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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.

NCBS Membership

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.

NCBS Online Donations

The members of the Northen California Bluegrass Society elected the 2025-2026 Board of Directors on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in Tres Pinos.

All the incumbents were returned for another year. They are: Gary Anwyl of Palo Alto, Bruce Bellochio of Brookdale, Eric Burman of Bonny Doon, Scott Conroy of San Luis Obispo, Bruce Edmundson of Sunnyvale, Michael Hall of Redwood City, Lois Kellerman of Mountain View, Joanne Minasi of Modesto, and Mike Russell of Fremont.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the Snazzy Productions concert with the nationally-touring all-women band Della Mae this Thursday, August 14. This award-winning band is a Santa Cruz area favorite!

The performance will be held at The Landing (formerly the Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center) in Scott’s Valley.

The IBMA Foundation was the subject of an informative article about its support for bluegrass in the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee newsletter. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the International Bluegrass Music Association, which is affiliated with the IBMA. NCBS President Michael Hall is on the IBMA Foundation Board of Directors.

IBMA Foundation Article — Keeping The Roots Alive With The IBMA Foundation (CFMT, 2025)

SUNDAY, August 10

Main Stage

10:00—Mountain Drive
11:00—Kids on Stage
12:00—Critical Grass

1:00—Alan Bond and Skedaddle
2:00—Lucas Lawson

3:00—Festival Ends

The NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 7-10, 2025 at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos.

SATURDAY, August 9

Main Stage

10:00—Rare Company
11:00—Dark Hollow
12:00—Sunny Side of the Mountain

1:00—Lunch/Workshops
2:00—Mission Blue

3:00—Jesse Appleman’s West Coast Stringband

4:00—Bay Area Special
5:00—Sweet Sally
6:00—Dinner/Workshops
7:00—Briana Mai Colliard and the Desert Marigolds
8:00—Yoseff Tucker and the Bow Ties
9:00—Matt Michienzie Band

Dance Hall Stage

10:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band

The NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 7-10, 2025 at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos.

FRIDAY, August 8

First Stage

10:00am — Joy Louise

11:00am — Ponderosa

Noon — Faultliner

1:00pm — Corn Likkers (new)

Main Stage

3:00pm—Hey Lonesome!

4:00—Honey Run
5:00—Whole Hog
6:00—Dinner/Workshops
7:00—Marin County Breakdown
8:00—Charlie Torch
9:00—Deep Thicket Dwellers

Songwriter’s Stage

10:00 — Alan Bond & Skedaddle

The NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 7-10, 2025 at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos.

All You Need To Know To Go To The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival This Weekend. Enjoy!

THIS FESTIVAL IS THE HISTORIC 31st GATHERING. Fun & Relaxed since 1994!

The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is fun, relaxed, and close-to home. This weekend’s Thursday-Sunday gathering features great California bluegrass bands on the main stages and many more bands on the ‘tweener stage.  Plus, the First Stage beginning at 10:00am on Friday will feature even more exciting bands in the San Benito County Historical Park’s Historical Village. The Lantern Stage will glow at dusk on Thursday night, the )new) Songwriter’s Stage on Friday Night, and, of course, the big Saturday Night Dance!

The GOF offers restrooms, hot showers, shade in the audience area, excellent sound, tent & RV camping, children’s activities, a raffle, the NCBS election, food and craft vendors, and easy handicapped access, along with plenty of fun jamming! The GOF is a benefit for the NCBS and helps the Society’s volunteers provide services to area bluegrass community all year long.

The San Benito County Historical Park is set in a beautiful valley of ranches and vineyards. The park features a lovely historical village that is perfect for jamming.  There are gorgeous views of the hills. Thanks to our hosts — The San Benito County Historical Society!

The Historical Park at 8300 Airline Highway, Tres Pinos is next to Bolado Park, 7 miles south of Hollister.

TICKETS: There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.

At the Gate prices: <Purchase GOF tickets – Northern California Bluegrass Society>.

The festival is free for children age 12 or under.

Thursday night pre-festival camping: $15 (per adult)

CAMPING: Camping is FREE with all multi-day tickets.  Bring water for drinking & cooking purposes. No RV hook-ups. If hook-ups are needed, they are available next door at Bolado Park, but a vehicle will be needed. Walking from Bolado Park to the Historical Park on the highway is not advised.

MUSIC SCHEDULE:

Thursday afternoon is reserved for jamming and socializing. There will be a band playing on the Lantern Stage (bring your camp lantern) at dark.

First Stage

FRIDAY, August 8

10:00am — Joy Louise

11:00am — Ponderosa

Noon — Faultliner

1:00pm — Corn Likkers (new)

Main Stage

FRIDAY, August 8

3:00pm—Hey Lonesome!

4:00—Honey Run
5:00—Whole Hog
6:00—Dinner/Workshops
7:00—Marin County Breakdown
8:00—Charlie Torch
9:00—Deep Thicket Dwellers

SATURDAY, August 9

10:00—Rare Company
11:00—Dark Hollow
12:00—Sunny Side of the Mountain

1:00—Lunch/Workshops
2:00—Mission Blue

3:00—Jesse Appleman’s West Coast Stringband

4:00—Bay Area Special
5:00—Sweet Sally
6:00—Dinner/Workshops
7:00—Briana Mai Colliard and the Desert Marigolds
8:00—Yoseff Tucker and the Bow Ties
9:00—Matt Michienzie Band

SUNDAY, August 10

10:00—Mountain Drive
11:00—Kids on Stage
12:00—Critical Grass

1:00—Alan Bond and Skedaddle
2:00—Lucas Lawson

3:00—Festival Ends

Other Stages

Thursday at duck: The Lantern Stage — Cactus Bob & The Prairie Flower

Friday late night: The Songwriter’s Stage — Alan Bond & Skedaddle

Saturday late night: Saturday Night Dance — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band

WEATHER: THU: High 83, Low 54. FRI: High 87, Low 55. SAT: High 86, Low 58, SUN: High 87, Low 58.

We look forward to seeing you in Tres Pinos this weekend!

And remember…all of your friends will be there!

Here is information about this weekend’s Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

Gate Information, Stage Schedules & Election Information For The August 7-10 GOF Festival In Tres Pinos – Northern California Bluegrass Society

Camping Information For August 7-10 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival – Northern California Bluegrass Society