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Next Saturday (4/12) on Bluegrass Signal -- 4:00-5:30 pm on KALW, 91.7 FM in the Bay Area -- music from Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2 from co-producers Sharon Gilchrist and Megan Lynch Chowning, plus Sister Sadie, Uncle Earl, Della Mae, The Price Sisters, The Haas Sisters, Kathy Mattea; Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, & Suzy Thompson; April Verch; Alison Brown; Missy Raines; Sami Braman; Allison de Groot; Rachel Baiman; and many others. The album is also offered as a thank you gift for your donation to KALW during this Membership Campaign, and the program is available on demand (click on the magnifying glass, and select Bluegrass Signal) for one week.
April 4, 2025
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.
This month marks my 50th anniversary (!) of producing and hosting radio programs. Of course, I've planned a gala show (with a focus on 1975) to celebrate the occasion; details at the end of this newsletter, just before info about IBMA membership.
I hope you're able to hear and/or play some music soon -
PeterT
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CONCERTS
April 4: Bluegrass Holiday - Aqus Cafe, Petaluma
April 4: Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Mantra Wines, Novato
April 4: B*craft Stringband; Karen Segal Trio - The Lost Church, SF
April 5 (3 pm): Bean Creek - Otter Opry, Monterey
April 6 (2 pm): Critical Grass - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
April 8: Leah Wollenberg & Alex Sturbaum; Em an’ M (fiddlers Emma Grant-Dreher & Michelle Yu) - The Monkey House, Berkeley
April 8: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
April 10: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
April 10: Jasper & Chad Manning with Ian Ly & Mark Schatz - Kensington Circus Pub
April 11: Eric & Suzy Thompson (with Mark Schatz); Mitch's Kitchen with Mitch Greenhill - The Back Room, Berkeley
April 11: Feral Friday Square Dance - The Polish Club, SF; preceded by old time jam
Sons Of the Pioneers -
- April 11: The Freight, Berkeley
- April 13 (3 pm): The Bankhead Theater, Livermore
Alan Bond & Skedaddle -
- April 11: Kensington Circus Pub
- April 12: Depot Cafe & Bookstore, Mill Valley
- April 13 (4 pm): Baltic Kiss, Pt Richmond
April 14: The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondie’s, SF
April 17 (11:30 am): Skillet Licorice - Union Square, SF
April 18: John Barleycorn - Mantra Wines, Novato
April 19: East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; music: Round Top String Band; caller: Robin Fischer
April 20 (3 pm): Critical Grass - O'Reilly's, SF
April 24: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
April 24: Festival Speed Bluegrass - Dugout Bar, San Anselmo
April 26 (2 pm): Bearcat Stringband - Cato's, Oakland
April 26: Goat Hill Girls - Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co.
April 26: Taylor Mountain - Main Street Bistro, Guerneville
Iris DeMent; Ana Egge -
- April 26: The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley
- April 27: Hopmonk, Novato
- April 29: Old Steeple, Ferndale
April 27: San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins - Croatian American Cultural Center, 60 Onondaga Ave., SF
April 29: Lickety Split - Pond Farm Brewing, San Rafael; ff by open jam
April 30: Eric & Suzy Thompson (with Mark Schatz) - Hopmonk Sebastopol
April 30: Evie Ladin Band - Luigi’s, Martinez
May 1: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
May 2: Buckeye Boys - Aqus Cafe, Petaluma
The Price Sisters -
- May 2: Morgan Hill Grange
- May 3: Folsom Opry House; res: john-at-shaunv-dot-com
- May 4: Nashville Social Club, Carson City, NV
- May 5: Wild Eye Pub, Grass Valley
- May 6: house concert in Petaluma; info/res: marykussmaul735-at-gmail-dot-com
- May 8-9: Parkfield Bluegrass Festival
May 2-4: BERKELEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
May 3 (4 pm): Brothers Comatose; Broken Compass Bluegrass - HopMonk Sebastopol
May 3 (5 pm): Evie Ladin Band - Saratoga Music Series
May 4 (2 pm): Whiskey Brothers - Armistice Brewing, Richmond
May 5: Evie Ladin & Alisa Rose- Blondie’s, SF
May 6 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 6: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 7 (4 pm): Festival Speed Bluegrass - Fairfax Community Farmers' Market
May 7: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 8-11: PARKFIELD BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - V6 Ranch, Parkfield
