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Tomorrow (Feb. 7th) on Bluegrass Signal -- 4:00-5:30 pm on KALW, 91.7 FM in the Bay Area --
musical previews (via live recordings) of all the Main Stage performers at the 2026 FDF.
Feb. 6, 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 bluegrass and old time music events. Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for constantly-updated event listings and radio show playlists, as well as a number of items and articles of interest to bluegrass and old time music fans.
I hope you can hear and/or play some music soon -
PeterT
| | Performers coming to The Freight (see boldface type below); complimentary tickets for all these shows have been (or will be) offered on Bluegrass Signal. Other upcoming events: | | |
CONCERTS
Feb. 6-28: Hillbilly Robot: Urban Americana - Plough & Stars, SF
(* = bluegrass show; # = country show)
*Feb. 6: Johnny Campbell Band + Hey Lonesome
#Feb. 7: Nashville Honeymoon
#Feb. 13: Ruby Lee Hill
#Feb. 14: Geoffrey Miller
*Feb. 20: Smoky Wine Dream + Rare Company
*Feb. 21: Waiting For The Train + California Faultline
#Feb. 27: Georgia West + California Turnaround
#Feb. 28: The Truckaderos
Feb. 6: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma
Feb. 7: Sonia Shell & Friends (Jim Lewin, Sarah Eblen, Johnny Campbell, Jeremy Lampel); Alison Steele - The Ugly Mug, Soquel
Feb. 7: Jordan Tice Band; Water Tower - Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol
Feb. 7: Savannah Blu trio - Giacos Roadhouse, San Geronimo
Feb. 7: Deep Ticket Dwellers - The Side Door, Sacramento
Feb. 8 (noon): Jeanie & Chuck Poling - Outer Sunset Farmers Market, 37th at Pacheco, SF
Feb. 8 (2 pm): The Rocky Wheels - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
Feb. 9 (8:45 pm): The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondie’s, SF; preceded by jam
Feb. 10 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
Feb. 10: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
Feb. 12: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Feb. 12: Mollie O'Brien & Rich Moore - The Monkey House, Berkeley
Feb. 12 (9 pm): Mission Hill - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam
Feb. 13: Dom Flemons - The Freight, Berkeley
Feb. 13: Feral Friday Square Dance - The Polish Club, SF; Band: KC and the MooNshine Band; Caller: Mike Lewinski; preceded (at 6:45 pm) by an old time jam
Jim Kweskin (with Suzy Thompson, Matt Berlin, and Meredith Axelrod) -
- Feb. 13: Fifth Street Farms, Berkeley
- Feb. 14: Mercury Theater Petaluma
- Feb. 15: The Grange, Napa
Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands -
- Feb. 13: Sweetwater, Mill Valley; with Mollie O'Brien and Rich Moore;
preceded by hosted open bluegrass jam with Bruce Sadownick, Bruce Lacey, Joe Ridout, Mary Kussmaul, and Ted Kuster
- Feb. 14: The Side Door, Sacramento
Feb. 14 (5:30 pm): Hydra-Matic Drive Bluegrass Band - Pond Farm Brewing Company, San Rafael
Feb. 14: Sweethearts Of the Radio - Mollie O'Brien & Rich Moore plus The Coastal Scrubbers - The Dance Palace, Point Reyes; benefit for KWMR
Feb. 15 (2 pm): Bluegrass Holiday - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
Feb. 15 (2 pm): Nell & Jim with Chad Manning - Livermore Jazz Society
Feb. 15: The Far Out Johnnies - The Riptide, SF
Feb. 16 (8:45 pm): Smoky Wine Dream - Blondie’s, SF; preceded by jam
Feb. 17 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
Feb. 17: Kitchen Dwellers - Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
Feb. 19: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Feb. 19 (9 pm): Alan Bond & Skedaddle - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam
Feb. 20: East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; Band: Round Top Stringband; Caller: Robin Fisher; preceded (at 6:45 pm) by an old time jam
Feb. 20: David Nelson with Banana & the Bunch - Hopmonk Sebastopol
Evie Ladin Band -
- Feb. 20: Fresno Folklore Society, Fresno
- Feb. 21: Otter Opry, United Methodist Church, Monterey
- Feb. 22: house concert in Santa Clara; santaclarahouseconcerts-at-yahoo-dot-com
