Tomorrow (March 7th) on Bluegrass Signal -- 4:00-5:30 pm on KALW, 91.7 FM in the Bay Area --

musical previews of the Sonoma County Bluegrass & Folk Festival, as well as other upcoming events.





March 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

CONCERTS


Bruce Molsky - 

- March 6: Hillside Club, Berkeley

- March 7: Fiddletown Community Center


​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 6: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma ​

March 7: Taylor Mountain - Art & Music Gallery, Petaluma

March 8 (2 pm): Bluegrass Holiday - Armistice Brewing, Richmond

March 8: Bitchcraft Stringband; John Barleycorn - Back Room, Berkeley

March 9 (8:45 pm): 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: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma 

*** 30th Anniversary celebration ***

March 12 (7 pm: open GD jam, 8 pm show): Next-Gen Dead Jam - Sweetwater, Mill Valley

w/ Spencer Krenz, members of Broken Compass Bluegrass and Deadset805, plus LadyFinger, Lydia Cooley, Mads Tolling, Scott Guberman, Anna Elva, ...

March 12: Monroe Crossing - Otter Opry, United Methodist Church, Monterey

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


Five Mile Mountain Road -

- March 13: Hillside Club, Berkeley (honky tonk dance)

- March 15: The Pearl, Walnut Grove

- March 16: Blondies, SF


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, 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: Broken Compass Bluegrass - Mt Diablo Unitarian Church, Walnut Creek

March 22: Laurie Lewis & Calico - Ashkenaz, Berkeley

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: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma ​

March 26 (9 pm): Tom Bekeny Band (with Kathy Kallick, Bethany Raine Sorkey, and Evan Ward) - The Liberties, SF; preceded by jam

March 28 (12-6 pm): Grassroots Bluegrass Gathering with Fresh Picked, Manning Music Roots and Wings, Yellow Wood String Band, Bloomfield Bluegrass Band, Mitch Polzak & Friends - 1 Plaza Del Hambre, Port Costa; fundraiser for restoration of Port Costa School

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

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April 1: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

April 2: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

April 3: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma ​

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 7 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

April 7: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

April 8: Evie Ladin Band - Strings, Oakland

April 9: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

​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


Mike Marshall & Alessandro Penezzi (choro) -

- April 10: house concert in Santa Cruz; Concerts-at-InstantHarmony-dot-com

- April 11: Omni Foundation, SF


April 13 (8:45 pm): Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion - Blondie’s, SF; preceded by jam

April 14 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

April 14: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose


Sierra Hull; Mason Via opens -

​- April 17: Center For the Arts, Grass Valley

- April 18: Uptown Theatre, Napa


April 17: East Bay Square Dance - Hillside Club, Berkeley; ​​Band: Round Top String Band; Caller: Evie Ladin; preceded by an old time jam

April 17-18: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings (performing music from the acoustic Grateful Dead's Reckoning) - Fox Theatre, Oakland

April 19 (2 pm): Alan Bond & Skedaddle - Armistice Brewing, Richmond

April 20: The Far Out Johnnies - Blondie’s, SF

April 21 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

April 21: Goat Hill Girls - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

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


Molly Tuttle & Ketch Secor -

​- April 28: Center For the Arts, Grass Valley

- April 29: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma

- April 30: Guild Theatre, Menlo Park

- May 1: Sweetwater, Mill Valley

- May 2: Golden State Theatre, Monterey


April 28 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice (and guests) - The Page, SF 

April 28: Johnny Campbell Band - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

April 30: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma


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May 1: Buckeye Boys - Aqus, Petaluma ​

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 5: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

May 6: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

May 7: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

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 12: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

May 12: Shelby Means Band - Otter Opry, Monterey

May 14: Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

May 22: Tribute to Ramblin' Jack Elliot with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott Band (Sean Allen, Paul Knight, Kendrick Freemen, and 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 - 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 2: John Kornhauser & Dark Hollow - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

June 3: Bean Creek - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

June 5: Natalie & Brittany Haas - The Freight, Berkeley

June 9: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Sam’s BBQ, San Jose

June 14 (5 pm): Sweet Sally - Sailing Goat Restaurant, Richmond

June 14: The Far Out Johnnies - The Lucky Horseshoe, SF

June 26: Crying Uncle - Otter Opry, Monterey

​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 9: Barkley Cove - Otter Opry, Monterey

July 10 (3 pm): Taylor Mountain - Penngrove Pub

July 10 (5 pm): Taylor Mountain - Matanzas Creek Winer, Santa Rosa

Sweet Sally -

- 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

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​

Eric & Suzy Thompson -

- Sept. 25: Folsom Opry, Folsom

- Sept. 26: house concert in Davis

Oct. 30: Newberry & Verch - Otter Opry, Monterey

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




FESTIVALS

March 7 (1-5 pm): Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Spring Situation - Berkeley Central Library

