Peter Thompson’s all-things-Bluegrass compendium

CONCERTS

NOTE: most of these events require proof of vaccination/wearing of face masks.

March 20 (3 pm): Plaid Strangers (Karen Heil, Thomas Angel, Maxine Gerber) – Bernal Star, SF; photo above by Brendan Doyle

NOTE: most events at Bernal Star announced by KCH the week of the show.

March 20 (3 pm): Skillet Licorice – Hangar 1 Distillery, Alameda

March 20 (4 pm): Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band – The Back Room, Berkeley

​March 20 (5 pm): Thompsonia – outdoor house concert, Santa Cruz hills * SOLD OUT *

March 22 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice – The Page, SF

March 23: David Nelson & Eric Thompson + Suzy (Thompson) Sings Siebel – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

March 24: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band – Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Mission Blue –

– March 25 (5 pm): HopDogma Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay

– March 26 (5 pm): South Point Seascape, Aptos

– April 3 (5:30 pm): Thee Parkside, SF; Banjer Dan opens (4 pm)

T Sisters –

– March 25: Peri’s Saloon, Fairfax

– March 26: Almost Famous Wine, Livermore

– April 30: Kuumbwa, Santa Cruz

March 26: Bluegrass Gathering – fundraiser to help finish the restoration of the Port Costa schoolhouse; info:

March 27: High Country – The Back Room, Berkeley

March 29 (and every Tuesday, often with guests) (5 pm): Skillet Licorice – The Page, SF

Della Mae –

– March 29: Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol

– March 30: Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

– April 1: Winter Wondergrass – Olympic Valley

March 31 (5:30 pm): Skillet Licorice + guests – Bull Valley Roadhouse, Port Costa

March 31: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band – Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

March 31: AJ Lee & Blue Summit – Chico Women’s Club

April 1: Infamous Stringdusters; Dustbowl Revival – The Fillmore, SF

Sarah Jarosz –

– April 1: Felton Music Hall, Felton

– April 2: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma

– April 3: Center for the Arts, Grass Valley

– April 4: Great American Music Hall, SF

April 5 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice – The Page, SF

Aoife O’Donovan –

– April 7: Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

– April 9: Center For the Arts, Grass Valley

– April 10: Sunset Center, Carmel

– April 12: Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara

– April 13: The Loft (UCSD), La Jolla

– April 14: Troubadour, West Hollywood

John Reischman & the Jaybirds –

– April 7: Otter Opry at the Monterey United Methodist Church

– April 9: Deep End Sessions, Santa Paula

– April 10: Piazza’s Pine Cone Inn, Kernville

April 7: Goat Hill Girls – Summit House, Los Gatos

April 8: Blue & Lonesome / Ed Neff & Friends – Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

April 9-10: Billy Strings – Santa Barbara Bowl

April 13 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice – The Page, SF

April 14: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers – Summit House, Los Gatos

April 14: Blue & Lonesome / Ed Neff & Friends – Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

April 19 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice – The Page, SF

April 19: Jake Blount – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

April 21: Purple Mountain Majesty Band – Summit House, Los Gatos

April 21: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band – Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

April 22: Mission Blue – POPS Performing Arts and Cultural Center, Dunsmuir

April 26 (5 pm): Skillet Licorice – The Page, SF

April 28: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band – Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

April 28: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park

Kathy Kallick Band –

– April 29: The Side Door, Sacramento

– April 30: Pacifica Performances

– May 1: Berkeley Bluegrass Festival – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley​

Lonesome Ace Stringband –

– May 7-8: Parkfield Bluegrass Festival

– May 10: The Back Room, Berkeley

– May 11: Otter Opry – United Methodist Church, Monterey

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys –

– May 12: Miners Foundry Cultural Center, Nevada City, CA

– May 13: Moe’s Alley, Sant Cruz; AJ Lee & Blue Summit open

May 21: Mission Blue – The Back Room, Berkeley

May 22: Evie Ladin Band; Rita Hosking Trio – Hopmonk Tavern, Novato

May 24: Ray Fest: honoring Ray Edlund, longtime (48 years) host of KPFA’s Pig in a Pen – Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick; Thompsonia; High Country; The Road Oilers; High Water Line; North Country Blue – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

