Join us at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos for the free Kids On Stage program. Daily youth jams, practice, and instructional sessions will culminate in a Sunday morning Main Stage performance!
Players, singers, and dancers are welcome!
All kids under 13 are in free to the festival. Pre-registered 13-19 year-olds also receive free admission to the festival. Register at: <www.ncbs.us>
The program will be conducted by Joy Louise, Betsy Riger, and Amy Warren. The festival is presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Contact: amywarr3n@gmail.com.
Northern California Bluegrass Fans have two festivals of interest coming up this Mother’s Day Weekend.
May 8-11 — Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, various venues, Parkfield. Presented by the Bluegrass Music Society Of The Central Coast. The NCBS Information Booth will be there!
May 9-10 — SierraGrass Festival, Sierra Meadows Resort, Ahwahnee. Presented by AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Sierra Meadows Resort. NCBS will have an informal team at the new event to answer any questions you may have.
Volunteers are needed for the August 7-10, 2025 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival! Details are with the Volunteer Form on this website. Join your Northern California Bluegrass Society friends as we put on the best festival of the year!
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. Join us!
This Weekend: The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the 9th Annual Berkeley Bluegrass Festivalat the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley, Friday, May 2 — Sunday, May 4.
There will be workshops during the day throughout the weekend, with concerts each evening beginning at 6:00pm.
FRIDAY, May 2
John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, Tray Wellington, Fog Holler, & Jesse Appelman’s West Coast Stringband Project.
SATURDAY, May 3
Mr. Sun, Dom Flemons’ “Shultz’s Dream”, Salty Sally & The Town Howlers.
SUNDAY, May 4
Della Mae, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands & Bean Creek.
One Day Reminder:April 30 is Your LAST Chance to win a 1980 Deering Advanced Maple Blossom Banjo and support the future of bluegrass music!
The 5th Annual Strings For Dreams Bluegrass Raffle will end on April 30, 2025 at 9:00pm Pacific Time. This year’s prize is a 1980 Deering Advanced Maple Blossom Banjo, generously donated by John Marchi and valued at $2,200. Mr. Marchi purchased the banjo in 1980, and he is the only previous owner. Raffle Tickets start at $20 each, with no limit on the number of chances an individual may purchase. Raffle tickets are available at this link:
A cherished model among bluegrass musicians, the Deering Advanced Maple Blossom banjo features a stunning maple neck and resonator, delivering the crisp, bright tone that Deering banjos are known for. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a collector, this vintage instrument is a fantastic prize.
Every raffle ticket purchase helps fund the IBMA Foundation’s mission to foster the growth of bluegrass music through educational programs, scholarships, and grants. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the International Bluegrass Music Association, which is affiliated with the foundation. NCBS President Mchael Hall is a member of the foundation Board of Directors.
Raffle Proceeds support:
Bluegrass camps and afterschool programs
Educational bluegrass presentations in schools
College scholarships for students focusing on bluegrass-related studies
Bluegrass educational grants to help musicians with the expense of attending camps, lessons, educational supplies, and instrument rental/repair
The Arnold Shultz Fund, which encourages participation in bluegrass music by people of color
Bluegrass academic conferences, workshops, and research awards
Educational resources including the Discover Bluegrass: Exploring American Roots Music and the Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 video series
The annual NCBS Gathering Membership & Volunteer Party will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at the Live Oak Grange in Santa Cruz.
There will be jamming, bands, a potluck, and friends! NCBS Members and Volunteers will be honored! And…if you are interested in becoming a member or a volunteer, you are also welcome!
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the 9th Annual Berkeley Bluegrass Festival, set for the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley May 2-4, 2025.
There will be workshops during the day throughout the weekend, with concerts each evening beginning at 6:00pm.
FRIDAY, May 2
John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, Tray Wellington, Fog Holler, & Jesse Appelman’s West Coast Stringband Project.
SATURDAY, May 3
Mr. Sun, Dom Flemons’ “Shultz’s Dream”, Salty Sally & The Town Howlers.
SUNDAY, May 4
Della Mae, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands & Bean Creek.
A special program about the Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be broadcast on KBCZ Radio in Boulder Creek on Sunday April 27 6:00-8:00pm.
The station is at 89.3FM in the San Lorenzo Valley down to Santa Cruz, and is online at <www.kbcz.org>.
Eric Burman hosts the Enrico Burmado Show, which is on each Sunday evening. NCBS President Michael Hall will be a guest on the GOF show. Live recordings from past festivals will provide musical entertainment and the details of the August 7-10, 2025 festival will be provided.
The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held Thursday-Sunday August 7-10 at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos. The 31st festival is a benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society.