May 8: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
May 9-11: SIERRAGRASS - Sierra Meadows, Ahwahnee
May 9: Feral Friday Square Dance - Polish Hall, SF
May 9: Marin County Breakdown - Steel Bonnet Brewing Company, Scotts Valley
May 11: Alan Bond & Skedaddle - O’Reillys on Haight, San Francisco
May 13 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 13: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 13: Seth Muldar & Midnight Run - Otter Opry, Monterey
May 16: Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Plough and Stars, SF
May 17: Sierra Hull - Felton Music Hall
May 17: East Bay square dance - Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalist
May 20 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 22-26: STRAWBERRY SPRING MUSIC FESTIVAL - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
May 22: Chris Luquette & the Bushwick Mountain Boys - house concert in Petaluma; info/res: marykussmaul735-at-gmail-dot-com
John Reischman & the Jaybirds -
- May 23: Fifth Street Farms, Berkeley
- May 24: Occidental Center for the Arts
May 23 (5 pm): Taylor Mountain - Matanzas Creek Winery, Santa Rosa
May 23: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma
May 24 (2 pm): Bearcat Stringband - Cato's, Oakland
May 27 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF
May 28: Sidesaddle & Co. - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
May 31 (6 pm): Laurie Lewis & & Men of Note + 1 (with Sam Reider, Brandon Godman, & Mark Schatz, + Nina Gerber); Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band - HopMonk Novato
May 31 & June 1: Redwood Mountain Faire - Roaring Camp, Felton
Laurie Lewis with Bean Creek; Keith Greeninger Band; Strung Over (reunion); Miko Marks; Sweet Sally; many others
June 2: Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Blondies, SF; following open jam (6:30-8 pm)
June 3: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
June 4: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
June 6: Buckeye Boys - Aqus Cafe, Petaluma
June 7: John Reischman & Jacob Jolliff - Fifth Street Farms, Berkeley
June 8 (3 pm): Good Ol' Persons - Folsom Opry House; res: john-at-shaunv-dot-com
June 10: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose
June 12-15: FATHER'S DAY FESTIVAL - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
June 15: Clinton Davis Stringband - house concert in Oakland; info/res: houseconcert-at-att-dot-net
Riannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue (Justin Robinson, Dirk Powell, Amelia Powell, Jason Sypher) -
- June 15: Uptown Theatre, Napa
- June 16: Ventura Theater
- June 19: The Observatory North Park, San Diego
- June 21: Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley * SOLD OUT *
Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee -
- June 18: Fifth Street Farms, Berkeley
- June 19: Otter Opry, Monterey
June 22 (4pm): Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Baltic Kiss, Pt Richmond
June 27: Mission Blue duo - Cline Cellars, Sonoma
June 28: Goat Hill Girls - Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co.
June 28: Taylor Mountain - Main Street Bistro, Guerneville
July 12 (11 am - 6 pm): SF Free Folk Festival - Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park
July 13: Taylor Mountain - Main Street Bistro, Guerneville
July 16: Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas - Mountain Winery, Saratoga
July 26: Never Come Down - Otter Opry, Monterey
Aug. 17 (6 pm): AJ Lee & Blue Summit - Cookout Concert Series at HopMonk Novato
Rebecca Frazier Band -
- Aug. 21: Otter Opry, Monterey
- Aug. 22: Crazy Horse Saloon, Nevada City
- Aug. 23-24: Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival
FESTIVALS
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May 2-4: BERKELEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
(co-presented by KALW and Bluegrass Signal)
5/2: John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, Tray Wellington, Fog Holler; Jesse Appelman & the West Coast Stringband Project (with Yoseff Tucker and Christine Wilhoyt) in the lobby before the concert
5/3: Mr. Sun, Dom Flemons' Shultz's Dream (with Dom, Tray, Dr. Richard Brown, Dante’ Pope, and Brian Farrow), Salty Sally; The Town Howlers in the lobby before the concert
5/4: Della Mae, Po' Ramblin' Boys, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands; Bean Creek in the lobby before the concert
Workshops:
5/3 (11 am): The Hidden Roots of Bluegrass Music w/ Dom Flemons
5/3 (11 am): Writing Original Bluegrass w/ Fog Holler