CONCERTS -

1:00 pm: Sophia Sparks & Jayna Manning

1:45 pm: Suzy Thompson - women in the blues

2:30 pm: Leah Wollenberg & Jeremy Reinhard

3:15 pm: Zele - Kitka Community Chorus

4:00 pm: Stairwell Sisters reunion

WORKSHOPS -

1:00 pm: Resistance & Rhythm - songs of women's struggles with Duo Pizzicato & Friends

2:00 pm: Fiddle with Karen Celia Heil

3:00 pm: Katelyn Kimmons - story songs and the stories behind them

4:00 pm: Banjo with Christine Wilhoyte

JAMS

1:00 pm: Pena-Govea Band (Mexican)

2:00 pm: Teen jam

2:00 pm: Corn Likkers (old time)

​3:00 pm: Leah Wollenberg (Irish)


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, square dance w/ music by KC Heil & Friends & Evie Ladin calling, Five Mile Mountain Road (w/ Josh Gooding), Pulso de Barro, youth performers of Manning Music, vocal harmony workshop w/ Michaela Mae and Ryan Harlin; Mexican folk music workshop w/ Pulso de Barro


April 19: San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins - Croatian American Cultural Center, 

60 Onondaga Ave., SF

12:00 pm: Bring Your Own Mandolin Orchestra

1:00 pm: Aurora Mandolin Orchestra

2:00 pm: Hildaland (Ethan Setiawan & Louise Bichan)

2:45 pm: Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble

3:45 pm: Cacciatore di Tesori (Irene Herrmann, Janet Dows, Kaethe Hostetter)

4:25 pm: Sophia Sparks & Jasper Manning (Manning Mandolins)


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, 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 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

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


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

photo: Alan M. Bond

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

+

March 16: Crepe Place, Soquel

March 17: Old Western Saloon, Point Reyes


March 23, April 27, May 11: Community Mondays with Richard Brandenburg's Country/Bluegrass Jam - The Freight, Berkeley


April 13-19: CBA Spring Campout + California State Old Time Fiddle Contest - Lodi Grape Festival Fairgrounds


April 26-29: JAMboree - Ruhstaller Farm, Dixon



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 

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

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; steve-dot-goldfield-at-gmail.com for Zoom link and add'l 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 

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

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


Mondays & Wednesdays: Fiddles at Four w/ Suzy Thompson - tunes in GDAD tuning;

Mon.: new tune taught; Wed.: deeper into the tune



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

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

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.


March 7: What’s Goin’ On?

Musical previews of the Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival, plus the Blue & Lonesome 30th Anniversary celebration, Paper Wings/Hannah Mayree tour, and more.


March 14: Across the Tracks

New releases from Tony Trischka (featuring Molly Tuttle), Frank Evans, Red Camel Collective, Junior Sisk, Vickie Vaughn, Della Mae, The Foreign Landers, The Lonesome Ace Stringband, Unfaithful Servants, Becky Buller Band, Wyatt Ellis (featuring Christopher Henry), Tommy Emmanuel, Paper Wings, Milan Miller, Tina Adair, Jeff Brown & Wayne Taylor, Lonesome River Band, The Grascals, and The Carter Sisters (recorded in 1993). Plus: ticket giveaway!


March 21: Celebration of 1946ers

Music from musicians turning 80 this year, including Jody Stecher, Kate Brislin, Eric Thompson, Val Mindel, Ed Neff, Larry Cohea, Sandy Rothman, Frannie Leopold, Pete Wernick, Dolly Parton, Greg Cahill, Randy Graham, Linda Ronstadt, Alan Munde, Chris Warner, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Ewing, Jimmy Gaudreau, …


March 28: Day Of the Dead

Bluegrass versions of Garcia/Hunter songs; plus: ticket giveaway!


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 PLAYERso 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 9-14: The Old School

Recent bluegrass recordings of Peter Rowan.


March 16-21: What’s Goin’ On?

Musical previews of the Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival.


March 23-28: Across the Tracks

New releases from the wonderful worlds of bluegrass and old time music.

  

March 30 - April 4: Celebration of 1946ers

Music from musicians turning 80 this year, including many from the Bay Area.

Bluegrass Signal PLAYLISTS


Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for the December, January and February playlists -- and all the others!




The March issue of the CBA’s BLUEGRASS BREAKDOWN is now available.

Read about the Don’t Call Me Darlin’ Podcast … Missy Raines … Berkeley Bluegrass Festival … Pulso de Barro … Great 48 Recap … Murphy Henry’s Mother Maybelle Bio … 

The Bluegrass Cardinals … Camp Bluegrass Pride … CBA Spring Campout … and Member Profile: Christine Wilhoyte (see below)