the Whitney Pavilion
- Workshops, late-night jamming, and family activities throughout the weekend
June 19-21: Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival - Cashmere, WA
Appalachian Roadshow, Southern Legacy, Rick Faris Band, Vickie Vaughn Band, Westbound Sky
June 19-21: Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival - Laketown Ranch Music Park, 30 km west of Duncan, BC (on Vancouver Island)
The Alum Ridge Boys and Ashlee, Big Richard, Eli West Quartet, Showman & Coole (Lonesome Ace SB), The Barrel Boys, Shari Ulrich with The Unfaithful Servants, ...
June 26-28: Ten Mile Creek Revival (continuing the legacy of the Kate Wolf Music Festival) - Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville
Iris DeMent Trio, Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, The Brothers Comatose, Paul Thorn, Las Cafeteras, Dustbowl Revival, Jerry & Dawg Revisited (Joe Craven, Jim Kerwin, Stu Allen, Andrew Collins), T Sisters, Late For The Train, …
July 11 (1-8 pm): Cline County Bluegrass Festival - Cline Family Cellars, Sonoma
Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Band, Sweet Sally, Joy Louise & Laura Orshaw, Fog Holler, Mission Blue, The Deep Thicket Dwellers
July 17-19: Darrington Bluegrass Festival - Darrington, WA
Sister Sadie, Appalachian Road Show, Authentic Unlimited, Shelby Means, Slocan Ramblers, East Tennessee University Bluegrass Pride Band, Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters, ...
July 23-26: Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival - Stevenson, WA
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Never Come Down, Whiskey Deaf, Oly Mountain Boys, ...
Aug. 6-9: Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival - San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Piños
Bay Area Special, Bean Creek, Bluegrass Holiday, Brianna Mai Colliard & the Desert Marigolds, Brookdale Bluegrass Band, Bubba Pickens Band, Cantara Loop, Dark Hollow, Deep Thicket Dwellers, Honey Buckets, Hoss Farm, Marin County Breakdown, Mission Blue, Red Dog Ash, Redwood Flat, Riley Hill & Brand New Still, Sweet Sally, Corn Likkers, Kings River Boys, New Acoustic Collective, Rounder Circle, West Coast Ramblers
Aug. 7-9: Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival - Medical Lake, WA
Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Vickie Vaughn Band, Damn Tall Buildings, Tall Poppy String Band, Release the Squirrels, ...
Aug. 14-16: Summergrass San Diego - Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista
Po' Ramblin' Boys, John Moore & Friends, John Jorgensen Bluegrass Band, Special Consensus, Ten Dollar Wedding, …
Aug. 21-23: Bowers Bluegrass Festival - Washoe Valley, NV
Aug. 28-29: Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival
Sept. 17-20: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention - Berkeley
9/16: Kick off square dance at Ashkenaz with The Canote Brothers, Forty Drop Few, and round robin callers.
Oct. 2-4: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival - Golden Gate Park, SF
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
Steep Canyon Rangers, Lindsay Lou, Trey Hensley, Henhouse Prowlers, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Tony Furtado Quartet, The Last Wild Buffalo, The Crooked Jades, Ordinary Elephant, Tanasi, ...
JAM SESSIONS
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JAM SESSIONS
SPENCE PRESENTS: Bluegrass Jam Series (7-11 pm); spencerkrenz-at-gmail-dot-com
7-8 pm: open jam; 8-9 pm: house band; 9-11 pm: open jam
- 4th Tuesdays: Ashkenaz, Berkeley
- 1st & 3rd Thursdays: Papermill Creek Saloon, Forest Knolls
- 2nd & 4th Thursdays: Peri’s, Fairfax
- 1st Fridays: Smiley’s Saloon, Bolinas
May 11: Community Mondays with Richard Brandenburg's Country/Bluegrass Jam - The Freight, Berkeley
May 23-24: Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Camp with Mike and Gail Thomas - Hollister
May 31 – June 28 (Sundays, 1 - 4:30 pm): Wernick Method Weekly Jam Class with Erik Yates - Oakland
June 12-14: Wernick Method Weekend Jam Camp with David Abramson - Davis
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
May 17: Liedstrands
June 21: no Shred - at FDF
July 19: Evie Ladin
Aug. 16: KC Heil
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
May 4: Jasper Manning Band - JASPER TURNS 21!