May 29: Jim Kweskin with Meredith Axelrod & Suzy Thompson – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

June 4: Mission Blue – HopDogma Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay

June 7-8: Tommy Emmanuel – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley​

June 30: Black Opry Revue featuring Rissi Palmer, Miko Marks, Stephanie Jacques, and Leon Timbo – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

July 30: Eric Thompson & Friends – The Back Room, Berkeley

FESTIVALS

April 29 – May 1: Berkeley Bluegrass Festival – Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Fri: Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands; Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius; Jacob Joliff Band

Sat: Seldom Scene; Windy Hill; NorthSouthEastWest Jam (Michael Daves, Tatiana Hargreaves, Missy Raines, Kristin Scott Benson, Laurie Lewis)

Sun: The Grascals; Kathy Kallick Band; Missy Raines & Allegheny

WORKSHOPS, etc.:

Aug. 30 (12:30 pm):

– Incorporating Double Stops into Your Fiddle Melodies and Breaks with Ron Stewart

– Singing with Dudley Connell

– The Dobro Style of Mike Auldridge with Fred Travers

Aug. 30 (2 pm): Banjo with Patrick Sauber

May 1 (11 am): Generations of Bluegrass: Panel Q&A w/ Kathy Kallick, Annie Staninec, Missy Raines, Kristin Scott Benson; moderated by Alegra Thompson and Leah Wollenberg

May 1 (12:30 pm):

– Walking bass lines: how to build them and when to use them with Missy Raines

– Monroe Style Guitar with Michael Daves

– Rock Solid Low Rolling Banjo Backup with Kristin Scott Benson

May 1 (2 pm):

– Bridging the Gap:Old Time & Bluegrass Fiddling w/ Tatiana Hargreaves & Annie Staninec

– Building a Bluegrass Mandolin Solo with Tristan Scroggins

May 5-8: Parkfield Bluegrass Festival

Lonesome Ace Stringband; Chris Brashear, Peter McLaughlin & Paul Knight; Lonely Heartstring Band; Joe Craven & Dead on Grass; AJ Lee & Blue Summit; The High Water Line; Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band; Honeysuckle Possums; SLO County Stumblers; Blah Blah Stringband

May 26-30: Strawberry Music Festival – Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley

Sam Bush Band; Sierra Hull; Steep Canyon Rangers; AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Watkins Family Hour; Evie Ladin Band; Phil Salazar & The Kin Folk; David Bromberg Quintet; Allison Russell; Lindsay Lou; Rita Hosking; Samantha Fish; John Craigie; Marley’s Ghost; Ron Artis Ii; Rainbow Girls; Steve Poltz; David Jacobs-Strain & Bob Beach; Small Glories; Barbaro; Mumbo Gumbo; Sunny War; The Risky Biscuits; Pathetic Honey

June 16-19: Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival – Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley

Della Mae; Dom Flemons; John Reischman & the Jaybirds; Kathy Kallick Band; Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; The Onlies; Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band; Special Consensus; Emerging Artist: AJ Lee & Blue Summit; California Showcase Bands: Blue & Lonesome; Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band; North Country Blue; Sheri Lee; Skillet Licorice; Vern’s Stage bands to be announced

June 17-19: Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival – Cashmere, WA

Appalachian Roadshow; Po’ Ramblin’ Boys with Laura Orshaw; Dave Adkins; Fast Track; Rusty Hinges Bluegrass

June 23-26: Kate Wolf Music Festival – Black Oak Ranch – Hwy 101, 5 miles north of Laytonville

Tim O’Brien Band (Fri/Sat); Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick & Nina Gerber (Sat/Sun); AJ Lee & Blue Summit (Thur/Fri); Phil Salazar & The Kin Folk (F/S/S); Iris Dement (Thur); plus … Taj Mahal, Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Darlene Love, Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Ruthie Foster, Greg Brown, Hot Tuna (acoustic), The Wood Brothers, Ranky Tanky w/ Lisa Fischer, Calexico, The Blues Broads, Leftover Salmon, Madeleine Peyroux, Cris Williamson, Tom Paxton & The Don Juans, Marcia Ball, Chris Smither, Carrie Rodriguez, Old Blind Dogs, Ruth Moody Band, Charlie Musselwhite, David Lindley, Eliza Gilkyson, Jorma Kaukonen, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Joe Craven, Hills to Hollers, Mary Gauthier, Poor Man’s Whiskey, others

