The Northern California Bluegrass Society 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. NCBS/SCBS accepts tax-advantaged donations to support its work. The NCBS/SCBS Tax ID No. is 94-2907716.
Mail-In Donations: NCBS/SCBS, PO Box 390846, Mountain View, CA 94039-0846.
The Grammy Awards were announced today in Los Angeles.
Congratulations to Billy Strings on his Best Bluegrass Album award for “Live Volume 1.”
Congratulations to former Bay Area songwriter Melody Walker, now of Nashville, for her co-writer credit on Sierra Ferrell’s “American Dreaming,” the Best American Roots Song. Ferrell also won for Best Americana Performance and for Best Americana Album for her “Trail of Flowers.”
Congratulations to Chris Stapleton for “It Takes A Woman,” Best Solo Country Performance.
Congratulations To Beyonce for her “Cowboy Carter,” Best Country Album, (first African American to win in this category) which was also the Album Of The Year.
Here are the February festivals of interest to Northern California bluegrass fans:
FEBRUARY
Every February Friday & Saturday — Hillbilly Robot Festival, Plough & Stars, San Francisco:
1 — John Barleycorn, The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
7 — Joe Rut & The Sunshine Shovelers
8 — Essence & Gold Country, Ruby Lee Hill
14 — Noelle & the Deserters, Aaron Burnham
15 — Geoffrey Miller, Dave Ricketts
21 — The Dogweeds, Clementine Darling
22 — Mae McCoy & Her Neon Stars, Poi Rogers
28 — Geoff Miller and the Rockin’ Rousers.
13-17 – KKUP Bluegrass Marathon, South Bay & Monterey Bay Areas (91.5FM) and online (www.kkup.org).
19-23 – Folk Alliance International Conference, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
20-23 – Wintergrass, Hyatt Regency, Bellevue. WA.
FEBRUARY-MARCH
February 28-March 2 — WinterWonderGrass, Steamboat Springs, CO. (There will not be a WinterWonderGrass-Tahoe in 2025.)
February 28-March 2 — Bluegrass On The Beach, Lake Havasu City, AZ.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society Information Booth carries flyers for all festivals and other events of interest to Northern California bluegrass fans. The booth will provide information throughout the upcoming bluegrass event season.
The first booth outing this year will be on March 8, 2025. Now is the time for promoters and bands to send in flyers for the booth volunteers to hand out. Send to: Michael Hall, 610 Island Place, Redwood City, CA 94065. Flyers will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
We look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks! Stop by the booth and say hello! We will say hello right back!
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.
You can lead a workshop at the GOF festival this summer!
The Workshop Teacher Application for the August 7-10 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is available on this website. The workshops will be held on Friday & Saturday, August 8 & 9. Applications are due on March 30, 2025.
AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Sierra Meadows will launch a new Northern California bluegrass festival on Mother’s Day Weekend. The inaugural SierraGrass Festival will be held Friday-Saturday May 9-11, 2025.
The Friday evening and all-day Saturday event will be held at Sierra Meadows, a former golf course in Ahwahnee (Madera County). Weekend RV and tent camping options will be available. More details will be announced soon.
The Workshop Teacher Application for the August 7-10 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is available on this website.
The workshops will be held on Friday & Saturday, August 8 & 9. Applications are due on March 30, 2025.
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.
There will be plenty of Great Bluegrass Music in late January for NCBS Members to enjoy all around Northern California!
TUESDAY, January 21
Sidesaddle & Co, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.
Open Jam, Hotel Utah, San Francisco.
THURSDAY, January 23
Sweet Sally, The Liberties, San Francisco.
FRIDAY, January 24
Broken Compass Bluegrass, New Monsoon, Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley.
SATURDAY, January 25
Marin County Breakdown, Shanty Shack Brewing, Santa Cruz.
John Barleycorn, Hop Dogma Brewery, Half Moon Bay.
Windy Hill, Michael Gaither, The Dirt Rakers, Felton Music Hall, Felton.
TUESDAY, January 28
Bay Area Special, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.
WEDNESDAY, January 29
Purple Mountain Majesty, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.