May 11: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
May 18: Sibling Revelry (Bethany Sorkey + sibs)
May 25: The High Water Line
June 1: Hey Lonesome
June 8: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
June 15: The Deep Thicket Dwellers
June 22: TBA
June 29: Burl Haggard
July 6: Bluegrass Holiday
July 13: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
July 20: Rare Company
July 27: The High Water Line
Aug. 3: David Thom, Billy Moore & Scotty Gates
Aug. 10: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
Aug. 17: The Rounder Circle
Aug. 24: The High Water Line
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 (7 pm): Dublin Heritage Center Park (usually in the Old Schoolhouse), Dublin; bob-dot-gisler-at-icloud-dot-com
Third Tuesday (6 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
April 30: Rare Company
May 7: The Whiskey Squirrels
May 14: Tom Bekeny & Friends
May 21: Alan Bond & Skedaddle
May 28: The Lickety Split String Band
June 4: The Deep Thicket Dwellers
June 11: The Jasper Manning Band
June 18: TBA
June 25: TBA
July 2: The Johnny Campbell Band
July 9: Sweet Sally
July 16: TBA
July 23: Marin County Breakdown
July 30: TBA
Aug. 6: David Thom, Billy Moore & Scotty Gates
Aug. 13: Sweet Sally
Aug. 20: The Deep Thicket Dwellers
Aug. 27: Twang Peaks
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 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
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ONLINE INSTRUCTION
First Saturday (10 am): Black Banjo Reclamation Project Online Study Group
Among the next series of online classes at The Freight, Berkeley:
• Tuesdays (May 5 - June 9) at 7 pm: Great Jam Songs Repertoire with Richard Brandenburg
• Wednesdays (May 6 - June 10) at 5:30 pm: Introduction to Dulcimer with DJ Hamouris
Next session of Fiddles at Four w/ Suzy Thompson on Zoom TBA
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION
Among the next series of in-person classes at The Freight, Berkeley:
• Thursdays (May 7 - June 11) at 7 pm: Using the Boomchuck – Flatpicked Rhythm Guitar with Richard Brandenburg
• Thursdays (May 7 - June 11) at 8:30 pm: The Pleasures of Jamming! with Richard Brandenburg
Tuesdays: Bluegrass Harmony Singing with Avram Siegel - Manning Music, Berkeley; avram-at-avramsiegel-dot-com
Also see jam camps and classes listed above.
BERKELEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS
May 2 -
• 1 pm: Saturday Jam
• 1:45 pm: Bluegrass Mandolin with Josh Gooding
• 1:45 pm: Bluegrass Fiddle with Jason Carter
• 3 pm: Songwriting with Chris Jones
• 3 pm: Harmony Singing w/ Laurie Lewis, Leah Wollenberg, and Tom Rozum * SOLD OUT *
May 3 -
• 1 pm: Sunday Jam
• 1:45 pm: Bluegrass Guitar with Michael Daves * SOLD OUT *
• 1:45 pm: The Intersection of Old Time and Bluegrass with Tatiana Hargreaves
• 3 pm: Singing with Caleb and Reeb * SOLD OUT *
• 3 pm: Bluegrass Banjo with Tony Furtado
Bay Area instructors include:
- Richard Brandenburg
- Evie Ladin
- Carol McComb
- Avram Siegel
- Eric Thompson
- Suzy Thompson
- Jack Tuttle
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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
May 6-10: Julian Family Fiddle Camp - Whispering Winds Camp, Julian
INSTRUCTORS: Nat Copeland, John Mailander, Luke Price (fiddle), plus Tyler Grant (guitar), Carolyn Kendrick (songwriting), Rachael Price (vocals), John Reischman (mandolin), Vickie Vaughn (bass), Nina Weisman (band, jamming), Tray Wellington (banjo)
