The San Benito County Historical Park, home of the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, did not suffer any impact from today’s Tres Pinos earthquake.
The earthquake measured 4.5 on the Richter scale.
The annual benefit festival for the Northern California Bluegrass Society will be held August 10-13, 2023.
Following the lifting of Covid-era restrictions, live in-studio live music will return to KKUP Radio’s Monday Night Bluegrass program on the second Monday each month, beginning on April 10, 2023. The program host is NCBS Vice-President Mike Russell and the live music emcee is NCBS past president Michael Hall.
Bands are being booked now for the remainder of the year. Interested bands should contact Mike Russell at <squelch@pacbell.net>.
The bluegrass program is on every Monday night 6:00-9:00pm with a different host each week. The live bands will play on the show on second Mondays. The station is at 91.5FM in the South Bay & Monterey Bay Areas and online at <www.kkup.org>.
The annual raffle that supports the IBMA Foundation is on now and will run through May 12, 2023. Now is the time to get your tickets and support bluegrass music!
The main prize is a vintage 1967 Martin D-35 Guitar with hardshell case, strap, stand, and other accessories valued at $5,000.
The other totally unique prize is a pair of handmade (in your size) cowboy boots from master boot maker Lisa Sorrell. The boots will feature the art of the Louvin Brothers’ iconic “Satan Is Real” album cover and are valued at priceless!
Raffle Information, Prizes, & Tickets
The IBMA Foundation is affiliated with the International Bluegrass Music Association. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA and NCBS past president Michael Hall is a member of the Foundation’s board of directors.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes all new, renewing, and returning members as we get ready for festival season! You can join or renew your NCBS Membership on this website or by mail! Your support of bluegrass music in our area is much appreciated.
NCBS Members receive a deep discount on Advance Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Tickets. Non-Members receive a discount. Tickets are now available on this website.
April Monthly Reminder: The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s 29th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held August 10-13, 2023 at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos. Discount advance tickets are now on sale.
The final Hickstival Festival, which will be a memorial for the late Pete Hicks, will take place as originally scheduled May 26-29, 2023. Pete’s widow, Lora Hicks Landregan, will be the host. The event was briefly cancelled but is now uncancelled. The gathering will be held at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos.
The annual Northern California Bluegrass Society party for NCBS Members and Volunteers will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at Loch Lomond Park (City Of Santa Cruz park) near Felton. The day in the mountains will feature bands, jamming, picnicking, friends, nature, & fun!
David Stafford, best known as the longtime host of the Friday Folk Off program on KKUP Radio-Cupertino, died following a heart attack on March 21, 2023. He was 72 years old.
Stafford was a key player in making the community broadcaster the leading folk (including bluegrass) radio station in the Bay Area and Monterey Bay Areas. He joined the station’s volunteer staff as an engineer in 1990, went on-air in 1992, and did his last show a few weeks before his death.
Although best known for hosting his weekly Friday afternoon folk show, he began his tenure with a classical music show and was also doing a jazz program on the station in 2023.
He served on both the KKUP Board Of Directors and the Program Committee (which he helped initiate), was Station Manager for several years, and was the station’s Studio Engineer for over a decade. He was a hard-working volunteer and fundraiser for the non-profit station.
The popular Friday Folk Off featured both recorded and live in-studio performances by folk and bluegrass musicians. Dave supported music events throughout the South Bay & Santa Cruz areas.
The Susanville Bluegrass Festival, previously announced for June 23-25, 2023, has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict at the Lassen County Fairgrounds in Susanville. A citywide motorcycle ride-in will occupy the fairgrounds. Organizers plan for the festival to return in 2024 at a new location, which will be announced at a later date.
The 12-year-old event was started by Gene Bach (at the recommendation of the Lassen County Fair Board by then president, Dan Douglas) and then subsequently owned by its landlord, the Lassen County Fair, and headed by Douglas. Now, Dan & Cheryl Douglas will continue to organize the festival with the new owner, the newly-formed Susanville Bluegrass Music Alliance.
This weekend’s NCBS-welcomed Brookdale Bluegrass & Roots Music Festival was a successful gathering of bands & fans at the Brookdale Lodge in the storm-damaged San Lorenzo Valley. The early-week rains and wind severely damaged Highway 9 and left the area with no grid power on the weekend of the festival.
The event went on with limited generator power, and no lights or hot water for guests in the Lodge’s rooms. Bluegrass musicians and fans had a good time anyway. Outside performances enjoyed beautiful sunny and cool days while evening shows were held inside by candlelight.
The festival in the Santa Cruz Mountains was presented by Brookdale Bluegrass & The Brookdale Lodge.