Feb. 22 (2 pm): Savannah Blu - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
Feb. 23 (8:45 pm): High Water Line - Blondie’s, SF; preceded by jam
Feb. 24 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
Chris Thile -
- Feb. 24: Green Music Center, Rohnert Park
- Feb. 27: Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley
- Feb. 28: Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo
Sam Grisman Project -
- Feb. 25: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma
- Feb. 26: The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
Feb. 25: John Reischman & the Jaybirds plus special guests Kathy Kallick & Mike Witcher - The Freight, Berkeley
Feb. 26: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
Feb. 26 (9 pm): The Whiskey Squirrels - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam
Feb. 27: Alison Brown - The Freight, Berkeley
Feb. 27: Jordan Tice Band; Water Tower - HopMonk Sebastopol
John Reischman & the Jaybirds -
- Feb. 27: Occidental Center for the Arts
- Feb. 28: Fiddletown Community Center
Feb. 28 (2 pm): Bearcat Stringband - Cato's, Oakland
*****
March 1 (2:30 pm): Suzy & Eric Thompson; Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen - The Back Room, Berkeley
March 2 (8:45 pm): Twang Peaks - Blondie’s, SF; preceded by jam
March 3 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
March 3: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
March 4: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
Bruce Molsky -
- March 5: house concert in Santa Cruz; Concerts-at-InstantHarmony-dot-com
- March 6: Hillside Club, Berkeley
- March 7: Fiddletown Community Center
March 5: Steep Canyon Rangers - The Freight, Berkeley
March 5: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
March 5 (9 pm): Hey Lonesome - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam
March 6: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma
Women of Americana (Cristina Vane & Brennen Leigh) -
- March 6: Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto
- March 7: The Freight, Berkeley
- March 8: Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga
March 7 (1 pm): Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Spring Situation - Berkeley Central Library
March 7: Taylor Mountain - Art & Music Gallery, Petaluma
March 8 (2 pm): Bluegrass Holiday - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
March 8: The Town Howlers - Back Room, Berkeley
March 9 (8:45 pm): The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondie’s, SF; preceded by jam
March 10 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
March 10: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
March 12: Monroe Crossing - Otter Opry, United Methodist Church, Monterey
March 12: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
March 12 (9 pm): Strike the Wind - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam
Paper Wings; Hannah Mayree -
- March 12: Little Saint, Healdsburg
- March 13: The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz
- March 14: The Ivy Room, Albany
- March 15: McCabe’s, Santa Monica
Evie Ladin Band -
- March 13: house concert in Santa Cruz; Concerts-at-InstantHarmony-dot-com
- March 15: Half Moon Bay Odd Fellows
March 13: Peter Rowan - The Freight, Berkeley
March 13: Feral Friday Square Dance - The Polish Club, SF; KC & the MooNshine Band; Mike Lewinski calling; preceded (6:45 pm) by old time jam
March 15 (10 am): Jeanie & Chuck Poling - Clement St. Farmers Market, Clement at 3rd, SF
March 17 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
March 17: Bay Area Special - Sam's BBQ, San Jose
March 19-20: Rhiannon Giddens & the Silkroad Ensemble - Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley
March 19 (9 pm): Sweet Sally - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam
March 20: East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; Band: Round Top Stringband; Caller: Robin Fisher; preceded by an old time jam
March 21: Sweet Sally - Sam's Chowder House, Half Moon Bay