June 30 – July 3: High Sierra Music Festival – Quincy

Peter Rowan with Railroad Earth (as Old & In the Way), Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Birches Bend, Watkins Family Hour, Greensky Bluegrass, Lindsay Lou, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, The California Honeydrops, The War & Treaty, others

July 21-24: Northwest String Summit – North Plains, OR

Del McCoury Band, Travelin’ McCourys, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, Larry Keel Experience, Greensky Bluegrass, many others

July 21-24: Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival – Stevenson, WA

The Price Sisters; The Slocan Ramblers; The Special Consensus; Farmstrong; Sunny South; Dennis Berck Band with Annie Staninec; Bill Jolliff; Ellie Hakanson

July 29-31: Bluegrass From the Forest Festival – Shelton, WA

​John Reishman & the Jaybirds; Jim Hurst; AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Nick Dumas & Branchline; Runaway Train

Aug. 11-14: Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival – San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos

Aug. 12-14: Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival – Medical Lake, WA

John Reischman & the Jaybirds; Lonesome Ace Stringband; The Onlies; Ben Winship & Eli West; A Tribute to John Hartford; West Coast Bluegrass Trio (w/ Nick Dumas & Chris Luquette); Northbound; Riders of the Rockin’ B Ranch; Buck 99; King Trouble & The Cherry Pickers; Eyer Family Band

Aug. 19-21: Summergrass San Diego – Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista

Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass; Moore-Cowan-Block-Davis; Fast Track (with Jesse Brock); Phil Salazar & The Kin Folk; Front Porch Music Preservation Society; Vulcan Mountain Boys

Aug. 19-21: Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival – Washoe Valley, NV

Sept. 2-4: North Cascades Bluegrass Festival – Bellingham, WA

The Special Consensus; Blue Canyon Boys; Stillhouse Junkies; The Kody Norris Show; Rebekah Speer; Lonesome Town Painters; Runaway Train

Sept. 22-25: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention

Alice Gerrard with Tatiana Hargreaves and Reed Stutz; Earl White Band; Piedmont Bluz; Corn Potato String Band; Skillet Licorice Orchestra; New Vintage Revelers; Evie Ladin; Robin Fischer

JAM SESSIONS

Patrice Haan leads a jam at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop

NOTE: most of these events require proof of vaccination/wearing of face masks.

Generally …

First Saturday (12-3 pm): Coffee Catz, Sebastopol

Second Saturday (12:30 – 2:30 pm): Arlene Francis Center, Santa Rosa

Third Saturday (1-4 pm): Coffee & Moore, Sebastopol

Fourth Saturday: tba

Be sure to contact David Carlson (davidacarlson62-at-hotmail-dot-com) for confirmation

Second Saturdays (12-3pm): Bluegrass Train Jam – Santa Clara Depot, 1005 Railroad Ave, SC; host/info: Mary Kennedy kennedymk-at-comcast-dot-net

First Sunday (1-5 pm): Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association monthly jam – Hoover School, Park & Naglee Sts, San Jose; includes a slow jam (1:30 – 2:30 pm) and the

Annual General Meeting at 2:45 pm.

Mondays (7-9 pm): South Bay (Mostly) Old-Time Jam – Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 East Charleston Rd., Palo Alto

First Monday (6-8 pm): The Garage Jam – Out West Roadhouse, 321-2nd St., Petaluma

Tuesdays (7 pm): Andronico’s Oldtime Jam via Zoom led by Dinah and Noah Stroe; info/link: steve-dot-goldfield-at-gmail-dot-com

In-person jams at the Freight & Salvage, Berkeley –

• March 27, April 24 (3 pm): Bluegrass/Country jam w/ Richard Brandenburg
• April 10 (3 pm): Old Time jam w/ Tony Phillips

INSTRUCTION

• Evie Ladin
• Jack Tuttle
• Dix Bruce
• Old Time Fiddling w/ Suzy Thompson suzy-at-ericandsuzy-dot-com
• Bernal Jam Workshop w/ Richard Brandenburg richardbrandenburg-at-gmail-dot-com
• Flatpicking Fundamentals w/ Eric Thompson eric-at-ericandsuzy-dot-com
• Structure of Music w/ Avram Siegel avramsiegel-at-comcast-dot-net
• Manning Music chadandcath-at-gmail-dot-com

