One Day Reminder: The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Revival of the Johnson Farm Picking Party will not take place on Saturday, May 16, 2020. Due to the Coronavirus Crisis, the event may be cancelled or it may be rescheduled for a later date.
The revival of the popular gathering was to have been presented by NCBS in cooperation with Mike Johnson, The Abbott Family, and the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association.
Local Bluegrass Musicians who usually play live for their fans in various venues around Northern California can sign up be listed in the new NCBS Directory to give online lessons to bluegrass students now at home during the Stay At Home period due to the Coronavirus Crisis. This is a FREE service.
The Directory is listed under Resources in the index on the left side of this website. Loyal fans can help out their favorite musicians and enjoy some fun lessons by checking the directory and arranging ONLINE LESSONS. The price will be between teacher and student.
Sign Up To Offer Lessons: <webmaster@ncbs.us>.
Here is the updated current status (as of 5/13/20) of various non-Northern California Bluegrass Society in-person bluegrass events during the Coronavirus Crisis. Check this website for updates.
Click for Status Of In-Person NCBS Events
Click for Calendar of Live ONLINE Bluegrass May 12-18
MAY
21-24 — Strawberry Spring Music Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed until 2021.
30-31 — Redwood Mountain Faire, Roaring Camp, Felton. Cancelled.
JUNE
18-21 — California Bluegrass Association Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed Until 2021.
18-21 — Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride, CO. Cancelled.
25-28 — Kate Wolf Music Festival, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Postponed until 2021.
26-28 — Susanville Bluegrass Festival, Lassen County Fairgrounds, Susanville. As scheduled, under review.
JULY
2-5 — High Sierra Music Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy. Rescheduled to 2021.
4 — Fourth of July Bluegrass Freedom Festival, Atascadero Lake Park, Atascadero. As scheduled.
10-12 — Lost River Bluegrass Festival, Merrill, OR. Cancelled.
24-26 — Rockygrass Bluegrass Festival, Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO. As scheduled, ticketing delayed. Official announcement will be made later this month.
AUGUST
14-16 — Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival, Bower’s Mansion Park, Carson City, NV. As scheduled, decision about festival will be made on June 1.
14-16 — Summergrass San Diego, Antique Engine Museum, Vista. Ticketing delayed, under review.
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
August 30-September 7 — Burning Man Festival, Black Rock City, NV. Cancelled.
SEPTEMBER
3-7 — Redwood Ramble, Camp Navarro. Postponed from the original dates of July 16-19. (Note new dates.)
17-20 — McCloud Mountain Bluegrass Festival, Hoo-Hoo Park, McCloud. Cancelled.
18-20 — Millpond Music Festival, Millpond Park, Bishop. As scheduled, ticketing delayed.
22-27 — Berkeley Old Time Music Convention, various venues, Berkeley. As scheduled.
25-27 — KVMR Celtic Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed until 2021.
OCTOBER
2-4 — Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. As scheduled.
FEBRUARY 2021
13-17 — Folk Alliance International Convention, Kansas City, MO. Suspended (effectively cancelled).
Here is the Current Status (as of 5/12/20) of upcoming Northern California Bluegrass Society-related in-person events during the Coronavirus Crisis. Check this website for updates.
(Click here for Calendar of Live ONLINE Bluegrass May 12-18.)
MAY
16 — NCBS Presents The Johnson Farm Picking Party, Johnson Farm, Boulder Creek. Postponed or Cancelled.
30-31 — Pick & Gather Festival, Riverdance Farms, Livingston. (NCBS welcomed). Farm & river festival as scheduled, but very limited music not including bluegrass this year.
AUGUST
6-9 — NCBS Presents The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos. Cancelled.
SEPTEMBER
4-6 — Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival, Quincy. (NCBS welcomed) As scheduled.
September — NCBS Volunteer Thank-You Party. Cancelled.
September 29-October 3 — International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC. (NCBS welcomed) As Scheduled, Ticketing Delayed. May be rescheduled to a later date.
Here is the weekly selective calendar of Online Bluegrass Shows of interest to homebound Northern California fans, published Every Monday Night At 10:00pm. Bluegrass Performers with shows to add for this or future weeks should contact Michael Hall <hallmw@gmail.com>.
TUESDAY, May 12
4:00pm — Michael Gaither.
5:00pm — Mike Mitchell Band.
6:00pm — Merle Monroe Band.
WEEKDAYS, May 12-15 & May 18
5:00pm Daily — Infamous Stringdusters.
TUESDAY-MONDAY, May 12-18
3:30pm Daily — Toby Gray.
WEDNESDAY, May 13
3:00pm — BanjerDan Mazer.
5:00pm — Ed Helms.
6:00pm — Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road.
8:00pm — Jordan Klein & Friends Eli West, Emily Day, Gail Lynn Schmitt, & Katy Rexford.
THURSDAY, May 14
4:00pm — Goodnight Bedtime Story With Dolly Parton.
6:00pm — Appalachian Road Show.
FRIDAY, May 15
5:00pm — Susie Glaze & The New Folk Ensemble.
5:00pm — Mike Mitchell Band.
6:00pm — Stevie Coyle. Low cost, advance purchase.