June 14-17: CBA Summer Music Camp - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
DIRECTOR: Adam Roszkiewicz; INSTRUCTORS: Sonya Badigian (old time guitar backup 2-3), Greg Blake (singing), Masha Goodman Crawford & Geff Crawford (old time fiddle & banjo), Bill Evans (bluegrass banjo 2-3), Nokosee Fields (bluegrass bass 1-3), Robin Fischer (square dance calling), Matt Flinner (bluegrass mandolin 2-3), Brandon Godman (bluegrass fiddle 1-2), Tatiana Hargreaves (old time fiddle 2-3), Kathy Kallick and Keith Little (harmony singing), Carolyn Kendrick (songwriting), Evie Ladin (clawhammer banjo), Patrick M’Gonigle (bluegrass fiddle 2-3), Forrest Marowitz (bluegrass band), John Reischman (bluegrass mandolin 1-2), Kathleen Rushing (FunGrass), Patrick Sauber (bluegrass banjo 1-2), Aaron Tacke (old time band), Yoseff Tucker (bluegrass guitar 1-2), Eli West (guitar soloing 2-3), Mike Witcher (dobro 2-3)
June 18-21: CBA Youth Academy - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
DIRECTOR: Kimber Ludiker; INSTRUCTORS: tba
June 21-28: Big Sur Fiddle Camp
INSTRUCTORS: John Weed (Celtic Fiddle), Abigail Washburn (Clawhammer Banjo, Songwriting), Jordan Tice (Guitar), Rebecca Stout (Flat-foot dancing, Vocals), Ruairdh Mackay (Scottish Fiddle), Nick Milo (Piano), Elise Leavy (Singing and Piano Accompaniment), Sumaia Jackson (Fiddle), Colin Cotter (Guitar), Simon Chrisman (Hammer Dulcimer, Bass), Zachary Brown (Cello); YOUNG TEACHERS CIRCLE: Logan Zaud (bass), Miles Zaud (fiddle, piano); TEACHING ASSISTANTS: Tyler Weed, Lucy Khadder, Sophia Sparks, Abigail Goodman, Naima Nacimento, Feliciti McKellar, Radler Pinkerton
June 22-27: Voice Works - Port Townsend, WA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Pharis Romero; FACULTY: Isa Burke, Gideon Crevoshay, Cathy Fink, Hubby Jenkins, Elise Leavy, Erika Lewis, Laurie Lewis, Marcy Marxer, Joe Newberry, Julie Pfeffer, Luke Price, Rachael Price, Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small
June 28 - July 5: Fiddle Tunes - Port Townsend, WA
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS: The Onlies; FACULTY: Bertram and Madeline Levy; Los Originarios del Plan; Suzy, Eric, and Allegra Thompson; Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson, Jason Sypher, and Justin Harrington; Dirk and Amelia Powell; Cheick Hamala Diabaté with Danny Knicely; Liz Hanley, Jefferson Hamer, and Eamon O’Leary; Jake Shulman-Ment, Alicia Svigals, and Pete Rushefsky; Jo, Jane, and John Vidrine; Carter, Maisie, and Helen Newell; Eric Dayan; James and Vivian Leva; Riley Baugus; Rafe and Clelia Stefanini; Nokosee Fields; Arkaitz Miner, Teresa Jareño, David and Caitlin Romtvedt; Gerry and Jesse Milnes; Jim and Jamie Fox with Scotty Leach; Irene Herrmann and Kaethe Hostetter; Fru Skagerrak; The Lost Keys: Tricia Spencer, Howard Rains, Isaiah Sibi, Orion Spencer-Speirer, Ru Yother
July 11-24 (2 sessions): California Coast Music Camp - Monterey County, ~ 1.5 hr. so of San Jose
