Author: Michael Hall

The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will celebrate its beautiful new home at the San Benito County Historical Park this August, plus Northern California bluegrass fans will enjoy a full month of great bluegrass entertainment.

The Redwood Ramblers will play their last SF show before moving to Nashville, while the Molly Tuttle Trio will be back from Nashville to play in our area. Cactus Bob & Prairie Flower will join other members of the Hill Valley Drifters (but, alas, sans the members of ZZ Top) in a live Sonora show and screening of the movie “Back To The Future III” that was partly filmed in the local area.

There are festivals in Santa Cruz, Felton, San Diego, Petaluma, Calpine, & Sutter Creek in California, plus Carson City and Black Rock City in Nevada.

Touring bands coming to the area include David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition, Run Boy Run, Claire Lynch, Mark O’Connor, The Salty Suites, Ben Sollee, & Trout Steak Revival.

Blue & Lonesome is taking the entire month off from their regular Thursday series in Petaluma, but will return in September. So, this is the month to check out the NCBS-welcomed Thursday Bluegrass Series at the Summit House in Los Gatos if you haven’t already done so.

Plus, there will be many other great performances all around the area, some of which are listed below in this selective article. Enjoy!

AUGUST

1 — Redwood Ramblers, Amnesia, San Francisco.

1 — Bean Creek, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

1 — Dave Holodiloff Bluegrass Band, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

2 — The Rambling Minors, National Night Out, City Slicker Farm Park, Oakland.

2 — Slide Road, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

2 — Bean Creek, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

3 — Three Crusty Souls, The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz.

3 — Sidesaddle & Co, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

3 — The Whiskey Brothers, Albatross Pub, Berkeley.

4 — Kentucky Twisters, Atlas Cafe, San Francisco.

4 — Kronos Quartet, Bruce Cockburn, KALW 75th Anniversary,  Nourse Theatre, San Francisco.

4 — The Goat Hill Girls With Louise Mintun, Summit House, Los Gatos. (NCBS welcomed)

4 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

4 — Megan Saunders, The Ugly Mug, Soquel.

5 — The Valley Livers, Bluegrass In The Park, Veteran’s Memorial Square, Clovis.

5 — Cimarron Rose Band, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

6 — Blue Summit, MT & The Moonlighters, Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol.

6 — Petaluma Music Festival, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, Petaluma.

6 — Sadot Canseco & Sonia Shell, Blue Rock Shoot, Saratoga.

6 — Blue Mountain Quartet, Lockdown Brewery, Folsom.

6 — Canyon Johnson, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

6  — Nell Robinson & Jim Nunally Band, Mildred Owen Hall, Pacifica.

6 — Heifer Belles, Nevada City Farmers’ Market, Nevada City.

6-7 — Church Street Fair, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz.

7 — The Jones Gang, Teresa Tudury, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

7 — Nell Robinson & Jim Nunally Band, The Back Room, Berkeley.

7 — Jimbo Trout, Sand Dollar Restaurant, Stinson Beach.

7 — Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association, Municipal Rose Garden Park, San Jose.

8 — Courthouse Ramblers, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

8 — The Bowties, Amnesia, San Francisco.

8 — Maria Muldaur, Yoshi’s, Oakland.

8 — Calico, Amelia White, Flypaper Blues, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

9 — Abbott Family Band, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

9 — Carolina Special, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

10 — Run Boy Run, Evergreen Lodge, Groveland.

10 — Dark Hollow, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

10 — Mr. Banjo & The Lonesome Wailers, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

10 — New Lost City Studebakers, Ruffhaus Hot Dog Company, El Dorado Hills.

11 — Run Boy Run, House Concert, Novato.

11 — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers, Summit House, Los Gatos. (NCBS welcomed)

11 — Skillet Licorice, Coast Cafe, Bolinas.

11 — Gayle Lynn & The Hired Hands, Atlas Cafe, San Francisco.

11-14 – NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).

12 — Ben Sollee, Run Boy Run, Swedish American Hall, San Francisco.

12 — The Bicoastal Boys, The Back Room, Berkeley.

12 — Mofongo, Cruz Control, Wild Stallions, Trout Farm Family Benefit, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

12 — Bill Evans’ The Banjo In America, USS Potomac, Jack London Square, Oakland.

12-14 – Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival, Bower’s Mansion Regional Park & Deer Creek Park, Carson City, NV.

12-14 – Comatopia Sierra Mountain Music Festival, Sierra Valley Lodge, Calpine.