6:00pm — Bill Monroe Appreciation Night.
7:00pm — Ray Bierl.
SATURDAY, May 16
3:30pm — Jubilee.
4:00pm — Michael Gaither.
5:00pm — Grand Ole Opry.
6:00pm — Jim Rooney’s Irregulars.
SUNDAY, May 17
10:00am — Blue Summit Trio.
3:00pm — BanjerDan Mazer.
4:00pm — Dan Newitt.
6:00pm — Live Gospel Music.
7:00pm — Evie Ladin & Keith Terry.
7:00pm — Rita Hosking & Sean Feder.
MONDAY, May 18
6:00pm — New Monday.
7:30pm — Stevie Coyle.
Unless otherwise noted, these are FREE performances, supported by voluntary donations.
During the Coronavirus Crisis, here is the information you can find on this Northern California Bluegrass Society website:
Online Bluegrass:
A weekly guide to Online Bluegrass Performances of interest to Northern California bluegrass fans, posted Every Monday Evening at 10:00pm.
NCBS Events:
Current Status Of Upcoming NCBS-Related In-Person Events, updated approximately weekly as new information becomes available. This compilation includes both events presented by NCBS, such as the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival and events that NCBS endorses or welcomes that are presented by others, such as the Brookdale Bluegrass Festivals.
Other Events:
Current Status Of Upcoming Non-NCBS In-Person Events, updated approximately weekly as new information becomes available.
Online Lessons:
Information about Bluegrass Musicians Offering Online Lessons during the Stay-At-Home period.
Society News:
In the next few months, we will also have additional bluegrass news about the activities of the Northern California Bluegrass Society during this unusual period when we are not able to gather in person to enjoy our music. Thanks for your support!
Please let NCBS President Michael Hall <hallmw@gmail.com> know if you have any questions or suggestions.
Click for Calendar of Live ONLINE Bluegrass May 5-11
During the Coronavirus Crisis, The Northern California Bluegrass Society website is publishing a Weekly Guide To Online Bluegrass Shows each Monday Evening At 10:00pm. The next selective listing of shows of interest to Bay Area and beyond bluegrass fans will run on Monday, May 11. The listing will cover Tuesday-Monday, May 12-18.
Now is the time for musicians with LIVE ONLINE SHOWS this coming week to send their show information to Michael Hall at <hallmw@gmail.com>.
The Folk Alliance western regional music conference FAR West, which was to be held in San Jose this October, has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus Crisis. The event will return in 2021.
Here is the updated current status (as of 5/7/20) of various non-Northern California Bluegrass Society in-person bluegrass events during the Coronavirus Crisis. Check this website for updates.
Click for Status Of In-Person NCBS Events
Click for Calendar of Live ONLINE Bluegrass May 5-11
MAY
21-24 — Strawberry Spring Music Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed until 2021.
30-31 — Redwood Mountain Faire, Roaring Camp, Felton. Cancelled.
JUNE
18-21 — California Bluegrass Association Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed Until 2021.
18-21 — Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride, CO. Cancelled.
25-28 — Kate Wolf Music Festival, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Postponed until 2021.
26-28 — Susanville Bluegrass Festival, Lassen County Fairgrounds, Susanville. As scheduled.
JULY
2-5 — High Sierra Music Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy. Rescheduled to 2021.
10-12 — Lost River Bluegrass Festival, Merrill, OR. Cancelled.
24-26 — Rockygrass Bluegrass Festival, Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO. As scheduled, ticketing delayed. Official announcement will be made later this month.
AUGUST
14-16 — Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival, Bower’s Mansion Park, Carson City, NV. As scheduled.
14-16 — Summergrass San Diego, Antique Engine Museum, Vista. Ticketing delayed, under review.
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
August 30-September 7 — Burning Man Festival, Black Rock City, NV. Cancelled.
SEPTEMBER
3-7 — Redwood Ramble, Camp Navarro. Postponed from the original dates of July 16-19. (Note new dates.)
17-20 — McCloud Mountain Bluegrass Festival, Hoo-Hoo Park, McCloud. Cancelled.
25-27 — KVMR Celtic Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed until 2021.
OCTOBER
2-4 — Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. As scheduled.
FEBRUARY 2021
13-17 — Folk Alliance International Convention, Kansas City, MO. Suspended (effectively canceled).
Here is the Current Status (as of 5/6/20) of upcoming Northern California Bluegrass Society-related in-person events during the Coronavirus Crisis. Check this website for updates.
(Click here for Calendar of Live ONLINE Bluegrass May 5-11.)
MAY
16 — NCBS Presents The Johnson Farm Picking Party, Johnson Farm, Boulder Creek. Postponed or Cancelled.
30-31 — Pick & Gather Festival, Riverdance Farms, Livingston. (NCBS welcomed). As scheduled, under review.
AUGUST
6-9 — NCBS Presents The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos. Cancelled.
SEPTEMBER
4-6 — Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival, Quincy. (NCBS welcomed) As scheduled.
September — NCBS Volunteer Thank-You Party. Cancelled.
September 29-October 3 — International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass Convention, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC. (NCBS welcomed) As Scheduled, Ticketing Delayed. May be rescheduled to a later date.