Week 1 (July 11-17) INSTRUCTORS: Elian Carbone [Cuban Dance (All Levels), The Songwriter Toolbox (2–4)] * Luke Clingerman [Bass 101 (1–2), Walking Bass And More (3–5)] * Marla Fibish [Irish Repertoire/Three Handy Sets (2–4), Slow (Mandolin) Is Beautiful (2–3)] * Nina Gerber [Theory Applied To Guitar (3–5), Play Well With Others (4–5)] * Katie Glassman [Fiddle Dance Tunes (2–3), Western Swing Fiddle (3–5)] * Ryan David Green [The Magic Of Modes (2–4), Arranging Pop/Rock Songs For Solo Guitar (2–4)] * Sylvia Herold [Advanced-Beginner Swing Guitar (3), Great American Songbook: Intermediate Swing Guitar (3–4)] * Ed Johnson [Swing/Jazz Band Lab (3–5), Brazilian Song Repertoire (4–5)] * Steve Kritzer [Jump On The Ukulele Wave (1–2), Beginning Guitar (1–2)] * Adam Kulakow [Jamming Skills And Repertoire (2–3), Instigator] * Evie Ladin [Clawhammer Banjo (2–4), Old-Time Harmony Singing (All Levels)] * Carol McComb [From Hank To Linda (2–5), Fingerpicking Essentials And Nuances (2–3)] * Ami Molinelli [Who Needs A Drummer When You Have A Pandeiro (All Levels), Percussion Biology: Funk It Up (All Levels)] * Brian Moran (Level Up Your Blues (2–4), Brazilian Guitar Basics (3)] * Antoinette Olesen (Make Me Dance, Laugh, Love, Cry...Break My Heart (All Levels), Move Me (All Levels)] * Ellen Robinson (Vocal Technique For The Mature Voice (All Levels), The Magic Of Harmony Singing (2–4)] * Ukulenny (Uke Can Improv Too (3–4), Uke Ensemble (3–4)]
Week 2 (July 18-24) INSTRUCTORS: Caitlin Belém Romtvedt [Social Dance Comfort (All Levels), To Improvisation (3)] * Neal Chin [Advanced Ukelele (4–5), Ukelele Swing (3)] * Elijah Cole [Let’s Take A Moment To Listen (All Levels), Understanding Harmony (3–5)] * Jen Courter [Beginning Ukulele (1–2), Ready, Set, Jam (2–3)] * Jason Crigler [Surf Guitar (3–4), Traditional Irish And Scottish Music Session (2–5)] * Keith Greeninger [Telling The Story, Writing The Song (All Levels), Co-Writing Songs: Bringing The Poet And The Musician Together (All Levels)] * Donna Herula [Intro To Bottleneck Slide Guitar (2–3), Slide And Fingerstyle (3)] * Janet Lenore [Beginning Guitar (1), Instigator] * Julian Oliver [Survey Of Fiddle Styles: Living Gracefully Outside Your Comfort Zone (3–5), Intro To Swing Guitar Accompaniment: Closed Swing Voicings Over Standards (3–4)] * David Pascoe [Freshen Up Your Fiddling )1–3), Americana/String Band Lab (2–4)] * Ron Peters [Inversion Immersion (All Levels), Swing Duo Lab (3–4) * Pamela Rose [Feel Like Singing The Blues? (1–3), Blues Singer’s Essential Guide To Jam Sessions (2–5)] * Cindy Browne Rosefield [Bass 101 (1–2), Swinging, Groovin' And Improvisation (3–5)] * Adam Roszkiewicz [The Melodic Guitar: Modern Flatpicking Techniques (2–3), Writing Original Tunes In Open Tunings For Solo Fingerstyle Guitar (3–4)] * Ethan Setiawan [Mandolin Style Survey (3–5), Foundational Mandolin (2–4)] * Sonia Shell [Banjo For Real Life (1–2), The Art Of Relaxation While Playing The Banjo Or Any Other Instrument (2–4)] * Ida Winfree [Fundamentals Of The Mandolin (1–2), Bluegrass Fiddle Tunes And Basic Improvising On The Mandolin (2–4)]
July 5-10 and July 12-17: NimbleFingers - Sorrento, British Columbia
July 20-24: West Marin Fiddle Camp - Bolinas
INSTRUCTORS: Ann Savoy, Laurie Lewis, Riley Baugus, Jordan Tice, Sophie Wellington, Miss Tess, Thomas Bryan Eaton, Scott Gates, Kai Welch, Sarah Savoy, Hannah Mayree, Connor Maguire
July 26 - Aug. 22: Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Port Orchard, WA
Session 1 (July 25-31) INSTRUCTORS: Abbie Gardner (Dobro), Ami Molinelli (Percussion), Amy Friedricks (Instigator, Guitar), Anke Summerhill (Guitar, Repertoire), Cosy Sheridan )Performance, Repertoire), Coty Hogue (Repertoire, Guitar), Elijah Cole (Guitar, Repertoire), Evie Ladin (Banjo, Vocals), Jay Knowles (Songwriting, Performance), Joy Louise (Guitar), Kathy Bullock (Vocals, Repertoire), Marco de Carvalho (Guitar), Marina Christopher (Bass), Neal Chin ('Ukulele), Tony Marcus (Private Lessons), Wayne Henderson (Guitar)
