AJ Lee has been named the first Honorary Member of the Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of Directors. She served for 7 years as an elected member of the board. The demands of her new role as a nationally and internationally touring bluegrass star made it necessary for her to decline to run for another term in 2023.
She has a long record of involvement and work with the bluegrass society. She first performed at the GOF when she was only 6 years old. She began playing with Kids On Stage and the ‘Tweener Stage, and then became a regular Main Stage performer.
Her last in-person GOF performance with her band AJ Lee & Blue Summit was in 2018, the same year that she did the sound for the First Stage. She also performed on the 2020 online GOF festival during the pandemic. She led a GOF set-up crew, helped with the design process for the festival shirt and poster, and was an advocate for the difficult task of raising GOF band pay.
Lee also participated in the NCBS Bluegrass On Broadway Festival, where she received numerous honors as a part of the NCBS Northern California Bluegrass Awards over the years.
Thanks, AJ! We wish you the best of luck in your bluegrass career!
Thanks to all of the dedicated, hard-working NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Volunteers who spent the past weekend (or the past year!) making the festival happen. Your efforts are much appreciated!
Thanks also go to the volunteers of the San Benito County Historical Society who make the park so beautiful!
And thanks to the bands and their fans who have supported the event over many years!
The 30th GOF gathering will take place August 8-11, 2024. See you there!
The members of the Northern California Bluegrass Society elected the following to serve as the Board Of Directors for the 2023-2024 term:
Gary Anwyl (Palo Alto), Bruce Bellochio (Brookdale), Eric Burman (Bonny Doon), Scott Conroy (San Luis Obispo), Bruce Edmundson (Sunnyvale), Michael Hall (Redwood City), Lois Kellerman (Mountain View), Joanne Minasi (Tracy), and Mike Russell (Fremont).
Thanks to our retiring board members: Mike Fisher, AJ Lee, Karen Reyes, and Amy Warren.
The Northen California Bluegrass Society has announced that the Historic 30th Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival has been set for August 8-11, 2024. The then Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society staged the first GOF at Bolado Park in 1994. (Due to the pandemic, the 2020 festival was held online and no festival was held in 2021.)
See you at the San Benito County Historical Park next August — and thanks for your support!
There have been some changes to the Sunday schedule. The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will perform at 10:00am. Sunny Side Of The Mountain will play at Noon. This year, there will not be a Kids On Stage show.
SUNDAY, August 13
Main Stage
10:00am — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers
11:00 — Lonesome Still
Noon — Sunny Side Of The Mountain
1:00pm — West 45
2:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band
The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 10-13 at the San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 10-13 at the San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 10-13 at the San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos.
Here it is: All You Need To Know To Go To The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival This Weekend.
THIS FESTIVAL IS NOW 30 YEARS OLD, but due to the pandemic, we will gather for the only the 29th time.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society’sGood 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 stage and many more bands on the ‘tweener stage. The Late Night Stage kicks off in the Dance Hall on Saturday night. 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 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:
Adults
Seniors (65+)
Youth (13-17)
3 Day
$145
$130
$85
2 Day
$105
$100
$65
1 Day (Saturday)
$70
$65
$50
1 Day (Friday)
$60
$55
$35
1 Day (Sunday)
$45
$40
$30
The festival is free for children age 12 or under.
Thursday Ticket $15. Gates open at NOON on Thursday.
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.
There have been some last-minute changes to the Sunday schedule. The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will perform at 10:00am. Sunny Side Of The Mountain will play at Noon. (This year, there will not be a Kids On Stage show.)
SUNDAY, August 13
Main Stage
10:00am — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers
11:00 — Lonesome Still
Noon — Sunny Side Of The Mountain
1:00pm — West 45
2:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band
OTHER FUN: Take a tour of the historical village.
DIRECTIONS:
>From The Bay Area:
South on Highway 101 to just past Gilroy.
Exit right, then left over bridge on Highway 25 and go
southeast towards Hollister.
(Follow signs to Pinnacles National Park.)
Go through Hollister, then continue south on 25.
>From The Central Valley:
Exit I-5 at Highway 152 (Pacheco Pass) and go west
towards Gilroy.
Turn left on Highway 156 just past Casa de Fruta and go
south towards Hollister.
Go through Hollister, then continue south on Highway 25.
>From The Central Coast:
Take either Highway 101 (or Highway 1 to Highway 129 to 101)
north & east towards San Juan Bautista.
Turn on Highway 156 near San Juan Bautista and go east towards
Hollister.
Go through Hollister, then continue south on Highway 25.
>FROM HOLLISTER:
Drive south on Highway 25, following signs to the Pinnacles and Bolado Park
The San Benito County Historical Park is 7 miles south of Hollister on Highway 25 (and 2 miles south of the town of Tres Pinos).
Turn right and go over the bridge into the park.
Gas stations, food stores, etc. are plentiful in Hollister and limited in Tres Pinos.
PETS: DOGS ARE ALLOWED, but must remain in the designated Dog Camping Area and in the (new!) Stage Area Dog Enclosure.
WEATHER: Perfect — Sunny & Beautiful! Thursday: High 77, Low 55. Friday: High 77 Low 56. Saturday: High 81, Low 55. Sunday: High 85, Low 56.
SEE YOU AT THE 29th GOF FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND! And remember, all of your friends will be there!
The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held August 10-13, 2023 at the San Benito County Historical Park, 8300 Airline Highway, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister). There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.
Gates open at Noon on Thursday. No early entry is allowed except for festival staff.
NOTE: There have been some changes to the Sunday schedule. The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will perform at 10:00am. Sunny Side Of The Mountain will play at Noon. This year, there will not be a Kids On Stage show.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society has announced the Performance Schedule for the First Stage on Friday at the August 10-13, 2023 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival at the San Bento County Historical Park in Tres Pinos. Thanks to Amy Warren for her booking talents!
