October Monthly Reminder: The Historic 30th Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held August 8-11, 2024. at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos. The gathering is a benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society.
The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced that 2024 is the last year that the IBMA World Of Bluegrass Convention will be held in Raleigh, NC. A new location has not been selected for the 2025 event.
The convention has been held in Owensboro (KY), Louisville, Nashville, and Raleigh during its four-decade run. A new bluegrass festival will be held in Raleigh to replace the convention.
The NCBS is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.
The former Bay Area writers and performers of the hit new bluegrass song “Crooked Tree” were honored last evening at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Show in Raleigh, NC.
Former Northern California Bluegrass Society member Molly Tuttle (from Palo Alto) and Martinez native Melody Walker were the songwriters. Both have performed on NCBS stages and now both live in Nashville. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway recorded the song and album. The honorees took home awards for Best Song, Best Album, and Best Female Vocalist.
The NCBS is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.
The 18th Annual Holiday Hootenanny will be held on Friday, December 8 at 5:00pm at the Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company in San Carlos. NCBS welcomes this iconic FREE winter event. More information will be announced soon.
The Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band based in Alameda has won the 2023 Band Of The Year Momentum Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. The award for the nation’s top up & coming young bluegrass band was announced today at a ceremony during the IBMA World Of Bluegrass Convention in Raleigh, NC.
The band’s members have been regulars at Northern California Bluegrass Society events since they were small children. Miles Quale, Teo Quale, and Andrew Osborn were original CUBB members. Earlier this year, they were joined by 2023 National Guitar Flat Pick Contest Champion Ian Ly, who replaced original CUBB member John Gooding (he left to move east when he had a chance to join a major full time touring bluegrass band). Congratulations from the NCBS!
The NCBS is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.
The Brookdale Bluegrass Festival will be held March 15-17, 2024 (note new dates) at the Brookdale Lodge in Brookdale (San Lorenzo Valley) in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Eric Burman founded the festival in 2000 and NCBS welcomes this event to our area each year! More details soon.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the 2023 return of the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass, which will run September 26-30 in Raleigh, NC.
The NCBS is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA. Many Northern Californians will be in attendance. Palo Alto native and former NCBS member Molly Tuttle (now of Nashville) will host the IBMA Awards ceremony during the convention. NCBS honorary board member AJ Lee and her band Blue Summit will be a part of a special concert at the Red Hat Amphitheater.
The convention and festival will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center, while the huge free weekend festival that follows will be held on stages throughout the downtown area. Approximately 200,000 people will attend the annual event.
Applications are open for the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association Leadership Bluegrass Class. NCBS is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA. NCBS Members are encouraged to apply for this rare opportunity.
NCBS president Michael Hall (Class of 2003) will be happy to answer questions and consult about applications.
Applications will close on October 31. The class will be held March 4-6, 2024 in Nashville.
This Saturday, September 23, a new benefit bluegrass festival will be held for the rural Jamesburg School Community Center in the Monterey County hills above Carmel Valley. Bands will include NCBS favorites Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass band, BanjerDan Mazer, The Courthouse Ramblers, Brent Pierce & Acid Grass, The Gilroy Drifters, and more.
The NCBS Information Booth will be there. Stop by and say hello!
A memorial service for “Cousin” Al Knoth will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at 11:30am at the Grace Baptist Church, 484 East San Fernando Street, San Jose, CA 95112.
A social hour and food will follow, with an invitation for a bluegrass jam.