The next recent series of online Freight & Salvage classes began the week of March 6th; classes include:

Tuesdays

5:30 pm: Rank Beginner Clawhammer Banjo w/ Evie Ladin

7:00 pm: Clawhammer Banjo Repertoire & Technique w/ Evie Ladin

8:00 pm: Fiddle Tunes with a Touch of Theory w/ Erik Hoffman

Wednesdays

5:30 pm: Mountain Dulcimer 2 w/ Deborah Hamouris

7:00 pm: Intro to Mountain Dulcimer w/ Deborah Hamouris

Thursdays

5:30 pm: Singing from Inside the Song w/ Richard Brandenburg

7:00 pm: Flatpicking Essentials w/ Richard Brandenburg

8:30 pm: Expand Your Bluegrass/Country Repertoire w/ Richard Brandenburg

​MUSIC CAMPS

NOTE: most of these events require proof of vaccination/wearing of face masks.

May 4-8: Julian Family Fiddle Camp – instructors:

Bruce Molsky, John Reischman, Caleb Klauder, Reeb Willms, Patrick Sauber, Carolyn Kendrick, John Hermann, others

June 12-15: CBA Music Camp – instructors:

Brandon Godman, Cary Black, Celia Woodsmith, Greg Blake, Greg Cahill, Jack Tuttle, John Reischman, Kathleen Rushing, Keith Little, Laurie Lewis, Leo Shannon, Mike Compton, Patrick Sauber, Riley Calcagno, Sally Van Meter, Sami Braman, Steve Pottier, Vivian Leva

June 15-18: CBA Youth Academy

For 8 – 16 year olds; directed by Kimber Ludiker; faculty includes members of Della Mae

July (2 sessions): California Coast Music Camp

– July 9-15: Missy Raines, Tristan Scroggins, Katie Glassman, Ray Bierl, Robin Flower, Libby McLaren, Chris Grampp, Tony Marcus, Mary Flower, Steve Baughman, Ed Johnson

– July 16-22: Jack Tuttle, Cindy Browne Rosefield, Carol McComb, Sylvia Herold, Mike Dowling, Valerie Rose, Nova Karina Devonie, David Miles Keenan, Danny Carnahan

July & August (4 sessions): Puget Sound Guitar Workshop

– July 23-28: Caleb Klauder, Reeb Willms, McKain Lakey, Cyd Smith

– July 30 – Aug. 5: Kathy Kallick, Cary Black, Wayne Henderson, Laurel Bliss, Suzy Thompson, Mary Simkin-Maass, Greg Schochet, Julian Smedley, Mike Wollenberg, Coty Hogue, Laura Smith

– Aug. 6-12: Hubby Jenkins, Jere Canote, Greg Canote, Carol McComb, Sylvia Herold, Tony Marcus, Tom Moran, Nova Karina Devonie, Ed Johnson

– Aug. 13-19: Tristan Scroggins, Phil Wiggins, Thomasina Winslow, John Miller, Nina Gerber, Mark Graham, Kat Bula, Orville Johnson, Marla Fibish, Kenny Feinstein, Steve Baughman

August (2 sessions): Nimblefingers

RADIO SHOWS

Cover artwork by Hasee Ciaccio

Bluegrass Signal is broadcast on Saturdays, 5-6 pm (Pacific) on KALW (91.7 FM in Bay Area). It is then archived for one week HERE.

March 19: Membership Campaign Special

We ain’t broke, but we’re badly bent.

March 26: All Kinds Of Country

Sully Roddy’s trademark mix of bluegrass, blues, country … and more.

April 2: Leah Picks ‘Em & Plays ‘Em

What’s caught the ear of Ms Wollenberg in recent weeks?

April 9: Across the Tracks

PT surveys some new releases, including the long-awaited Amy & Hailey album, a new old time supergroup (album: Tune Hash), and JD Crowe’s final recording session.

April 16: Make A Date!

Allegra Thompson previews the Berkeley Bluegrass Festival and other upcoming events.

April 23: All Kinds Of Country

Sully Roddy’s trademark mix of bluegrass, blues, country … and more.

