Author: Michael Hall

Johnson Farm Pickin’ Party Returns To The Santa Cruz Mountains On Saturday April 23

The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the return of the beloved Johnson Farm Pickin’ Party to the Santa Cruz Mountains on Saturday, April 23, 2022. The FREE event is hosted by Mike Johnson.

The 10-year-old event was paused during the pandemic, but is back! The relaxed day of informal music, food, and friends will be held at a new farm near Boulder Creek, not far from the original location.

Here is the official invitation from Mike Johnson:

—

Johnson Farm Pickin’ Party (resuming as 10th annual)

Picnic/BBQ/Bonfire/live music and s’mores

noon to midnight on Saturday April 23, 2022

Bring your instruments, and enjoy the day/night jamming and picnicking with friends and family.

Come by anytime early if you like, or come later and stay later. We’ll light the BBQs at 12noon and keep them hot throughout the day.  Hot dogs will be provided for a “cook your own dog when you are ready” BBQ.  Bring a side,  salad, drinks, or deserts to share. Or just chip in $5 if that works better for you.

There are lots of trails for hiking, a nice creek for kids to play in, a rope swing,  horse shoes, archery, and boules.  Or you can take a nap in the hammock, or try out the rocking chairs on the front porch. Camping is also possible. (Call ahead of time to make arrangements.)

How to get there : (the new location is not far from my parents’ farm)

The address is 18549 Kings Creek Road, Boulder Creek.  Your GPS will get you close. But GPS and cell phones may begin to fade out over the last ½ mile before the house.

Kings Creek Road is 2 miles north of Boulder Creek,  beginning at Highway 9.

The Sawmill Restaurant and the Mountain Store are both landmarks and entrances to Kings Creek Road. Travel exactly 3 miles up Kings Creek Road, past the entrance to “Institute of Heartmath”, continuing straight for about 300 feet (10 seconds) on gravel section of Kings Creek Road. My driveway is on the left.  See you there!

– Mike Johnson

My land line is  831-338-3125   if I am in the house. My cell is  831-246-4399   but does not work if I am at home. Texting works pretty well. My Email  is   mikeshupmobile@gmail.com.

FREE Second Annual NCBS Gathering Set For July 16 In Loch Lomond Near Felton

The Second Annual NCBS Gathering will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 in Loch Lomond, near Felton. The FREE event will offer jamming, friends, musical performances, and your picnic, all in a beautiful lakeside mountain park. An afternoon of music and friends will be fun and relaxed. Gather your friends and carpool to the event!

The first NCBS Gathering event was held in July 2021 at the Historical Park in Tres Pinos.

NCBS Welcomes The Berkeley Bluegrass Festival At The Freight & Salvage April 29-May 1

The 2022 Berkeley Bluegrass Festival will return to the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley on Friday-Sunday, April 29-May 1. Single Day and Festival tickets are available. This is the only bluegrass festival in the East Bay and is welcomed by the Northern California Bluegrass Society.

Here is the line-up:

FRIDAY, April 29

7:00pm — Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands; Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius; and the Jacob Jolliff Band.

SATURDAY, April 30

7:00pm — The Seldom Scene; NorthSouthEastWest Jam with Michael Daves, Tatiana Hargreaves, Missy Raines, Kristin Scott Benson, & Laurie Lewis; and Windy Hill.

SUNDAY, May 1

7:00pm — The Grascals; Missy Raines & Allegheny; and the Kathy Kallick Band.

Enjoy!

Top Huber Truetone Banjo To Be Raffled To Support Bluegrass Foundation Charity Goals

The IBMA Foundation will raffle off a top-of-the-line Huber Truetone Banjo in the second annual Strings for Dreams Bluegrass Raffle. Tickets are on sale now and the drawing is set for May 20, 2022. Proceeds will benefit the foundation’s grants and other charitable projects that support bluegrass music. Only 5,000 tickets will be sold at $20 each or 6 for $100. The drawing will be live streamed at facebook.com/bluegrassfoundation.

