Published: September 26, 2008
Sacramento Bluegrass Fun and Festivities
Fall Campout, October 9 - 12, Lodi
CBA campouts are always tons of fun - jamming, eating, hanging out with your old friends, & making new ones. This year's Fall Campout & Annual Membership Meeting will take place at the Stockton KOA, October 9 - 12 & will be a little different from the past campouts.
The theme for this year's event will be the celebration of FAMILIES & welcoming newcomers to campouts. If you've never been to a CBA campout, this would be a good one to try. Special activities are planned including workshops for kids & a Kids on Bluegrass Concert. Contrary to rumors, we will be able to jam as late as we want.
On Friday night there will be a fundraising dinner with all of the proceeds going to CBA youth programs; make your reservations with Chef Mike (ChefMikeWM@aol.com). On Saturday afternoon there will be an "Introduction to Bluegrass" clinic for youngsters (of any age) who have some experience on their instrument but not necessarily any familiarity with bluegrass. On Saturday night there will be a dessert potluck & a contradance with Kathleen Rushing's band & caller-extraordinare Erik Hoffman.
The Stockton Delta KOA has a great number of amenities including full hookups for all RVs, pool, spa, restaurant, boat rentals, launch, bar, store, dog park, children's playground, & tons more. RVs are $33/night & tents are $25/night. Make your reservation either online (www.stocktonondeltakoa.com or Stockton@koa.net) or by calling the KOA (209-369-1041).
Be sure to mention you are coming to attend the Bluegrass Campout. This gets you the above discount prices. The Stockton-Delta KOA Campground is located at 14900 W. Highway 12, Lodi, CA. This is 5 miles west of I-5 on CA 12 & next to Tower Park Marina. If you have any questions about the campout, contact Bob Schwartz (rschwartz@truckerhuss.com or 415-999-3136) or Bob Thomas (sacbluegrass@comcast.net or 916-989-0993).
California Banjo Gathering, October 17 - 19, Sacramento
If you play the banjo or are interested in banjo music, come to the California Banjo Gathering to be held at the Doubletree Hotel at 2001 Point West Way near Business I-80 & Arden Way in Sacramento. The event will bring performers from a variety of musical genres - Mike Seeger, Sammy Shelor, Bill Keith, Mick Moloney, Buddy Wachter, Clark Buehling, Walt Koken, Peggy Seeger, Tim Weed, & Gordy Ohliger.
The package price for the three days of demonstrations, workshops with the artists, two nights accommodations, five meals, & the Sunday concert is $549. Without the accommodations or meals, the price is $390. Single day registrations are also available. Admission to just the Sunday afternoon concert (200 - 500 PM) is $35 ($30 for CBA members/seniors/kids). For more info, go to www.thebanjoman.com/cbg2.html or call 209 -352-5190.
26th Annual Fiddle & Banjo Contest, October 4, Columbia
Contest starts at 1030 AM at the gazebo in Columbia State Historic Park. Categories are fiddle, banjo, vocal, guitar, mandolin, & miscellaneous; all instruments welcome. Signups start at 900 AM; $10 entry fee per category. First place prize in each category is $50, second $25, & third a $20 gift certificate. Grand prize is ¼ ounce of gold. The event is free to the public; don't forget your lawn chairs, hats, & sunscreen. For more info call 209-532-6604.
Russ Barenberg, Bryan Sutton, & Richard Smith, October 19, Chico
Bob Littel is producing a special evening of world-class acoustic guitar performance at the Big Room of the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co at 730 PM on October 19. Russ Barenberg got his start in 1970 with the groundbreaking bluegrass band Country Cooking and since then has been a member of a variety of highly influential groups. Russ has been widely recognized as one of the premier composers and arrangers in the emerging new acoustic scene.
Last year he was nominated for a Grammy Award. Performing with Russ will be five-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, Bryan Sutton. After high school, Sutton joined Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder for their landmark Bluegrass Rules album. Since leaving Kentucky Thunder in 1999, he has become one of the most in-demand guitarists in bluegrass, both on the road and in the studio, earning three Grammy Awards. Opening the show will be the amazing Richard Smith, originally from England.
Richard first met his hero, the "Godfather" of finger style guitar, Chet Atkins, when he was only eleven & was invited by Chet to play with him on stage at Her Majesty's Theatre in London in front of an audience of about a thousand. By the time he reached his early twenties, both Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed began to refer to Richard Smith as their "hero" - and still do. Chet Atkins says, "The most amazing guy I know on the guitar.
He can play anything I know, only better." The brewery is located at 1075 E 20th St, Chico; tickets are $25 & can be ordered at 530-345-2739 or www.sierranevada.com.
