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. Join or renew today!
Author: Michael Hall
NCBS Welcomes FREE 20th Annual Holiday Hootenanny To San Carlos Friday December 12
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the FREE 20th Annual Holiday Hootenanny on Friday, December 12 with bluegrass bands starting the show at 5:00pm. Doors open at 4:00pm. The Stoney Mountain Ramblers will be the host band. Thanks to our own Scott Dailey for booking this event, which is presented by the Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company.
Fall Strawberry 2026 Set For October 3rd Weekend — Frankly Bluegrass Festival Cancelled
The Strawberry Music Festival has announced that the 2026 Fall Festival will be held on the same weekend as this year’s event — the third weekend of October. The event may be 3 or 4 days long, with a further announcement coming soon.
The 4-day 2026 Spring Festival will be held on Memorial Day Weekend. Both events will take place at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
On a sad note, the Frankly Bluegrass Festival has been cancelled. The two-year-old event was held in the fall at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. This was an excellent festival that deserved to make it. It continued a long tradition of bluegrass events at this venue. We will miss it.
Three Week Reminder: December 31 Is Deadline For 2025 Donations To NCBS/SCBS
Three Week Reminder: The last day to make tax advantaged donations for this tax year is December 31, 2025. You can include bluegrass music in your year-end tax planning.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society accepts donations to support area bluegrass and is a California Not-For-Profit Corporation with Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) status that is also known as the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society. The NCBS/SCBS Tax ID No. is 94-2907716.
Mail-In Donations: NCBS/SCBS, PO Box 390846, Mountain View, CA 94039-0846.
Three Week Reminder: GOF Main Stage Band Applications Are Due On December 31
Three Week Reminder: The Main Stage Band Application deadline for the August 6-9, 2026 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is only three weeks away.
Click this link to apply: https://ncbs.us/events/gof/2026-gof-band-application-forms/
The application is DUE on December 31, 2025. California bluegrass bands are encouraged to apply!
The 32nd Annual event is a benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society.
KKUP Monday Night Bluegrass To Feature The Courthouse Ramblers & John Henry On December 8
Monday Night Bluegrass will feature live in-studio music with The Courthouse Ramblers and John Henry & Friends on December 8, 6:00-9:00pm on KKUP, 91.5FM in the South Bay & the Monterey Bay Areas, and on <kkupfm.org> (note new web address).
The program host is NCBS Vice President Mike Russell, who will be joined by live music emcee NCBS President Michael Hall. Lars Bourne will engineer the program. Tune In And Turn On!
August 6-9 Will Be Dates For 2026 GOF Festival
The 32nd Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held Thursday-Sunday, August 6-9, 2026.
Main Stage Band Applications are due on December 31, 2025.
The fun annual gathering of California bluegrass bands, friends and family is a benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society. The festival will take place at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos.
Go Fund Me Page Supports Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company Bluegrass Venue Following Car Crash Accident
A Go Fund Me Page has been established to help the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company following a high speed car crash on Thanksgiving evening that largely demolished the music performance space at the beloved bluegrass venue. The fund will help pay for non-insured losses such as support for workers who are unemployed while the establishment is rebuilt.
Thursday is a regular bluegrass evening, but the venue was closed for Thanksgiving. Otherwise, the high speed crash would have taken out the band and much of the audience.
Owner Terri Hope plans to reopen as soon as possible.
NCBS Membership Supports Local Bluegrass Music
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. Join or renew today!
Band Performance Schedule Announced For FREE 20th Annual Holiday Hootenanny In San Carlos
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the FREE 20th Annual Holiday Hootenanny on Friday, December 12 at 4:00pm. This is a Bay Area holiday bluegrass tradition!
Performance Schedule:
FRIDAY, December 12
(Doors open at 4:00pm)
Main Stage
5:00 – String Slingers
6:00 – Bay Area Special
7:00 – Stoney Mountain Ramblers
8:15 – Pathetic Honey String Band
9:30 – All-Star Jam
Outdoor Stage (timing TBD)
T-Ranch & Friends
Ian Leonard & Bluegrass Valentine
Bruno & His Blind Boys
(And More TBA!)
There will be an array of excellent food trucks at the event, and the brewery will serve fine craft beer and root beer. Thanks to our own Scott Dailey for booking this event, which is presented by the Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company.