March 22 (2 pm): Grass Zeppelin - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
March 24 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
March 26 (9 pm): Tom Bekeny Band - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam
March 28 (2 pm): Bearcat Stringband - Cato's, Oakland
March 28: The Crooked Jades - The Side Door, Sacramento
March 29 (2 pm): The Rocky Wheels - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
March 31 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
*****
April 3-4: AJ Lee & Blue Summit - The Chapel, SF
April 4 (1 pm): Crooked Jades; Evie Ladin Band; Meredith Edgar - BayBeats American Roots - Koret Auditorium, Main Branch of SF Public Library
April 9: Water Tower - Otter Opry, United Methodist Church, Monterey
April 10: Feral Friday Square Dance - The Polish Club, SF; KC & the MooNshine Band; Mike Lewinski calling; preceded (6:45 pm) by old time jam
April 17: East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; Band: Round Top Stringband; Caller: Evie Ladin; preceded by an old time jam
April 19 (2 pm): Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
April 20: The Far Out Johnnies - Blondie’s, SF
April 24: Hydra-Matic Drive Bluegrass Band - Kensington Circus Pub
April 25 (1 pm): Savannah Blu - Brewsters, Petaluma
April 25 (2 pm): Bearcat Stringband - Cato's, Oakland
May 2 (11 am): Savannah Blu - Marin Mart, Larkspur Landing
May 2 (11:30 am): Taylor Mountain - Berkeley Bay Festival, Shorebird Park, Berkeley Marina
May 3 (1 pm): Savannah Blu - Waterhawk Lake Club, Rohnert Park
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
March 20: East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; Band: Round Top Stringband; Caller: TBA; preceded by an old time jam
May 18: Shelby Means - McCloud River Inn
May 23 (2 pm): Taylor Mountain - Petaluma Faramer's Market, Walnut Park
May 25: Tony Trischka’s Earl Jam - Tribute To Earl Scruggs - The Freight, Berkeley
May 31 (2 pm): Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
June 5: Natalie & Brittany Haas - The Freight, Berkeley
June 14: The Far Out Johnnies - The Lucky Horseshoe, SF
June 27: Iris Dement - The Freight, Berkeley
July 8: Chis Stapleton's All-American Road Show with special guest Molly Tuttle - Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
July 10 (3 pm): Taylor Mountain - Penngrove Pub
July 10 (5 pm): Taylor Mountain - Matanzas Creek Winer, Santa Rosa
Sweet Sally -
- July 15 (6 pm): Golden Gate Park Bandshell, SF
- July 17: Ruhstaller Farm, Dixon
- July 18 (4 pm): Park Station, Alameda
Aug. 1 (4 pm): Taylor Mountain - Fogbelt Brewing Company, Santa Rosa
Aug. 15: Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick - McCloud River Inn
Aug. 30 (1 pm): Taylor Mountain - The California, Santa Rosa
FESTIVALS
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2026 WEST COAST FESTIVALS
Feb. 13-15: Oly Old Time Festival - Olympia, WA
The Alum Ridge Boys and Ashlee, Golden Shoals, Squirrel Butter, Dear Crow, Mississippi Hotdogs; callers: Charmaine Slaven, Connor Maguire
Feb. 19-22: Wintergrass - Bellevue, WA
New Dangerfield, Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass, Mr Sun, Jerron Paxton, Bruce Molsky & Brittany Haas, Missy Raines & Allegheny, John Reischman & the Jaybirds, Woody Platt & the Bluegrass Gentlemen, The Horsenecks, Vasen, Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Fog Holler, Chris Webster & Nina Gerber, …
March 6-8: Bluegrass On the Beach - Lake Havasu City, AZ
Darrin & Brooke Auldridge, Special Consensus, Cutter & Cash, Monroe Crossing, Five Mile Mountain Road, Dave Adkins, Nick Chandler & Special Delivery, ETSU Bluegrass Band, Bay Mountain Cut Ups
March 14: Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival - Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
Laurie Lewis & Nina Gerber, Monroe Crossing, Evie Ladin Band, Jesse Appleman’s West Coast Stringband Project, Five Mile Mountain Road, …
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, Olllam, Vetiver, Skyway Man, Kelly McFarling, Wolf Jett, Evoflo, 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