For additional information on Russ Barenberg, Bryan Sutton, or Richard Smith, please visit www.russbarenberg.com, www.bryansutton.com, www.richardsmithmusic.com
Dan Crary, October 4, Sutter Creek
Legendary guitarist Dan Crary will present his one man "Twang" show at on October 4, 800 PM, at the Sutter Creek Theater in Sutter Creek. This will be a wonderful show by one of the world's great guitarists - not just fine music, but engrossing storytelling as well. Dan is one of the greatest flatpickers of all time with an international reputation for innovation, taste, & brilliance. He is a pioneer of one of the most intricate, yet powerful, forms of American music, & a master of the guitar. As he approaches his 40th anniversary as a performer, Crary is one of the few artists whose work can be said to transcend boundaries of style & genre. Tickets are $18 adv/$21 door. To buy yours, call 209-267-1070 or check www.suttercreektheater.com
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, October 3 - 5, San Francisco
Once again, Warren Hellman invites everyone to a celebration of bluegrass & the edges of bluegrass in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on October 3 - 5. There will be five or six stages for performances by a veritable Who's Who of bluegrass. Check www.strictlybluegrass.com for the schedule of the artists. The festival is FREE!!! How could you ticket an event for 100,000 people in the middle of a big city?
Mountain Laurel: October 1, 15, 29, 730 - 900 PM, Latitudes Restaurant, 130 Maple Street, Auburn, 530-885-9535,
www.latitudesrestaurant.com. No cover; come for dinner.
Spillit Quikkers: October 4, 1100 AM - 100 PM, Hoppy Brewing Co, 6300 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, 916-451-4677. No
cover.
Natural Drift: October 17, 730 - 1000 PM, Hemalayas, 3420 Palmer Dr, Cameron Park, 530-677-4880. No cover; come
for dinner.
Mountain Laurel: October 11, 1050 & 1150 AM, Salmon Festival, Nimbus Hatchery, Hazel & Gold Country Blvd, Rancho
Cordova, 916-358-2820. Free.
Natural Drift: October 16, Honor Our Troops Fundraiser Spaghetti Feed, 500 - 800 PM, Firemen's Hall, 501 Main St,
Diamond Springs, 530-626-3190.
Banner Mountain Boys: October 18, 800 - 1100 PM, Sacramento Brewing Co, Town & Country Village (Fulton &
Marconi), 2713 El Paseo Ln, Sacramento, 916-485-4677, www.sacbrew.com. No cover.
Natural Drift: October 18, 100 - 345 PM, Shadow Ranch Winery, 750 Fairplay Rd, Somerset, 530-620-2785.
Natural Drift: October 18, 730 PM, Flood Relief Benefit at St Paul's United Methodist Church, 101 West St, Vacaville,
707-448-5154, $20 adv/$23 door.
Mountain Laurel & Anderson Family Bluegrass Band: October 26, Bridgeport Fall Festival, 1100 AM - 400 PM,
South Yuba River State Park at Bridgeport, on Pleasant Valley Road where it crosses the Yuba River 8 miles north of
Hwy 20 (17660 Pleasant Valley Road, Penn Valley, CA 95946). 530-432-2546, free.
Western Open Fiddle Contest: October 23-25, Tehama District Fairgrounds, 650 Antelope Rd, Red Bluff, 530-527-6127,
www.westernopenfiddle.com, $5 - 15 ($32 for open) entry fee. Free for the audience.
Regular Jams
Every Tuesday evening, 600 - 900 PM, Wild Chicken Coffee House, Horseshoe Bar & Taylor Rd, Loomis, 916-276-1899.
Every Thursday evening, 700 - 1000 PM, 5th String Music Store, Alhambra & J St, Sacramento, 916-442-8282.
1st Saturday of the month, 300- 600 PM, Brick Coffee House Café, 316 D St, Marysville, 530-743-5283. All skill levels welcome.
4th Saturday of the month, 600 - 1000 PM, Augie's Café, 230 Salem, Chico, 530-894-1449. 1st hour is a slow jam.
1st Sunday of the month, 100 PM, Briar Patch Community Room, 290 Sierra College Dr, Grass Valley, 530-271-2034.
2nd Sunday of the month, 100 - 500 PM, California Old-Time Fiddlers' Association, Orangevale Grange Hall, 5805
Walnut, Orangevale, 916-966-9067.
1st & 3rd Sundays, 100 - 500 PM, Backroads Coffeehouse, 74 Main Street, Sutter Creek, 209-296-7706. Old time &
Celtic.
3rd Sunday of the month, 200 - 500 PM, area next to Forest Hill Public Utility District office, 24540 Main St, Forest Hill.
New jam; bring your own chair. Roy West, 530-367-3414 or 530-368-2715, rwest@ftcnet.net.
4th Sunday of the month, 100 - 400 PM, Thermolito Grange, 729 Plumas Ave, Thermolito, 530-589-4844.
Most Thursdays, 700 - 1000 PM, bluegrass jam at various Sacramento area homes. Call John at 916-990-0719 for
dates & location. New pickers welcome.
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