The IBMA Foundation is affiliated with the International Bluegrass Music Association. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of IBMA. The first raffle held in 2021 was won by a Bay Area bluegrass musician!

The IBMA Foundation supports programs and initiatives fostering the growth of bluegrass music. The Foundation helps donors create a legacy for future generations of musicians and fans by connecting resources to projects that focus on bluegrass music-related arts and culture, education, literary work, and historic preservation

The prize is a mint condition 2010 VRB-3 Truetone Huber Banjo, valued at $4,100, with two cases and straps. The banjo was donated by longtime IBMA Foundation supporter Richard Spratt. There is no limit to the number of tickets each person may purchase. Raffle tickets may be purchased at stringsfordreams.com from April 1 (9 a.m. ET)  to May 19, 2022 (midnight ET. )

The VRB-3 is Huber Banjo’s recreation of the pre-war style-3 banjo, the most common of all the 1930s flatheads. It features a mahogany neck and resonator with a 1930s style Huber HR-30 tone ring and Huber engineered rim. The mahogany neck imparts a sweetness to this model, with a warm blending of notes for a classic bluegrass sound. The rosewood fingerboard and double-cut headstock overlay are inlaid with a vintage style-3 wreath pattern. It is finished with a natural mahogany stain, with antiqued binding and antique metal finish on the nickel parts. Grained ivoroid tuner buttons complete the vintage look.

The Huber banjo comes with its original hard-shell case, a Reunion Blues banjo case, a leather strap designed by Huber, a cloth strap, an electronic tuner, and a Blue Chip thumb pick.

Your ticket purchases support the work of the IBMA Foundation year-round, including project grants for bluegrass camps and afterschool programs for kids, bluegrass academies at festivals, bluegrass academic conferences, mini-grants for band presentations at schools, college scholarships for students focusing on bluegrass-related studies, the Neil Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award, the annual Bluegrass College Band Showcase at World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, Arnold Shultz Fund grants to encourage participation in bluegrass music by people of color, and a variety of educational resources for educators and students of all ages.

The IBMA Foundation is offering sequentially numbered digital raffle tickets. The purchaser will receive an emailed receipt for verification purposes. Purchasers must be living U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older, to participate and win. If fundraising raffles are illegal in your community, you will be unable to participate (states that prohibit raffles altogether are Hawaii and Utah). Tickets may not be purchased by members of the IBMA Foundation board or those involved in conducting the raffle—including staff members or immediate family members of these individuals. “Immediate family” is defined as spouse or partner, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws, or spouses of children.

Although all proceeds will benefit the IBMA Foundation, purchase of raffle tickets is not a tax-deductible expense (IRS regulation). The drawing will take place in North Carolina and will be livestreamed on the foundation Facebook page. This raffle has been organized in compliance with North Carolina General Statutes 14-309.15—Raffles. The giveaway is conducted by and benefits the IBMA Foundation. For more information on the Strings for Dreams Bluegrass Raffle, go to bluegrassfoundation.org/raffle/ or stringsfordreams.com.

NCBS Welcomes New Bluegrass Venue: Four Points Sheraton In Scotts Valley On April 15

NOTE: This will be an indoor performance.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes a new Scotts Valley bluegrass venue — the Sheraton Four Points Hotel. The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will perform on Friday, April 15, 6:00-9:00pm. FREE. Food and drink will be available at this patio show. The hotel is located at 5030 Scotts Valley Drive.

Apply To Be A Volunteer At The August 11-14 GOF Festival In Tres Pinos

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE GOOD OLD FASHIONED FESTIVAL

