Author: Michael Hall

Friday and Saturday this week bring plenty of top quality online music from the International Bluegrass Music Association and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. These programs are FREE, but voluntary donations are accepted. Enjoy!

THROUGH SATURDAY, October 3:

International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention — FREE registration for music only (voluntary donations accepted). Friday music includes Bay Area-related artists Molly Tuttle, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and Earl White, among many great acts.

SATURDAY, October 3:

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass — FREE. Voluntary donations to support the musicians are accepted. A concert with great “hardly-strictly” bluegrass and other music. The 2:00pm concert includes Bay Area-related performers Alison Brown, Laurie Lewis & Nina Gerber, and Heidi Clare, among many other great bands.

The top bluegrass show of the year will be available for FREE online on Thursday, October 1 as part of the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Virtual Convention. The program will begin at 5:00pm Pacific Time. A pre-awards show gathering will begin at 4:30pm Pacific Time.

If you have not yet registered for the convention, you can still enjoy the pre-awards and awards show with a FREE Registration Option for those who are only interested in this and the other excellent bluegrass music programs. (The expanded Regular Convention Registration is also available.)

Go to the IBMA Convention Registration page for the option of your choice. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.

Tuesday, September 29 will be a big day for AJ Lee & Blue Summit at the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Virtual Convention. The band is a national finalist for Best Bluegrass Band in the Momentum Awards ceremony at Noon Pacific Time.

If you have not yet registered for the convention, which runs through Saturday, you can still enjoy the Momentum awards program with a FREE Registration Option (for those who are only interested in this and the other excellent bluegrass music programs). The expanded Regular Convention Registration is also available.

Go to the IBMA Convention Registration page for the option of your choice.

The First-Ever Virtual International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention begins on Monday, September 28 at 8:20 AM Pacific Time with a keynote address by young rising bluegrass star Sarah Jarosz.

This address and much convention activity is open to those who choose the Full Registration Option. There is also a FREE Registration Option for those who are only interested in the excellent bluegrass music programs. The conventions runs through Saturday, October 3 and has music every day.

Go to Convention Registration for the option of your choice.

You will “see” many Californians attending and performing at this year’s convention. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA. In the past, NCBS members traveled all the way across the country to enjoy this convention. This year, it is 100% online.

 

FREE registration is available now for the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention, Monday-Saturday, September 28-October 3, 2020. The FREE Registration Option is for those who are only interested in the excellent bluegrass music programs. A Full Registration Option offers a much richer, more extensive interactive experience. Go to Convention Registration for the option of your choice.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA. In the past, NCBS members traveled all the way across the country to enjoy this convention. This year, it is 100% online, so no travel is required.

 

This weekend will be full of excellent Old Time and Celtic music, available for FREE online. Now through Sunday, September 27, the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention brings top national and local acts to your computer. It is all FREE (voluntary donations accepted) except payment for some workshops. Then, on Saturday, September 26, the KVMR Celtic Festival will do a FREE live broadcast with national and area talent on KVMR Radio in Nevada City (and on KVMR Livestream worldwide). Public Radio Station KVMR is offering a recording of past festival performances as a membership premium for those who voluntarily join during the event. Enjoy!

These Old Time and Celtic festivals will return as live in-person events in 2021. Coming Next Week: Bluegrass!

Beginning this Thursday, September 24, Northern California Bluegrass Society Members and their friends can enjoy a 10-day run of high-quality online bluegrass (and related) music programming, as four major (formerly in-person) events present their wares online for 2020. Most of the shows will be FREE.

Here is what you need to know:

THURSDAY-SUNDAY, September 24-27:

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention — FREE except payment for workshops. Voluntary donations accepted.

SATURDAY, September 26:

KVMR Celtic Festival — FREE live broadcast on KVMR Radio (and on KVMR livestream). Public Radio Station KVMR is offering a recording of past festival performances as a membership premium for those who voluntarily join during the event.

MONDAY-SATURDAY, September 28-October 3:

International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention — FREE registration for music only (voluntary donations accepted), or use the paid registration option to attend the full convention. Best News: The usually-pricey annual IBMA Awards Show is included in the FREE registration. Advance registration is recommended.

SATURDAY, October 3:

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass — FREE. Voluntary donations to support the musicians accepted.