5/3 (12:30 pm): The Legacy of Hazel Dickens w/ Laurie Lewis
5/4 (11 am): Banjo Workshop w/ Tray Wellington
5/4 (12:30 pm): Bluegrass Fiddle w/ Kimber Ludiker
May 9-11: SIERRAGRASS - Sierra Meadows, Ahwahnee
AJ Lee & Blue Summit (host band) + Viv & Riley, Two Runner, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Yoseff Tucker & the Bowties, Ethan Lawton & the Lottie Doddies, Sweet Sally, Hannah Mayree, Big Dog, Long Forgotten, Henry Warde Country Band, Lechious Moore feat. Lech Wierzynski, Mitchum Jacob, Ismay
May 9-11: PARKFIELD BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - V6 Ranch, Parkfield
The Price Sisters, Showman & Coole (from Lonesome Ace Stringband), Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Bushwick Mountain Boys, Mountain Highway, Evie Ladin Band, Solid Gold Stranger, Blue Birds on a Wire, Water Tower, The Honeysuckle Possums, Red Dog Ash, SLO County Stumblers, Amber Cross, Joy Louise & Kids on Stage
May 18: TOPANGA BANJO-FIDDLE CONTEST & FOLK FESTIVAL - Paramount Ranch, Agoura Hills
Hogslop String Band, Two Runner, Crying Uncle, Maria Chingona, Abby Posner, Caltucky,The Honey Buckets, June Clivas & the Ditty Boys, Red Coyote Band, ...
May 22-26: STRAWBERRY SPRING MUSIC FESTIVAL - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
Dan Tyminski Band, Slocan Ramblers, East Nash Grass, John Reischman & the Jaybirds, Black Opry Revue, Sam Grisman Project, Water Tower, Rita Hosking Band, Chris Webster & Nina Gerber, others
June 12-15: FATHER'S DAY FESTIVAL - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
Main Stage: The Travelin’ McCourys; Gibson Brothers; AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Junior Sisk Band; Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee; Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley; Good Ol’ Persons (reunion); Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick; Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands; Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band; Clinton Davis Stringband; Canote Brothers;
California Showcase Bands: Bearcat Stringband; Matt Michienzie Band; Mission Blue; Town Howlers; Windy Hill;
Vern's Stage: Bay Area Special, Blue Birds On A Wire, Charlie Torch, The Corn Likkers, Critical Grass, Dadweed, Deep Thicket Dwellers, Flatpick Hotel, Hey Lonesome!, Jesse Appleman’s West Coast Stringband Project, The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion, Marin County Breakdown, Matt & George & Their Pleasant Valley Boys, Muddy Mountain West, Skillet Licorice
June 20-25: WENATCHEE RIVER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - Cashmere, WA
Missy Raines & Allegheny, Slocan Ramblers, John Reischman & Friends, Downriver Collective, Bluegrass Regulators
July 11-13: BLUEGRASS FROM THE FOREST - Shelton, WA
Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Jim Hurst, Never Come Down, Runaway Train
July 12 (1-8 pm): CLINE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - Cline Family Cellars, Sonoma
Jake Eddy, Broken Compass Bluegrass, Marin County Breakdown, Hey! Lonesome, Bay Area Special, Water Tower
July 17-19: DARRINGTON BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - Darrington, WA
Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, Special Consensus, Della Mae, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Lonesome Town Painters, Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, North Country, Queen’s Bluegrass
July 24-26: COLUMBIA GORGE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL aka GORGE GRASS - Skamania County Fairgrounds, Stevenson, WA
Special Consensus, Missy Raines & Allegheny, Whiskey Deaf, ...
Aug. 7-10: GOOD OLD FASHIONED BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Piños
Aug. 8-10: BLUE WATERS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - Medical Lake, WA
East Nash Grass, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, Greg & Caridwen Spatz, Cody Sisters, High Valley Mountain Boys, Homebrew Stringband, Blue Point, Blue Ribbon Tea Co.,
Friends Again
Aug. 15-17: SUMMERGRASS SAN DIEGO - Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista
John Moore & Friends, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Vulcan Mountain Boys, Home Girls, Dennis Witcher, MohaviSoul, Stay Tuned, Honey Buckets
Aug. 23-25: BOWER'S BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - Washoe Valley, NV
Rebecca Frazier Band, Never Come Down The Town Howlers, Bay Area Special, Nevada State Junior Fiddle Champion, ...
