The 13th Annual Northern California Bluegrass Awards were held in Redwood City on January 25, 2020. The popular young band A J Lee & Blue Summit (San Jose) took four of the nine categories, including Best Bluegrass Band.
The awards show, part of the weekend’s Bluegrass On Broadway Festival, is presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society.
Other award winners included Billy Pitrone (Santa Cruz), Best Male Vocalist, and one current and one former member of the iconic High Country band — Larry Cohea (Best Banjo Player, El Cerrito) and the recently-retired Jim Mintun (Best Dobro Player, Capitola).
Suzanne Suwanda of Los Gatos won for Best Bass Player. Lee Anne Welch (Saratoga) was voted Best Fiddle Player.
A J Lee (San Jose) was named Best Female Vocalist and Best Mandolin Player, while Sullivan Tuttle (A J Lee & Blue Summit, San Jose) won Best Guitar Player.
The Redwood City Arts Commission supports the free festival, along with other agencies, businesses, and individuals in the Redwood City area.