San Benito County Historical Park, 8300 Airline Hwy., Tres Pinos, CA
—
Volunteers are needed Wednesday, August 10, through Monday, August 15, 2022.
Volunteers are needed in all areas! Volunteers will receive one day free admission and one night camping at the festival for each 4-hour shift worked. Some positions that are more strenuous may have longer hours, fewer days. All volunteers are to check in at the Volunteer Booth to receive their Volunteer Lanyard. Volunteers will be allowed in on Wednesday for early camping.
Volunteer booth will be open from 8-12 on Thursday through Sunday; other times will be available throughout the festival. Early arriving volunteers are required to check in at the booth on Thursday.
—
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________ Work: _______________________________
Cell: _________________________________ e-mail: _______________________________
Please mark all areas of interest and days available:
___ Committee team leader
___ Computer work
___ Volunteer recruitment
___ Sponsorship Chairman, procuring raffle prizes from local vendors
___ Load equipment into Van Wednesday (morning-afternoon) Santa Cruz.
___ Unload equipment Monday (morning – afternoon) in Santa Cruz.
___ Drive vehicle with equipment on Wednesday and Monday.
___ Truck with tow bar to move storage van on SBHS property before and after festival
___ Set up, raising shade cloth, assembly of first stage, tweener stage, EZ-Ups for shirt booth, merch booth, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and take down Sunday pm., possibly Monday as required.
___ Stage and fencing set up, Wednesday afternoon & Thursday Morning and take down, Sunday pm., possibly Monday.
___ Unload supplies at the park, Wednesday afternoon and evening.
___ Electrical setup, Wednesday through Friday, takedown Sunday pm.
___ Clean up Sunday trash, recycle, move benches to original locations, Sunday pm.
___ Make signs for bands, flowers and stage set up, Wednesday & Thursday.
___ Janitorial Duties, Wednesday – Sunday; and (Monday – pick up porta potties).
___ Set up NCBS showers for use at festival, Thursday.
___ Security, Wednesday – Sunday.
___ Parking crew, Wednesday – Sunday.
___ Ticket sales at the gate, Thursday – Sunday.
___ Children’s program, Friday – Sunday.
___ Set Up first stage, Wednesday.
___ T-shirt, NCBS & raffle booths, Friday – Sunday.
___ Band concession booth, Friday – Sunday.
___ Photography Friday – Sunday.
___ Pickup supplies and ice, Thursday – Sunday.
___ Recycling crew – whole festival 4 hours a day, including Monday.
___ Collect the Trash and put it in to the dumpster – Thursday through Monday.
Which days can you help?
​ ___Wednesday, August 10 ___ Thursday, August 11 ​___ Friday, August 12
​___ Saturday, August 13 ​___ Sunday, August 14 ​___ Monday, August 15
4 hours per day minimum required per volunteer; set up / take down positions require longer hours but fewer days.
All required vaccination and booster shot information must be submitted with application.
Please return this form to: Bruce Bellochio c/o NCBS, PO Box 143, Brookdale, CA 95007
Leave message @ bbellochio@gmail.com / 831-239-8627

Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Now Accepting Vendor Applications

The NCBS is now taking applications for vendors interested in selling their products at the 2022 NCBS GOOD OLD FASHIONED BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
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VENDOR APPLICATION FORM
Northern California Bluegrass Society
PO Box 390846, Mountain View, CA 94039-0846
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival
August 12-14, 2022
San Benito County Historical Park, 8300 Airline Hwy., Tres Pinos,CA.
Business Name:______________________________________________________________________________
Name:______________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________________ State:___________ Zip: _____________________
Phone: __________________________ Email:____________________________________________________
Website Description of product/service Insurance Information:___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
California Sales Permit # ___________________________________
NOTE TO ALL VENDORS: You must have a California Sales Permit or completed form BOE-410D no less than two weeks before the event. Also, an insurance certificate naming the Northern California Bluegrass Society and the San Benito County Historical Park is required.
NOTE TO FOOD VENDORS: Food vendors must complete a San Benito County Temporary Food Permit no less than two weeks before the event.
I hereby apply for a booth at the Good Old-Fashioned Festival and agree to pay the vendor fee of $150 in addition to any costs incurred in obtaining the required permits. The vendor fee is non-refundable. Four-day camping is included for early camping on August 11th and during the event on August 12th-14th.
All required vaccination and booster shot information must be submitted with application for all vendors and helpers attending.
A food vendor application is not complete until it has been accepted by the NCBS. Due to the small size of the festival, NCBS reserves the right to limit the number of food vendors to avoid conflicts.
I agree that the Northern California Bluegrass Society and the San Benito County Historical Park shall not be liable for any property damage, theft or personal injury to Exhibitor, its agents or employees, that may occur at the festival or on the grounds of the San Benito County Historical Park or its surroundings, no matter how such injury, damage or theft may have occurred.
Signed:________________________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
• Please send check or credit card information along with this form to the Northern California Bluegrass Society, PO Box 390846, Mountain View, CA 94039 or email a copy to Dana.frankel0717@gmail.com no later than July 6th. so that the event permit can be filed in time.
GO TO NCBS.US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT!

