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.
Get ready for an electrifying night of music as Los Angeles-based band Water Tower takes the stage at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Friday, September 26 at 7:00pm, presented by Snazzy Productions. NCBS welcomes this concert to our area. Known for their raw energy and genre-blending sound, Water Tower infuses old-time bluegrass with punk spirit, creating a distinctive and high-octane live experience. With deep roots in traditional American music and an ear for innovation, their performances have captivated fans from backyards to major festivals across the country.
Water Tower’s lineup features tight harmonies, virtuosic string work, and a vibe that’s equal
parts front-porch jam and punk rock basement show. Their latest album has garnered critical
acclaim for its authenticity and unfiltered passion, earning them a devoted following that spans
generations and genres. Water Tower was founded in 2005 by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Kenny Feinstein. Formerly known as The Water Tower Bucket Boys, the name was changed to Water Tower in 2014 when the band relocated from Portland, Oregon to Los Angeles, California. While their lineup has evolved over time, Water Tower have maintained an ongoing reputation as a force to be reckoned with, with a growing horde of loyal fans known as “The Owls”. Water Tower is
fueled by Feinstein’s masterful song-crafting, fiercely do-it-yourself approach, and crossover
sonic identity that fuses bluegrass/old-time revivalism with a distinctly punk-rock edge. The
band’s current lineup consists of Kenny Feinstein, Tommy Drinkard, Taylor Estes, and Jesse
Blue Eads. The group divides their time between working on new material, practicing for
upcoming shows and festivals, and busking at freeway off-ramps. Busking has given them a
unique platform and opportunity to hone their skills by the side of the road.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes The Jamesburg Community Schoolhouse Bluegrass Festival, set for the schoolhouse on Saturday, October 4 in Jamesburg, in the mountains south of Carmel Valley. There will be lots of familiar NCBS-related musicians onstage!
The Northern California Bluegrass Society Information Booth will be at the Frankly Bluegrass Festival this weekend. Stop by and say hello!
The second festival staged by the late Frank Solivan, Sr.‘s family in his honor will run September 19-21 at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, the site of many festivals over the decades. Solivan was the creator of the Kids On Bluegrass programs and brought many young people to bluegrass.
The late radio host Cousin Al Knoth will be honored with a Distinguished Achievement Award at the IBMA World Of Bluegrass in Chattanooga, TN on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The ceremony will be streamed beginning at 8:00am Pacific. The list of honorees:
Alan Arthur Knoth
Penny Parsons
Ron Thomason
Sidney Austin, LLP
Missy Raines
That evening, AJ Lee and Molly Tuttle have been nominated for major awards at the convention. Here is the complete information for the streamed evening awards show: <2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees, Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients, and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees Announced – IBMA>
Helen Lude, formerly of San Francisco and now of Nashville has been nominated for a Momentum Award (Industry Involvement). The award ceremony from the IBMA World Of Bluegrass in Chattanooga, TN will be streamed on Wednesday, September 17, at 8:00am (Pacific).
Nominees for the 2025 IBMA Momentum Awards are:
BAND OF THE YEAR
The Burnett Sisters Band
Country GongBang
Jackson Hollow
Mountain Grass Unit
Wyatt Ellis Band
INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT
Jordan Laney (artist support, music event specialist)
Helen Ludé (booking agent, tour manager)
Austin Scelzo (musician, teacher)
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR (2 awarded)
Justin Alexander (banjo, guitar)
Luke Black (banjo, guitar)
Marissa Colter (fiddle)
Kyser George (guitar)
Anthony Howell (banjo, guitar, other instruments)
Rainy Miatke (mandolin)
Sam Stage (fiddle)
VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kristen Bearfield
Carly Greer
Yebin Kim
Seth Mulder
Ali Vance
MENTOR OF THE YEAR
Becky Buller
Louisa Branscomb
Martin Gilmore
Rick Lang
Deanie Richardson
Some of the events at the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass are available online, so those who can’t make it to Chattanooga can still enjoy them. So — Enjoy!
The NCBS is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.
The International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention will be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, TN September 16-20, 2025. The gathering will have many Californians in attendance.
Molly Tuttle, AJ Lee, and the late Cousin Al Knoth will be among those honored at the convention.
A new convention event, Biscuits For Bluegrass, will serve breakfast to raise funds for the IBMA Foundation, which is affiliated with the IBMA and is the leading philanthropic bluegrass organization. NCBS President Michael Hall is entering the final year of his third and final term on the IBMA Foundation Board Of Directors.
The new dates (earlier in September) and the new Chattanooga location reflect the growth and development of the international organization. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.
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.
Be a part of it all! Join the Society or renew today!
The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the Snazzy Productions concert with the NCBS GOF favorite Water Tower. The show will be held at 7:00pm on September 26 at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. The band’s latest album is “Live From Los Angeles.”