April 30: Hicks With Sticks

Jose Segue’s trademark presentation of all things twang.

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Bluegrass Signal is also broadcast four times each week on Bluegrass Country.

The initial broadcast of Bluegrass Signal is on Monday at 11 pm (Eastern time). The show is then rebroadcast on Wednesdays (midnight), Fridays (6 pm), and Sundays (midnight). The times given are EASTERN and the program is available HERE.

Bluegrass Country has an ARCHIVE PLAYER, so you can pick the date and (Eastern) time of broadcast to hear Bluegrass Signal — or any of the other 33 shows on Bluegrass Country — at your convenience!

NOTE: Pacific Time broadcasts of Bluegrass Signal on Bluegrass Country:

Mon. (8 pm), Tues. (9 pm), Fri. (3 pm), and Sat. (9 pm).

March 14-20: (Hell On) Church Street (Blues)

Leah Wollenberg bids farewell to JD Crowe, then compares and contrasts the Tony Rice original and Punch Brothers reimagining of the classic 1983 album.

March 21-27: Across the Tracks: West Coast Report

PT spotlights new releases from Paul Shelasky, Annie Staninec & Nick Hornbuckle, Molly Tuttle, and Laurie Lewis, as well as providing a memorial celebration of Don Humphries.

March 28 – April 3: Across the Tracks: Mostly Singles

PT presents advance tracks from forthcoming albums by Laura Orshaw, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Mike Compton, Dale Ann Bradley (with Danny Paisley), Alison Degroot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Mr. Sun, and others.

April 4-10: Happy Birthday, Tom Bekeny

PT samples Tom’s mandolin and fiddle playing, as well as singing, with the Kathy Kallick Band, High Country, and other notable bands; includes several original tunes.

Bluegrass Signal PLAYLISTS

BLUEGRASS SIGNAL: Bluegrass Songs About … Bluegrass!

The March Membership Campaign Special – March 19, 2022

theme –

JOHN REISCHMAN & THE JAYBIRDS: Bluegrass Signal/Live On Arrival (Bluegrass Signal/12)

LAURIE LEWIS & KATHY KALLICK: Blue Grass Style/Sing The Songs Of Vern & Ray (Spruce and Maple/14)

GIBSON BROTHERS: That Bluegrass Music/Bona Fide (Sugar Hill/03)

VALERIE SMITH & LIBERTY PIKE: Bluegrass Dollars/Small Town Heroes (Bell Buckle/16)

JACK TOTTLE: The Bluegrass Sound/The Bluegrass Sound (Copper Creek/99)

AL WOOD & THE SMOKEY RIDGE BOYS: Sing A Bluegrass Song/Sing A Bluegrass Song (Rebel/73)

IRENE KELLY: Bluegrass Radio/Benny’s TV Repair (Mountain Fever/19)

DAVE EVANS & RIVER BEND: Carry Me Back To The Bluegrass/The Best Of The Vetco Years (Rebel/79)

DAVE EVANS & RIVER BEND: My Bluegrass Memories/Bluegrass Memories (Rebel/84)

RHONDA VINCENT: All American Bluegrass Girl/All American Bluegrass Girl (Rounder/06)

DAUGHTERS OF BLUEGRASS: Proud to Be a Daughter of Bluegrass/Bluegrass Bouquet (Blue Circle/08)

BOYS FROM INDIANA: Bluegrass Music Is Out Of Sight/Bluegrass Music Is Out Of Sight (King/75)

BOYS FROM INDIANA: One More Bluegrass Show/One More Bluegrass Show (King/76)

RUSSELL JOHNSON & GRASSCATS: Bluegrass Time/Anytime, Anyplace But Only You (New Time/11)

CURLY SECKLER: Bluegrass, Don’t You Know/Bluegrass Don’t You Know (Copper Creek/06)

VERN & RAY: Blue Grass Style/Cabin On A Mountain – Classic King & Starday Bluegrass From the 1950s and ‘60s (King/61)

BILL MONROE & THE BLUE GRASS BOYS: Blue Grass Ramble/Bluegrass 1950-1958 (Bear Family/50)

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Please visit the Bluegrass Signal website for the January, February, and March, 2022, playlists — and all the others!