13 — Hill Valley Drifters Reunion, Faux Renwah & Friends, Back To The Future III 25th Anniversary, Outdoor movie behind 207 S. Washington, Sonora.

13 — Harmony Grits, San Gregorio General Store, San Gregorio.

13 — Bearcat Stringband Duo, Cato’s Ale House, Oakland.

13 — Ben Sollee, Harlow’s, Sacramento.

13-14 – Saw Player’s Picnic & Music Festival, Roaring Camp, Felton.

14 — Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Keith Little & Friends, The Roaring Donkey, Petaluma.

14 — Ben Sollee, Humboldt Brews, Arcata.

15 — Bean Creek, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

15 — Windy Hill, Amnesia, San Francisco.

16 — Cabin Fever, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

16 — Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

17 — Sidesaddle & Co, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

17 — Carolyn Sills Combo, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

17 — Rita Hosking Trio, Vallhalla Boathouse Theater, South Lake Tahoe.

17 — Jake Peavy & The Outsiders, Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe, The Fillmore, San Francisco.

17 — The Whiskey Brothers, Albatross Pub, Berkeley.

18 — Old Belle, The Vivants, Rainy Eyes, Ashkenaz, Berkeley.

18 — The Salty Suites, D’Anbino Cellars, Paso Robles.

18 — The Waybacks, Matt Jaffe, Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley.

18 — The Silk Road Ensemble, Greek Theatre, Berkeley.

19 — Vintage Grass, First Street Cafe, Benicia.

19 — The Salty Suites, The Back Room, Berkeley.

19 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

19-21 – Summergrass San Diego, Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista.

20 — Montara Mountain Boys, San Gregorio General Store, San Gregorio.

20 — The Sister Brothers, R. Blitzer Gallery, Santa Cruz.

20 — Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen, Rita Hosking & Sean Feder, The Back Room, Berkeley.

20 — International Jug Band Festival, Sutter Creek Inn, Sutter Creek.

20 — The Salty Suites, House Concert, Forestville.

20, 21, 22, 23 — Willie Nelson & Family, Insects vs Robots, The Fillmore, San Francisco.

21 — Laurie Lewis, Mary Flower, Suzy Thompson, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

21 — Keystone Crossing, Sand Dollar Restaurant, Stinson Beach.

21 — Maverick — A Bluegrass Duo, Winter’s Tavern, Pacifica.

21 — Brothers Comatose, Long Meadow Ranch, St. Helena.

21 — Mountain Fire Bluegrass Band, Cato’s Ale House, Oakland.

22 — David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition, The Great Room, Los Gatos.

22 — The Earl Brothers, Amnesia, San Francisco.

22 — Courthouse Ramblers, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

23 — Slide Road, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

23 — Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

24 — David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition, The Fifth String, Sacramento.

24 — Loganville, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

24 — High Country, Albany Taproom, Albany.

24 — Trail Rides Band, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

24 — Dave Holodiloff Band, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

25 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

25 — The Waybacks, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

25 — Freight Fiddle Summit With Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas & more, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

25-28 – Golden Old Time Campout, Lake Sonoma, Sonoma.

26 — O’Connor Band, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz.

26 — Claire Lynch Band, Auburn State Theatre, Auburn.

26 — Trout Steak Revival, Long Meadow Ranch, St. Helena.

26 — The Dim Lights, Pacifica Moose Lodge, Pacifica.

26 — Barwick & Siegfried, California Organics, Nevada City.

26 — Monroe Expedition, Bluegrass In The Park, Veteran’s Memorial Square, Clovis.

27 —  Bearcat Stringband Duo; Festival Speed, Cleophus Quealy Beer Company, San Leandro.

27 — O’Connor Band, Lesher Center For The Arts, Walnut Creek.

27 — The Rambling Minors, The Fifth String, Sacramento.

27 — Claire Lynch Band, Twisted Oak Winery, Vallecito.

27 — Beargrass Creek, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

27 — The Heifer Belles, Gottschalk Music Center, Modesto.

28 — O’Connor Band, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley.

28 — Claire Lynch Band, John Ford Theatre, Los Angeles.

August 28-September 5 – BanjerDan (Still the only bluegrass!), Burning Man Contradance Camp, Burning Man Festival, Black Rock City, NV.

29 — Bean Creek, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

30 — Leftover Crow, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

30 — Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

31 —  Molly Tuttle Band, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

31 — Matt & George & Their Pleasant Valley Boys, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

31 — Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.