Sept. 17-21: BERKELEY OLD TIME MUSIC CONVENTION
Jake Blount with Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus; Bruce Molsky; Ozark Highballers; Sarah Kate Morgan; Cajun Trio (Jimmy Breax, Blake Miller, Amelia Biere); ...
Oct. 16-20: STRAWBERRY FALL MUSIC FESTIVAL - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
Del McCoury Band, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, Becky Buller Band, Painted Mandolin, Broken Compass Bluegrass, Late For the Train, Big Richard, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, Chatham Rabbits, ...
JAM SESSIONS
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JAM SESSIONS
April 15-20: CBA Spring Campout and California State Old Time Fiddle & Pickin' Championships - Lodi Grape Festival Grounds
April 27-30: JAMboree - Ruhstaller Farm, Dixon
June 22, Oct. 26 (3 pm): Country/Bluegrass Jam with Richard Brandenburg - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
Aug. 21-24: CBA's Golden Old Time Campout
REGULAR EVENTS
Sundays (11 am): Market & Main (upstairs), Martinez
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
April 9: Johnny Campbell, Phyllis Erck, Mimi Hills, Dave Berry, Janette Foley
First Sundays (1 pm): Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association - Hoover Middle School, Naglee & Park, San Jose
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 Sundays (4 pm): Marin Bluegrass Sessions - Mantra Wines, 881 Grant Ave., Novato; host/info: bruce-dot-sadownick-at-gmail-dot-com
NOTE: May session is on May 4th.
4/13 support band: Marc Francis (bs), Ian Epstein (gtr), Jim Burke (mando), Gary Kaye (bjo), Bruce Sadownick (host/dobro)
Third Sundays (1 pm): old time jam hosted by Bruce Thompson & others - The Way Station, Fairfax
Third Sundays (1 pm): SCVFA jam - South Bay/Peninsula parks (changes each month, cancelled if rain
Third Sundays (3 pm): Sebastopol Bluegrass Jam - Sebastopol Center For the Arts; info/host: redpencil-at-sonic-dot-net
(Mostly) 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
4/27 support band: Bruce Lacey (bs), Aaron Zorndorf (gtr), Ted Silverman (mando), Jerry Barush (bjo), Bruce Sadownick (host/dobro)
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; davidacarlson62-at-hotmail-dot-com
Fifth Sundays (1 pm): Sebastopol Grange Hall; info: socofoso-at-gmail-dot-com
Mondays (6:30 pm) open jam, followed (at 8:30 pm) by band performance - Blondies, SF; host/info: woodylauer-at-gmail-dot-com
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): Morgan Hill Grange
Tuesdays (7 pm): Hotel Utah, SF; host/info: woodylauer-at-gmail-dot-com
Tuesdays (7 pm): Andronico’s old time jam; led by Dinah and Noah Stroe
- odd Tues: at Andronico's on Funston between Lincoln & Irving, SF
- 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
First & Third Tuesdays (7 pm): Corte Madera Jam - Corte Madera Lutheran Church
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 (5 pm): Bluegrass jam (followed by live band performance) - Baltic Kiss, 136 Park Place, Point Richmond; host/info: p-dot-k-dot-frizzell-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
April 9: Johnny Campbell, Phyllis Erck, Mimi Hills, Dave Berry, Janette Foley
First & Third Wednesdays (6 pm): Grape Jam - invitational jam at Redwood Cafe, 8240 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati
Second & Fourth Wednesdays (6 pm): bluegrass jam - Redwood Cafe, Cotati
Thursdays (5:30 pm): open jam, followed (at 7:00 pm) by band performance - The Liberties, SF; host/info: woodylauer-at-gmail-dot-com
Thursdays (7 pm): Java Jam - invitational jam at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 W Main St., LG
April 10: Sidesaddle & Co: Lee Ann Welch, Sonia Shell, Kim Elking, Lisa Burns, Glen Dauphin
Thursdays (7 pm): United Methodist Church, Monterey
First 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
Second & Fourth Fridays (7 pm): SF Folk Music Club's Old Time & Celtic session - St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, 2097 Turk Blvd., SF
Saturdays (5:30 pm): Taco Jam - invitational jam at Baja Taqueria, 4070 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
April 5: John McFarland, Jordan Klein, Louise Minton, Jeff Ward, Larry Chung
April 12: Garrett Massman, Avram Siegel, Jim Duber, Tom Bekeny, Mary Gibbons
April 19: Jew-Hee Haar Farris, Zach Roth, Bethany Sorkey, Dan Large, Greg Pratt
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 Sundays (1 pm): Barbary Bluegrass jam - Belle Cora, 565 Green St., SF; host/info: inakabee-at-gmail-dot-com
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
Third Saturdays (4 pm): The Shred Sesh (old time jam) - Starry Plough, Berkeley
INSTRUCTION
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It's nearly time for music camp!