Session 2 (Aug. 1-7) INSTRUCTORS: Adam (Roscoe) Roszkwiecz (Guitar), Brian Seeger (Guitar, Practicing), Cindy Scott (Vocals, Ear Training), David Keenan (Guitar, Banjo), Ed Johnson (Vocals, Repertoire), Ethan Setiawan (Mandolin), Ida Winfree (Camp Instrumentalist, Repertoire), Jeff Liu (Guitar, Songwriting), John Knowles (Guitar, Private Lessons (Keith Lowe (Bass, Camp Instrumentalist), Louie Zong (Guitar), Louise Bichan (Fiddle, Repertoire), McKain Lakey (Guitar, Songwriting), Nova Karina Devonie (Instigator, Imagination), Susan Cattaneo (Songwriting), Tim Lerch (Guitar)
Session 3 (Aug. 8-14) INSTRUCTORS: Avery Hill ('Ukulele, Repertoire), Beth Wood (Songwriting), Cara Luft (Repertoire, Vocals), Carol McComb (Repertoire, Vocals), Greg Canote (Fiddle, Home Town Band Lab), Hilary Field (Guitar, Folk Orchestra), Jack Tuttle (Guitar, Mandolin), Jere Canote (Guitar, Home Town Band Lab), Jeremy Elliott (Songwriting, Guitar), Kat Bula (Fiddle, Camp Instrumentalist), Lewis Mock (Guitar), Libby McLaren (Music Theory, Arranging), Matt Weiner (Bass), Robin Flower (Guitar, Repertoire), Sylvia Herold (Guitar), Tom Rawson (Instigator, Performance)
Session 4 (Aug. 15-21) INSTRUCTORS: Abbey Blackwell (Bass), Adam Levy (Guitar, Practicing), Alice Gerrard (Vocals), Ava Honey (Instigator, Repertoire), Christian Casolary (Percussion, Jamming), Devin Champlin (Camp Instrumentalist, Guitar), John Miller (Guitar, Private Lessons), Julie Sakahara (Guitar), Kristina Olsen (Arranging, Guitar), Laurel Bliss (Dobro, Guitar), Mandy Lynn Danzig (Fiddle, Ukulele), Marla Fibish (Mandolin, Repertoire), Mike Dowling (Guitar), Nina Gerber (Guitar), Steve Baughman (Guitar, Banjo), Wes Weddell (Songwriting, Guitar)
Aug. 24-28: Mandolin World Retreat - Croatia (Jelsa, on the Island of Hvar)
Instructors: Mike Marshall, Caterina Lichtenberg
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)
RADIO SHOWS
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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.
May 2: On-Air Membership Campaign
The chance to support your local public radio station HERE!
May 9: Mama Always Had A Song
Gearing up for Mother's Day.
May 16: Hicks With Sticks
Jose Segue surveys the latest in the world of twang.
May 23: Gearing Up For Grass Valley
A two-part preview of the California Bluegrass Association's Father's Day Festival, complete with ticket giveaways.
June 6: On Air Folk Festival
Live music in the KALW Studios from 2-7 pm.
June 13: Across the Tracks
New releases.
June 20: Hicks With Sticks
The annual Bluegrass Holiday (for Grass Valley) when Jose Segue surveys the latest in the world of twang.
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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).
April 20 - May 2: Someday
A two-part memorial celebration of the life and music of Carol Elizabeth Jones.
May 4-9: Mama Always Had A Song
Gearing up for Mother's Day
May 11-23: Across the Tracks
Two weeks of new releases.
May 25 - June 6: Gearing Up For Grass Valley
A two-part preview of the California Bluegrass Association's Father's Day Festival.
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Bluegrass Signal PLAYLISTS
Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for the February, March, and April playlists -- and all the others!
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