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, Mr Sun, Darryl Scott String Band featuring Rob Ickes, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Larry & Joe, Abby Posner & the Big Fall, Evie Ladin Band, Bill Kirchen Band with Nina Gerber, Eliza Gilkysen with Nina Gerber, Keith Greeninger with Nina Gerber, Duo Quartet, Peter Case, Flatpick Hotel, Caltucky, Deep Thicket Dwellers, Las Cafeteras, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Sugarcane Jane, The Puffball Collective
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 bands to be announced
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 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
Aug. 6-9: Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival - San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Piños
Aug. 7-9: Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival - Medical Lake, WA
Aug. 21-23: Summergrass San Diego - Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista
Aug. 21-23: Bowers Bluegrass Festival - Washoe Valley, NV
Aug. 28-29: Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival
Aug. 28-29: North Cascades Bluegrass Festival - Deming Log Showgrounds, Bellingham, WA
Sept. 3-6: Strawberry Fall Music Festival - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
Sept. 17-20: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention - Berkeley
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
JAM SESSIONS
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JAM SESSIONS
Feb. 12: Fairfax Bluegrass Jam - Peri's Tavern, Fairfax; spencerkrenz-at-gmail-dot-com
7-8 pm: open jam; 8-9 pm: house band (Scott Gates, Christine Wilhoyte, Forrest Allen, Mike Wilhoyte, Andrew Osborne); 9-11 pm: open jam
Feb. 13: hosted open bluegrass jam (with Bruce Sadownick, Bruce Lacey, Joe Ridout, Mary Kussmaul, and Ted Kuster) - Sweetwater, Mill Valley; preceding the concert with Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands and Mollie O'Brien & Rich Moore
Feb. 13: Bolinas Bluegrass & Old Time Jam - Smiley's Saloon, Bolinas;
spencerkrenz-at-gmail-dot-com
7-8 pm: open jam; 8-9 pm: house band (Scott Gates, Dana Frankel, Ian Ly, Andrew Osborne); 9-11 pm: open jam
Feb. 14-15: Wernick Method Weekend Bluegrass Jam Camp with Mike and Gail Thomas - Hollister
Feb. 20-22: California Coast Music Camp Winter Retreat - near Los Aptos in Santa Cruz mountains
Feb. 23 (7:30 pm): Country Bluegrass Jam with Richard Brandenburg - The Freight, Berkeley
March 23 (7:30 pm): Country Bluegrass Jam with Richard Brandenburg - The Freight, Berkeley
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
Feb. 15: Skillet Licorice
March 15: Jordan Ruyle
April 19: Michele Yu
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
Feb. 9: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
Feb. 16: Smoky Wine Dream
Feb. 23: High Water Line
March 2: Twang Peaks
March 9: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
March 16: 5 Mile Mountain Road
March 23: TBA
March 30: The Deep Thicket Dwellers
April 6: Mavericks Bluegrass
April 13: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
April 20: The Far Out Johnnies
April 27: High Water Line
May 4: Jasper Manning Band - JASPER TURNS 21!
May 11: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
May 18: Bethany Sorkey Band
May 25: High Water Line
June 1: Hey Lonesome
June 8: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
June 15: The Deep Thicket Dwellers
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; email steve-dot-goldfield-at-gmail.com for the Zoom link and additional info
First Tuesday (7 pm): Occidental 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
Feb. 12: Mission Hill
Feb. 19: Alan Bond & Skedaddle
Feb. 26: The Whiskey Squirrels
March 5: Hey Lonesome
March 12: Strike the Wind
March 19: Sweet Sally
March 26: Tom Bekeny Band
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
Tuesdays (March 3 - April 7, 7 pm): Great Jam Songs Repertoire with Richard Brandenburg - The Freight, Berkeley
Next session of Fiddles at Four w/ Suzy Thompson on Zoom TBA.
