The Spring Campout (April 8-14) is just around the corner. Lodi will again be the location for our annual event; it is being brought together by super volunteer Deb Livermore. This year the California State Old Time Open Fiddle & Picking Championships will move from Oroville to the Lodi Grape Festival Fairgrounds and hold its 53rd annual event (April 12-13) during the CBA Campout. CBA Board member Mark Hogan has worked tirelessly to coordinate these two events. See the ad in this month’s Bluegrass Breakdown for details.
April is also the month the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention (BOTMC) holds its free annual Spring Situation Old-Time Open House: Sunday, April 7, from noon to four at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. The CBA Youth Program will host a FREE Youth Jam from noon to one in the lobby to open the show; it will be hosted by Pacifica Bluegrass Program Director, Jared Katz, and a few of the amazing young pickers from that program.
Bluegrass Pride announced at the February CBA Board meeting that they have formed their own 501c3 and will become a free-stand- ing organization. The CBA has happily shepherded the growth of Bluegrass Pride and administered its funds since its inception; these funds will now be transferred over to them. Bluegrass Pride has grown phenomenally across the United States in the last couple of years. The CBA members who created the concept and worked so hard to make it a reality and success are to be congratulated.
We are all hard at work to make our 44th annual Father’s Day Week event in Grass Valley a success. Peter Langston and Tina Webster have hired an amazing lineup of teachers for the CBA Summer Music Camp: early registration has exceeded expectations (a few spots remain available).
Youth Academy Director Kimber Ludiker is creating new activities for this year’s event and has hired members of the Della Mae band as faculty. Della Mae will also perform the Wednesday night Festival Kickoff Concert on the Vern’s Stage. Teaching Assistants for this year’s Academy will be members of North Country Blue (all Academy and KOB alums).
Kids on Bluegrass alum, Helen Foley, has recruited fellow KOB alums AJ Lee and Jesse Fichman (among others) to direct the performance activity. Helen Foley succeeded KOB founder, Frank Solivan as the KOB Director beginning this year. We are so proud of all these young musicians and volunteers for giving back and stepping into CBA leadership roles as they mature.
Keeping your CBA membership current allows significant dis- counts for all of our events. Members receive substantial discounts for Academy and Father’s Day ad- mission. There are no member dis- counts at the Gate, so be sure to purchase your tickets in advance. This is one of the many great benefits of CBA membership.