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION
The Spring II class sessions of in-person Freight & Salvage classes begins the week of May 5, and includes:
Wednesdays
5:30 pm: Introduction to Mountain Dulcimer w/ DJ Hamouris
Thursdays
7 pm: Rhythm Guitar Skill Building w/ Richard Brandenburg
8:30 pm: Jams Well with Others w/ Richard Brandenburg
Fridays (10 am, beginning 4/11): Intro to Mountain Dulcimer w/ DJ Hamouris - Berkeley Adult School, Longfellow Middle School Dining Commons
Saturdays - April 12, May 24, June 7, June 14: Tunes and Techniques of Black Fiddle Players w/ Darcy Ford-James - Oakland Public Conservatory Of Music, 492 - 9th St., Oakland
Third Sunday (7 pm): Old Time Tunes With Words w/ Rowan McCallister & Robin Fisher - Manning Music, Berkeley; advance registration req'd; bearcatstringband-at-gmail-dot-com
May 17-18: Wernick Method weekend jam camp in Hollister with Mike & Gail Thomas
Sept. 13-14: Wernick Method weekend jam camp in Hollister with Mike & Gail Thomas
ONLINE INSTRUCTION
The Spring II class sessions of online Freight & Salvage classes begins the week of May 5, and includes:
Tuesdays (7 pm): Fiddle Tunes & Techniques w/ Erik Hoffman
Mon. & Wed. at 4 pm: Fiddles at Four w/ Suzy Thompson on Zoom
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
2025 MUSIC CAMPS
April 25-28: Walker Creek Music Camp (between Marshall & Petaluma)
Instructors: Patrick Sauber (Banjo, Bluegrass), Kendl Winter (Banjo, Clawhammer), Bethany Sorkey (Bluegrass Jamming), Mike Witcher (Dobro), Brandon Godman (Fiddle, Bluegrass), Karen Celia Heil (Fiddle, Old Time), Eli West (Guitar, Bluegrass Flatpicking), Jon Shain (Guitar, Blues), Greg Schochet (Guitar, Western Swing), John Reischman (Mandolin, Bluegrass), Adam Roszkiewicz (Mandolin), Neal Chin (Ukulele), Michaela Mae & Ryan Harlin (Vocals, Harmony), Dave Keenan (Vocals, Repertoire), Krishna Feeney (Music & More! – Youth Program)
May 7-11: Julian Family Fiddle Camp - Whispering Winds Camp, Julian
Instructors: Sami Braman (Old-time Fiddle), Nat Copeland (Beginner-mediate Fiddle), Clinton Davis (Clawhammer Banjo: Beyond the Bum-Ditty), Carolyn Kendrick (Songwriting), Rachael Price (Vocals), Luke Price (Fiddle), Vickie Vaughn (Bass), Joe Walsh (Mandolin), Tray Wellington (Banjo), Eli West (Guitar)
May 29 - June 1: Bluegrass In the Gorge - Corbett, OR
Instructors: Darol Anger, Hailey Pexton, Ethan Lawton, Dave Keenan, Forrest Marowitz
June 8-11: CBA Music Camp - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
Instructors: Yoseff Tucker (Bluegrass Band 2/3), George Guthrie (Bluegrass Banjo 1/2), Patrick Sauber (Bluegrass Banjo 2/3), Brandon Godman (Bluegrass Fiddle 1/2), Patrick M’Gonigle (Bluegrass Fiddle 2/3), Jack Tuttle (Bluegrass Guitar 1/2), Nick Weitzenfeld (Guitar: Improvisation from the Ground Up 2/3), John Reischman (Mandolin 1/2), Jacob Jolliff (Mandolin 2/3), Sally Van Meter (Dobro 2/3), Hasee Ciaccio (Bluegrass Bass 1/2/3), Caleb Klauder & Reeb Wilms (Vocal Harmony 2/3), Michaela Thomas (The Inner Workings of the Voice 2/3), Jere Canote (Old-Time Band 2/3), Greg Canote (Old-Time Fiddle 2/3), Ryan Harlin (Clawhammer Banjo 2/3), Masha Goodman-Crawford and Geff Crawford (Old-Time Fiddle and Banjo 1/2), Robin Fischer (Square Dance Calling 1/2), Kathleen Rushing & Ruth Duterte (FunGrass - for kids)
June 11-14: CBA Youth Academy - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley
June 22-29: Big Sur Fiddle Camp
Instructors: Abigal Washburn, Jordan Tice, Simon Chrisman, John Weed, Rebecca Stout, Ruairdh Mackay, Colin Cotter, Sumaia Jackson
June 23-28: Voice Works - Port Townsend, WA
Faculty: Pharis Romero (Artistic Director), Christine Balfa, Dina Blade, Gail Davies, DaShawn and Wendy Hickman, Laurie Lewis with George Guthrie, Max Malone, Emily Miller, Valerie Mindel, Sarina Partridge, Dawn Pemberton, Rachael Price, Melody Walker
June 27 - July 1: Chris Thile’s Acousticamp - Asilomar Hotel, Pacific Grove
Instructors: Chris Thile, Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas, Paul Kowert, Noam Pikelny, Josh Ritter, Julian Lage, Michael Daves, Maddie Witler
June 29 - July 6: Festival of American Fiddle Tunes - Port Townsend, WA
Faculty: The Onlies (Artistic Directors), Swanky Kitchen Band, Paul Brown with Terri McMurray and Chester McMillian, Belen Escobedo and Ramon Gutierrez, Adolfo “Dolfu” Fernandez, Preston Frank with Kevin Wimmer, The Tennessee Hillbuddies, Rhys Jones, Tom Krueger, Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen, Laurie Lewis with George Guthrie, Troy MacGillivray, Sarah Kate Morgan, Mairi Rankin, Caitlin Romtvedt, Alexandre Cadarso Suárez with Kevin Carr
July 12-25: California Coast Music Camp - retreat location in Monterey County, ~ 1.5 hr. south of San Jose
Week 1 (July 12-18) instructors: Kat Bula (Beginning Guitar, Fingerstyle Guitar Basics), Colin Cotter (Celtic Guitar Backup, Fiddle Workout: Celtic Repertoire), Mike Dowling (Bottleneck Blues and Beyond, Swing Guitar Improv), Marla Fibish (Beginning Mandolin, Irish Repertoire / Three Handy Sets!), Chris Grampp (Beginning Improvisation, On-the-Spot Arranging), Ed Johnson (Doo Wop to Pop!, Groove & Passion: Motown and R&B Acoustic), Paul Kotapish (The Big Jangle: Byrds, Beatles, Heartbreakers, and Rickenbackers from Hell, Fun Tunes From Around the Globe to Tickle Your Sense of Time), Evie Ladin (Body Music, Clawhammer Banjo), Janet Lenore (Songwriting Kickstarter: Games People Play, Instigator), Carol McComb (From Hank to Dolly, Fingerstyle Arranging), Kristina Olsen (Tone Production, Swing Jazz Vocals), David Pascoe (Fiddle Technique: Supporting the Song, Americana / String Band Lab), Brian Rice (Rhythm in a Box, Shake Rattle and Roll!), Cindy Browne Rosefield (Beginning Bass, Nothing But The Blues...and Beyond), Ukulenny (Even Ukuleles Get the Blues, Let’s Jam! Soloing & More on the Ukulele), Melody Walker (Finding Power in Your Voice, Writing the Instant Classic: Songwriting), Mike Wollenberg (Intro to Swing Guitar, Jazz / Pop Solo Guitar Arranging)
Week 2 (July 19-25) instructors: Cary Black (Upright Bass Basics, Bass Musicianship), Neal Chin (‘Ukulele-isms, ‘Ukulele Jazz), Elijah Cole (Harmony, Get Your Groove On!), Bryan Cooperrider (Your Total Rhythm Workout, Beginning Guitar), Gina Davis (Jamnastics for Guitarists and Their Fretted Friends, From Hearth to Stage: Voice and Guitar Performance for Folkies), Amy Friedricks (Fun With Barre Chords, Instigator), Nina Gerber (Play Well With Others, Theory Applied to Guitar), Sylvia Herold (Swing Gently: Intro to Swing Guitar, Moving on in Swing: Intermediate Swing Guitar), Sue Horowitz (Songwriting Playground, My Two Cents), Cara Luft (School of Rock for Folkies, Harmony Singing), Tim May (Get Started With Soloing: What To Do When They Say “Take It!”,” Flatpicking Solos: Kick it Up a Notch), Ami Molinelli )Sticks and Stones Won’t Break Your Bones!, Mysteries of Brazilian Rhythms to the American Influences), Miles Quale (Intermediate Bluegrass Fiddling, Fiddle: Advanced Creative Improvising), Kim Scanlon (The Mysteries of Vocal Blend, Song as Teacher), Jon Shain (Beginning Fingerstyle Blues, Songwriting Guitar), Avram Siegel (Bluegrass Banjo, String Band), Steve Smith (Mandolin Kickstarter, Crank It Up!)
