Volunteers are needed for the August 7-10, 2025 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival! Details are with the Volunteer Form on this website. Ā Get in FREE and join your Northern California Bluegrass Society friends as we put on the best festival of the year!
Author: Michael Hall
Members & Volunteers To Be Honored At NCBS Gathering Saturday July 12 In Santa Cruz
Northern California Bluegrass Society throws a potluck
July 9, 2025 — The Santa Cruz Good Times Weekly
The stage is set for a full day of pickinā and grinninā as the Northern California Bluegrass Society hosts an all-day jam and potluck supper Saturday at the Live Oak Grange.
Headlining the Santa Cruz gathering is Brianna Colliard and the Desert Marigolds, āthe hottest new band in the South Bay/Monterey Bay Area,ā says Michael Hall, president of the Northern California Bluegrass Society. āThey are from the Carmel Valley mountains, the non-ocean side of Big Sur.ā
Colliard and her band recently played on the main stage of the Strawberry Music Festival, a multi-day camping and folk music gathering at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
Warming up the crowd will be the Keith Holland Bluegrass Band, āa group of jammers who get together once a week in Los Gatos,ā Hall says, followed by the Post Folk Revivalists, and Eric Burman and the Brookdale Bluegrass Band, host band of the evening, playing a mix of original and bluegrass music.
For the closing jam at 7pm, Hall says, āThere will be people with instruments both inside and outside so anybody who comes with an instrument can participate.ā
A Tennessee native, Redwood City local and retired lawyer, Hall has served with the society for more than 35 years. āMany, many years on and off,ā he says.
āThis is the fourth time that we have done this event,ā Hall explains. āThe first time was in Hollister, and the past two times were in Loch Lomond. This year weāve decided to move it into town and hold it in Santa Cruz.ā
Musicians, listeners or those interested in becoming a volunteer or member of the nonprofit Northern California Bluegrass Society are welcome to attend this free event.
On Aug. 7ā10, the society also hoststhe Good Olā Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, a four-day fiesta with music, workshops and camping at San Benito County Historical Park.
The Northern California Bluegrass Festival jam takes place 3ā8pm on July 12 at the Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. scbs.org
NCBS Gathering Is This Saturday July 12 In Santa Cruz
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes members and volunteers to the FREE NCBS Gathering at the Live Oak Grange,1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz , CA 95062. The party will run 3:00-8:00pm THIS SATURDAY, July 12.
The event honors NCBS Members & Volunteers and will feature all-day outdoor jams, a potluck dinner and friends! People who are not yet members or volunteers but have an interest in this fun music organization are welcome to attend.
No alcohol at this event. If you choose to eat with us, please bring food to share at the potluck.
SATURDAY, July 12
3:00pm — Keith Holland Bluegrass Jam Band
4:00 — The Post Folk Revivalists
5:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band
6:00 — Briana Colliard & The Desert Marigolds
7:00 — Big Closing Jam
NCBS Gathering July 12
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes members and volunteers to the FREE Saturday, July 12, 2025 NCBS Gathering at the Live Oak Grange,1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz , CA 95062. The party will run 3:00-8:00pm.
SATURDAY, July 12
3:00pm — Keith Holland Bluegrass Jam Band
4:00 — The Post Folk Revivalists
5:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band
6:00 — Briana Colliard & The Desert Marigolds
7:00 — Big Closing Jam
The event honors NCBS Members & VolunteersĀ and will feature all-day jams, a potluck dinner and friends! People who are not yet members or volunteers but have an interest in this fun organization are welcome to attend.
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Has Some Volunteer Openings
Volunteers are needed for the August 7-10, 2025 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival! Details are with the Volunteer Form on this website. The NCBS Gathering, held in honor of NCBS members and volunteers, will be held July 12 at the Live Oak Grange Hall in Santa Cruz.Ā Join your Northern California Bluegrass Society friends as we put on the best festival of the year!
NCBS Accepts Tax-Advantaged Donations
The Northern California Bluegrass Society accepts donations to support area bluegrass and is a California Not-For-ProfitĀ CorporationĀ withĀ Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)Ā status that is also known as theĀ Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society.Ā The NCBS/SCBS Tax ID No.Ā isĀ 94-2907716.
Mail-In Donations:Ā NCBS/SCBS, PO Box 390846, Mountain View, CA 94039-0846.
Bluegrass Friends Are Invited To Celebration Of Life For Carol White This Saturday June 21 In San Francisco
The family of the late Carol White will hold a Celebration of Life this Saturday, June 21. Her bluegrass friends are invited.
Carol lived in San Francisco, and was a longtime NCBS volunteer and bluegrass music fan. She died of a stroke earlier this year in Morocco. She was 79 years old. Carol was a native of Wilmington, Delaware and a graduate of Wellesley College. She received a master’s degree in social work at Portland State University. She worked for many years as a social worker for the San Francisco City & County Government, then had a second career as an enrolled agent, working for H&R Block.
In retirement, she traveled extensively throughout the world. She was traveling with her sister Kati on vacation when she died. She was best known to bluegrass fans for her work at the NCBS Information Booth at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival and at other area festivals. Her camp was always a popular gathering spot.
Her family is looking forward to meeting you and many of Carolās friends to celebrate her life this Saturday at Carolās house. Refreshments will be available.Ā There will be a photo and memory board if you would like to bring something to share.
Address: 875 Huron Ave., SF
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 12-3pm
Feel free to share info with other of Carolās friends. Please call or text with any questions. See you Saturday. — Kati Findlay, <Preciousmettle@sbcglobal.net>,Ā 415-948-4189.
Join The NCBS & Join Us On July 12 For the NCBS Gathering In Santa Cruz!
Your Membership in the Northern California Bluegrass Society supports local bluegrass music in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Monterey Bay Area, and in all of Northern California.
Members can purchase discount advance tickets for the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in August and will be honored guests at the NCBS Gathering on July 12 in Santa Cruz.
Two Week Reminder: Candidate Statements For NCBS Board Election Are Due June 30
Two Week Reminder:Ā TheĀ 2025 ElectionĀ for theĀ Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of DirectorsĀ will be held at theĀ Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass FestivalĀ at theĀ San Benito County Historical ParkĀ inĀ Tres PinosĀ onĀ Saturday, August 9, 2025, 10:00am-5:00pm, and by mail.Ā The nine elected board members will serve a one-year term, August 2025 to August 2026.
Candidate StatementsĀ are due toĀ Michael HallĀ byĀ June 30, 2025, for publication on theĀ NCBS Website. Statements are limited to 100 words.
Volunteers Are Needed For The August 7-10 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival
Volunteers are needed for the August 7-10, 2025 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival! Details are with the Volunteer Form on this website. The NCBS Gathering, held in honor of NCBS members and volunteers, will be held July 12 at the Live Oak Grange Hall in Santa Cruz.Ā Join your Northern California Bluegrass Society friends as we put on the best festival of the year!