IBMA Foundation Supports Bluegrass Music & Needs Support — Rare Banjo Raffle Ends May 20

The IBMA Foundation will raffle off a top-of-the-line Huber Truetone Banjo in the second annual Strings for Dreams Bluegrass Raffle. Tickets are on sale now and the drawing is set for May 20, 2022. Proceeds will benefit the foundation’s grants and other charitable projects that support bluegrass music. Only 5,000 tickets will be sold at $20 each or 6 for $100. The drawing will be live streamed at facebook.com/bluegrassfoundation.

The IBMA Foundation is affiliated with the International Bluegrass Music Association. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of IBMA. The first raffle held in 2021 was won by a Bay Area bluegrass musician!

The IBMA Foundation supports programs and initiatives fostering the growth of bluegrass music. The Foundation helps donors create a legacy for future generations of musicians and fans by connecting resources to projects that focus on bluegrass music-related arts and culture, education, literary work, and historic preservation

The prize is a mint condition 2010 VRB-3 Truetone Huber Banjo, valued at $4,100, with two cases and straps. The banjo was donated by longtime IBMA Foundation supporter Richard Spratt. There is no limit to the number of tickets each person may purchase. Raffle tickets may be purchased at stringsfordreams.com from April 1 (9 a.m. ET)  to May 19, 2022 (midnight ET. )

The VRB-3 is Huber Banjo’s recreation of the pre-war style-3 banjo, the most common of all the 1930s flatheads. It features a mahogany neck and resonator with a 1930s style Huber HR-30 tone ring and Huber engineered rim. The mahogany neck imparts a sweetness to this model, with a warm blending of notes for a classic bluegrass sound. The rosewood fingerboard and double-cut headstock overlay are inlaid with a vintage style-3 wreath pattern. It is finished with a natural mahogany stain, with antiqued binding and antique metal finish on the nickel parts. Grained ivoroid tuner buttons complete the vintage look.

The Huber banjo comes with its original hard-shell case, a Reunion Blues banjo case, a leather strap designed by Huber, a cloth strap, an electronic tuner, and a Blue Chip thumb pick.

Your ticket purchases support the work of the IBMA Foundation year-round, including project grants for bluegrass camps and afterschool programs for kids, bluegrass academies at festivals, bluegrass academic conferences, mini-grants for band presentations at schools, college scholarships for students focusing on bluegrass-related studies, the Neil Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award, the annual Bluegrass College Band Showcase at World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, Arnold Shultz Fund grants to encourage participation in bluegrass music by people of color, and a variety of educational resources for educators and students of all ages.

The IBMA Foundation is offering sequentially numbered digital raffle tickets. The purchaser will receive an emailed receipt for verification purposes. Purchasers must be living U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older, to participate and win. If fundraising raffles are illegal in your community, you will be unable to participate (states that prohibit raffles altogether are Hawaii and Utah). Tickets may not be purchased by members of the IBMA Foundation board or those involved in conducting the raffle—including staff members or immediate family members of these individuals. “Immediate family” is defined as spouse or partner, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws, or spouses of children.

Although all proceeds will benefit the IBMA Foundation, purchase of raffle tickets is not a tax-deductible expense (IRS regulation). The drawing will take place in North Carolina and will be livestreamed on the foundation Facebook page. This raffle has been organized in compliance with North Carolina General Statutes 14-309.15—Raffles. The giveaway is conducted by and benefits the IBMA Foundation. For more information on the Strings for Dreams Bluegrass Raffle, go to bluegrassfoundation.org/raffle/ or stringsfordreams.com.