Author: Michael Hall

Kids On Stage is ready to play the Main Stage at the August 10-13 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister). All performers under age 18 are welcome to join in!

Betsy Riger (AJ Lee’s mother), who has organized numerous performances with children, will run the program. Come on down and join us! Here is the plan.

From Betsy Riger:

The GOF is rounding the bend for all festival goers with children! Just a couple of words to help make the Kids On Stage portion of the event go smoothly:

First and most important, please take note of the schedule for rehearsals. To avoid any conflicts for the show, know that if your child is not present for AT LEAST, the Saturday rehearsals, they will not be in the presentation on Sunday. It is a time thing; there is only so much music that can be made for that short 45-50 minute allotment. Our young performers will benefit the most if they can be at all the rehreasals. IF your child can only make the Saturday rehearsals, please let us know in advance.

If you have any questions, I can be easily reached at my personal e-mail:  Betsy Riger.

Second, be sure that your child has a playable instrument and that it is TUNED before arriving into the camp. If you do not have a tuner, borrow one please. (They also need to KNOW the words to the song if they are singing)

Third, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FUN!!!

Can’t wait to see you at the festival!

— Betsy Riger, Director

KIDS ON STAGE SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, August 10 —

4:00pm — Kids and parents are invited to meet and greet with refreshments.

FRIDAY, August 11

11:00am-3:00pm — Rehearsal (45-minute break at Noon)

SATURDAY, August 12

11:00am-4:00pm — Rehearsal (45-minute break at Noon)

SUNDAY, August 13

10:00am-Noon (30-minute break at Noon)

12:30pm – Head to the Main Stage

1:15 pm  – Kids On Stage Main Stage Performance

The 24th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will bring The Mountain & The Moon (Los Angeles) to the stage for the very first time.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society will present the August 10-13 festival at the San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos (next to Bolado Park and 7 miles south of Hollister on Highway 25). The eventis a benefit for the NCBS.

Festival gates will open at Noon on Thursday. Early arrivals will be turned away. There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.

Official Festival Flyer

Festival Details

Workshops covering a variety of instruments and musical techniques will be held at the Lunch & Dinner Breaks on Saturday, August 12 at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival. Check the program for more information.

The 2017 event will be presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society in the lovely hamlet of Tres Pinos, 7 miles south of Hollister and next to Bolado Park. The festival will run August 10-13.

The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, set for August 10-13, 2017, will present longtime festival favorite Sidesaddle & Co. The Hollister-based band has performed more than any other at the 24-year-old event.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society will stage the annual benefit festival at the beautiful San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).

Thursday will be devoted to jamming and socializing, while many top California bands will perform Friday-Sunday. Camping is free with all multi-day tickets. Evenings feature plenty of informal camp jams. A fine time will be had by all!

The 24th Annual Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos, 7 miles south of Hollister.

The August 10-13, 2017 festival is a showcase of top California bluegrass talent and a small, friendly jamming event held at a beautiful venue.

This will be the second year the gathering will be held at its new historical park home (right next to Bolado Park in the same beautiful valley). Our happy hosts, the San Benito Country Historical Society, offer bluegrass fans more shade, more grass, a picking-friendly historical village, and upgrarded facilities. Additional improvements have been made since last year. This is a great opportunity to check out the new venue if you missed last year.

The GOF also features shade over the audience area, food, hot showers, the NCBS elections, a raffle, nice camping (free with your multi-day ticket), children’s activities, and lots of friendly people. There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.

Thursday at the festival is devoted to jamming ans socializing (beginning at noon when the gates open). Here is the weekend stage schedule:

FRIDAY, August 11

First Stage

Noon — Short Cross Ties
1:00pm — The Beauty Operators
2:00 — Dusty Moon

Main Stage

3:00pm — Nate Jones & The Sloe Sippers
4:00 — Black Eyed Susies
5:00 — Cryin’ Shame
6:00 — Sidetrack
7:00 — Goat Hill Girls
8:00 — Wendy Burch Steel & Redwood
9:00 — Snap Jackson & The Knock On Wood Players

SATURDAY, August 12

10:00am — 35 Years Of Trouble
11:00 — The Mountain & The Moon
Noon — Rogue River
1:00pm — (Workshop/Lunch Break)
2:00 — Hot October
3:00 — Circle R Boys
4:00 — Brookdale Bluegrass Band
5:00 — (Workshop/Dinner Break)
6:00 — The Jones Gang
7:00 — Bodie 601 Band
8:00 — Sidesaddle & Co
9:00 — High Country

Dance Hall Stage

10:30pm — Honeysuckle Possums

SUNDAY, August 13

Main Stage

9:00am — Crying Uncle
10:00 — Dark Hollow (Gospel Plus)
11:00 — Old Belle
Noon — Stoney Mountain Ramblers
12:45pm — (Lunch Break)
1:15 — Kids On Stage
2:15 — AJ Lee & Blue Summit
3:15 — Courthouse Ramblers
4:15 — Pathetic Honey String Band

Old Belle (San Francisco) will take the Main Stage at the 24th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival to be held Sunday-Thursday, August 10-13, 2017.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society will present this small, friendly, fun festival at the beautiful San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister and next door to Bolado Park). The event benefits NCBS projects and events that promote bluegrass in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Monterey Bay Area.

There will be plenty of tickets at the gate. Camping is free with all multi-day tickets.

NCBS Membership

Volunteer Form

Festival Flyer

One Day Reminder: The Discount Advance Ticket Deadline for the NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is Saturday, July 22nd.

Online Advance Tickets

Mail Order Advance Tickets