Bluegrass Folks deserve to be heard in the 2020 Election that is officially on Tuesday, November 3, but is actually starting right now as ballots arrive all across Northern California. If you are registered, look for your ballot in your mailbox this week. If you are not yet registered, do that right now!
Voting early is important this year, so there is no reason to wait around before getting your ballot in for counting just as soon as possible.
Bluegrass votes count. Thanks for your support!
The 27th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Online took place on August 8, 2020. The performers were AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Goat Hill Girls, Brookdale Bluegrass Band and Mike Fisher & Joanne Tanner.
This program is available in archive form (see below). The Northern California Bluegrass Society staged the program without an audience for Coronavirus Safety. We all look forward to be back live and in-person next year in Tres Pinos!
The Northern California Bluegrass Society hopes to have live events for you in 2021. Right now, we plan to present:
— The FREE Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair, May 2, Duck Pond Stage, San Lorenzo Park, Santa Cruz.
— The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, August 12-15, San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos.
Please hold these dates!
Friday and Saturday this week bring plenty of top quality online music from the International Bluegrass Music Association and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. These programs are FREE, but voluntary donations are accepted. Enjoy!
THROUGH SATURDAY, October 3:
International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention — FREE registration for music only (voluntary donations accepted). Friday music includes Bay Area-related artists Molly Tuttle, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and Earl White, among many great acts.
SATURDAY, October 3:
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass — FREE. Voluntary donations to support the musicians are accepted. A concert with great “hardly-strictly” bluegrass and other music. The 2:00pm concert includes Bay Area-related performers Alison Brown, Laurie Lewis & Nina Gerber, and Heidi Clare, among many other great bands.
The top bluegrass show of the year will be available for FREE online on Thursday, October 1 as part of the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Virtual Convention. The program will begin at 5:00pm Pacific Time. A pre-awards show gathering will begin at 4:30pm Pacific Time.
If you have not yet registered for the convention, you can still enjoy the pre-awards and awards show with a FREE Registration Option for those who are only interested in this and the other excellent bluegrass music programs. (The expanded Regular Convention Registration is also available.)
Go to the IBMA Convention Registration page for the option of your choice. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.
Bluegrass Musicians from around Northern California are listed in the NCBS Directory to give Online Lessons to students (and fans) during the Coronavirus Crisis. The directory is a FREE service of the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Music students and loyal fans can check the directory and arrange ONLINE LESSONS with their favorite musicians (the price is between teacher and student). The Directory is listed under Resources in the index on the left side of this website. Musicians can sign up to offer essons at <webmaster@ncbs.us>.
Tuesday, September 29 will be a big day for AJ Lee & Blue Summit at the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Virtual Convention. The band is a national finalist for Best Bluegrass Band in the Momentum Awards ceremony at Noon Pacific Time.
If you have not yet registered for the convention, which runs through Saturday, you can still enjoy the Momentum awards program with a FREE Registration Option (for those who are only interested in this and the other excellent bluegrass music programs). The expanded Regular Convention Registration is also available.
Go to the IBMA Convention Registration page for the option of your choice.
The First-Ever Virtual International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention begins on Monday, September 28 at 8:20 AM Pacific Time with a keynote address by young rising bluegrass star Sarah Jarosz.
This address and much convention activity is open to those who choose the Full Registration Option. There is also a FREE Registration Option for those who are only interested in the excellent bluegrass music programs. The conventions runs through Saturday, October 3 and has music every day.
Go to Convention Registration for the option of your choice.
You will “see” many Californians attending and performing at this year’s convention. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA. In the past, NCBS members traveled all the way across the country to enjoy this convention. This year, it is 100% online.
Local bluegrass music during the long pandemic can be found on the NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival’s popular Facebook Group Page. Sadly, Coronavirus cancelled the 2020 GOF Festival, but the page is now full of unique local bluegrass music. Local Bluegrass Musicians are invited to post their music on the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Facebook Group Page. For more information about the page, contact NCBS board member (and GOF festival director) Bruce Bellochio <Bbellochio@gmail.com>.
FREE registration is available now for the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention, Monday-Saturday, September 28-October 3, 2020. The FREE Registration Option is for those who are only interested in the excellent bluegrass music programs. A Full Registration Option offers a much richer, more extensive interactive experience. Go to Convention Registration for the option of your choice.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA. In the past, NCBS members traveled all the way across the country to enjoy this convention. This year, it is 100% online, so no travel is required.