July 14-18: West Marin Fiddle Camp - Bolinas, CA
Instructors: Riley Baugus, Rachel Baiman, George Jackson, David Thiessen, Jesse Fichman, Mason Via, Duncan Wickle, Sarah Savoy, others
July 26 - Aug.22: Puget Sound Guitar Workshop - Bremerton, WA
Session 1 (July 26 – Aug. 1) instructors: Ami Molinelli (Percussion), Anka Summerhill (Guitar, Repertoire), Ava Honey (Instigator, Repertoire), Cara Luft (Repertoire, Banjo), Chic Street Man (Guitar, Performance), Cindy Browne Rosefield (Bass), Devin Champlin (Guitar, Songwriting), Greg Schochet (Guitar), Leah Wollenberg (Fiddle), Marco de Carvalho (Guitar), Neal Chin (‘Ukulele), Nova Karina Devonie (Songwriting, Theory), Patrice Haan (Vocals, Listening), Tony Marcus (Camp Instrumentalist, Guitar), Wayne Henderson (Guitar)
Session 2 (Aug. 2-8) instructors: Brian Seeger (Guitar), Carol McComb (Repertoire, Vocals), Cosy Sheridan (Songwriting, Guitar), Daniel Ward (Ukulele), Ed Johnson (Vocals, Repertoire), Ethan Setiawan (Mandolin), Jay Knowles (Songwriting, Performance), Jennifer Scott (Vocals), John Knowles (Guitar, Private Lessons), Kat Bula (Fiddle, Guitar), Mandy Lynn Danzig (Camp Instrumentalist), Michaelle Goerlitz (Percussion), Orville Johnson (Guitar, Dobro), Rene Worst (Bass), Sylvia Herold (Guitar), Tom Rawson (Instigator)
Session 3 (Aug. 9-15) instructors: Adam (Roscoe) Roszkwiecz (Guitar, Tunewriting), Addie Mathis (Vocals, Repertoire), Amy Friedricks (Instigator, Guitar), Geoff Morgan (Guitar, Songwriting), Ida Winfree (Mandolin), John Miller (Guitar, Private Lessons), Julian Oliver (Fiddle), Kathy Kallick (Guitar, Repertoire), Keith Lowe (Bass, Camp Instrumentalist), Laura Silverstein (Guitar), McKain Lakey (Banjo, Songwriting), Nina Gerber (Guitar), Ron Peters (Guitar), Sally Van Meter (Dobro), Tom Hodge (Ukulele)
Session 4 (Aug. 16-22) instructors: Adam Levy (Guitar), Ben Hunter (Fiddle), Christian Casolary (Percussion, Practicing), Greg Canote (Fiddle, Home Town Band Lab), Jere Canote (Ukulele, Home Town Band Lab), Laurel Bliss (Instigator, Repertoire), Libby McLaren (Vocals), Madeleine Elkins (Guitar), Marla Fibish (Mandolin, Repertoire), Mick Nicholson (Bass), Mike Dowling (Guitar), Robin Flower (Guitar, Tune Writing), Steve Baughman (Guitar, Banjo), Susan Cattaneo (Songwriting), Val Mindel (Guitar)
Sept. 1-5: Mandolin World Retreat with Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg plus Peppino D'Agostino - Ortigia (Siracusa), Sicily
Sept. 4-7: American Banjo Camp - Pilgrim Firs Conference Center near Port Orchard, WA
instructors - Bluegrass Banjo: Greg Cahill, Gina Furtado, Eli Gilbert, Alan Munde, Mike Stahlman, Tray Wellington; Old-Time Banjo: Hilarie Burhans, Joseph Decosimo, Frank Evans, Maggie Lind, Ken Perlman, Molly Tenenbaum; Other Instruments: Dale Adkins (mando), Greg Blake (gtr), Peter Langston (gtr/mando), Jere Canote (o-t gtr), Greg Canote (o-t fid), Mick Nicholson (bs)
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.