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION
Next session of in-person classes at The Freight, Berkeley runs March 5 - April 9, and includes:
• Thursdays (5:30 pm): Early Music for Dulcimer with DJ Hamouris
• Thursdays (5:30 pm): Easy & Challenging Fiddle Tunes with Erik Hoffman
• Thursdays (7:00 pm): Good, Basic Flatpicking Rhythm Guitar w/ Richard Brandenburg
• Thursdays (8:30 pm): Jams Well with Others! with Richard Brandenburg
BERKELEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS
May 2 -
• 1 pm: Mandolin with Josh Gooding
• 1 pm: Saturday Jam
• 1 pm: Songwriting with Chris Jones
• 1 pm: Fiddle with Jason Carter
• 2:15 pm: Bluegrass Harmony Singing w/ Laurie Lewis, Leah Wollenberg, Tom Rozum
May 3 -
• 1 pm: Guitar with Michael Daves
• 1 pm: Saturday Jam
• 1 pm: The Intersection of Old Time and Bluegrass with Tatiana Hargreaves
• 2:15 pm: Singing with Caleb and Reeb
• 3 pm: Banjo with Tony Furtado
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
March 13-15: Mandolin World Retreat - Benicia
INSTRUCTORS: Mike Marshall, Caterina Lichtenberg, John Reischman
April 23-26: Walker Creek Music Camp (between Marshall & Petaluma)
INSTRUCTORS: Mike Witcher (Group Jam, Band) • Jesse Fichman (Guitar, Level 1) • Yoseff Tucker (Guitar, Level 2) • Ian Ly (Guitar, Level 3) • Avram Siegel (Banjo, Bluegrass) • Leela Grace (Banjo, Clawhammer) • Ethan Setiawan (Mandolin, Bluegrass) • Teo Quale (Mandolin, Swing/Jazz) • Patrick M’Gonigle (Fiddle, Bluegrass) • April Verch (Fiddle, Old Time) • Miles Quale (Fiddle, Swing/Jazz) • Louise Bichan (Fiddle, Celtic) • Evie Ladin (Singing) • Hannah Mayree (Community Singing) • Andrew Osborn (Bass) • Todd Livingston (Dobro) • Neal Chin (Ukulele) • Krishna Feeney (Youth Program)
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 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, CA
July 26 - Aug.22: Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Port Orchard, WA
Session 1 (July 25-31)
Session 2 (Aug. 1-7)
Session 3 (Aug. 8-14)
Session 4 (Aug. 15-21)
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.
Feb. 7: 4 Months 'Til Grass Valley!
The first preview of this year's Father's Day Bluegrass Festival, with music from all the Main Stage bands: The Bluegrass Cardinals, The Price Sisters, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Sam Grisman Project, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Missy Raines & Allegheny, Hard Drive, Caleb & Reeb & the Cali Cutups, Bruce Molsky & Darol Anger, California Bluegrass Reunion, Broken Compass Bluegrass, Sweet Sally, Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion, Critical Grass, Bay Area Special, and the Deep Thicket Dwellers.
Feb. 14: Matters Of the Heart
Happy Valentine's!
Feb. 21: Happy Anniversary!
Allegra Thompson celebrates 11 years as a radio producer/host.
Feb. 28: Panama Red: Still Ridin’ High
The (relatively recent) bluegrass-based recordings of Peter Rowan to get us ready for hgis March 13th show at The Freight.
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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).
Feb. 9-14: Golden Gate Greats!
Bay Area releases in the oughts.
Feb. 16-21: Matters Of the Heart
Happy Valentine’s!
Feb. 23-28: 4 Months 'Til Grass Valley!
Music previews of the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival.
March 2-8: Happy Anniversary!
Allegra Thompson celebrates her years as a radio producer/host.
March 9-15: The Old School
Recent recordings of Peter Rowan.
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Bluegrass Signal PLAYLISTS
Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for the November, December, and January playlists -- and all the others!
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