April 5: Across the Tracks
New music from Kristin Scott Benson/Gena Britt/Alison Brown, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Missy Raines & Alleghenay with Kathy Kallick & Laurie Lewis, Suzy Thompson, Big Country Bluegrass, I’m With Her, The Seldom Scene, Special Consensus with Robbie Fulks & Josh Williams, Alison Brown & Steve Martin with Tim O'Brien, and ... others.
April 12: Music from Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2
featuring co-producers Sharon Gilchrist and Megan Lynch Chowning, plus Sister Sadie; Uncle Earl; Della Mae; The Price Sisters; Kathy Mattea; Ginger Boatwright; Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, & Suzy Thompson; Brittany & Natalie Haas; April Verch; Alison Brown; Missy Raines; Sami Braman; Allison de Groot; Rachel Baiman; and ... others.
April 19: Previews of the Berkeley Bluegrass Festival -- and other upcoming events
Music from John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, Tray Wellington, Dom Flemons' Shultz's Dream, Po' Ramblin' Boys, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, Della Mae, Mr. Sun, Salty Sally, and Fog Holler, plus The Price Sisters, Iris DeMent, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Sierra Hull, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Viv & Riley, and, yes, others.
April 26: Across the Tracks (1975 Edition)
A celebration of PT's 50 years in radio! See below!
May 3: Story Songs
New-to-Bluegrass-Signal producer/host Bria Light presents a few of her favorites.
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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).
March 31 - April 5: Across the Tracks
New releases from Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson, Big Country Bluegrass, Hillary Klug & Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Brand New Box Of Matches, Red Wine, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Shelby Means, Jesse Smathers, The Seldom Scene, The Kody Norris Show, Kenny & Amanda Smith, The Travelin’ McCourys, and, you guessed it, others.
April 7-12: Tumbling Tumbleweeds
A history -- and contemporary music -- of The Sons Of the Pioneers with band bass player Chuck Ervin, who also previews their upcoming Bay Area concerts.
April 14-26: Membership Campaign Special: Across the Tracks (1967)
Featuring a collection of music released in early 1967 -- the beginnings of "Bluegrass Country" ...! Thanks for your support HERE.
April 21-26: Across the Tracks (2025)
New music from Big Country Bluegrass, I’m With Her, The Seldom Scene, Sierra Hull, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Missy Raines Band & guests, Kristin Scott Benson/Gena Britt/Alison Brown, and others.
April 28 - May 3: Across the Tracks (1975)
A celebration of PT's 50 years in radio!
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Bluegrass Signal PLAYLISTS
Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for the the January, February, and March playlists -- and all the others!
HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY!
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Vancouver Co-op Radio went on the air in April, 1975, and I was a producer/host from the git-go. After nearly 20 years doing radio there and at CBC Radio, I moved to the Bay Area, and have been producing and hosting radio shows here (and syndicated via Bluegrass Country Radio) ever since.
I thought it'd be fun to mark my 50th anniversary as a broadcaster by presenting a program of new releases and reissues -- from 1975! As you can see from the LP covers above and below this note, it turns out that ... it was a very good year!
I hope you'll enjoy this stroll down memory lane with me from April 26-May 3 on KALW, and April 28-May 3 on Bluegrass Country. As always, it's a pleasure and a privilege to present the music!
- PT
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