Dec. 2, 2021

Greetings -

Thanks for your interest in Bay Area bluegrass and old time music events -- and for sending me updates and corrections. Please visit the Bluegrass Signal web site for the latest listings and playlists, as well as a number of items and articles of interest to bluegrass and old time music fans.

Thanks also for your support of KALW on #GivingTuesday. That campaign was a success, but there remains a year-end shortfall, so there will be four days of on-air fundraising later this month -- including the Bluegrass Signal show on Sat., Dec. 18th. Thanks for tuning in and donating what you can via this secure link. KALW Gift Memberships make excellent holiday presents, imho!

Your interest & support -- and your ears - are much appreciated!

~ PeterT

CONCERTS

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

Dec. 2: Goat Hill Girls - Summit House, Los Gatos

Dec. 2: Blue & Lonesome / Ed Neff & Friends - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Kathy Kallick Band -

- Dec. 4: Sebastopol Community Cultural Center Annex - 

390 Morris St, Sebastopol; info: 707-479-5529 

- Dec. 5: Freight & Salvage, Berkeley; The High Water Line opens

Dec. 4: Broken Compass - The Back Room, Berkeley

Dec. 5: AJ Lee & Blue Summit - Club Fox, Redwood City

Dec. 9: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Summit House, Los Gatos

Dec. 9: Blue & Lonesome / Ed Neff & Friends - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Dec. 10 (5 pm): Holiday Hootenanny - Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company, San Carlos; with The Stoney Mountain Ramblers and others

​Béla Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart w/ Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Bryan Sutton

- Dec. 10: Cascade Theatre, Redding

- Dec. 11: Silver Legacy Resort, Reno, NV

- Dec. 12: UC Theatre, Berkeley

- Dec. 13: Sunset Cultural Center, Carmel By The Sea

- Dec. 14: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa

- Dec. 16: Balboa Theatre, San Diego

- Dec. 17: Theater at the ACE Hotel, Los Angeles

​

Fog Holler -

- Dec. 10: River Road Gallery, Locke (Walnut Grove)

​- Dec. 12: Sweetwater, Mill Valley; opening for Hank & Ella & the Fine Country Band

Dec. 14: Skillet Licorice - The Page, 298 Divisadero St., SF

Dec. 16: Purple Mountain Majesty Band - Summit House, Los Gatos

Dec. 16: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Dec. 17; Windy Hill; Mission Blue; False Bottom - Bottom of the Hill, SF

Dec. 21: Skillet Licorice - The Page, 298 Divisadero St., SF

Dec. 23: JingleGrass - The Back Room, Berkeley; w/ Jubilee, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band

Dec. 23: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Dec. 28: Skillet Licorice - The Page, 298 Divisadero St., SF

Dec. 31: High Country - The Back Room, Berkeley

Dec. 31: AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Coffis Brothers - Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz

Dec. 31: T Sisters; Brothers Comatose - Mystic Theatre, Petaluma

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​

Jan. 6: Goat Hill Girls - Summit House, Los Gatos

Jan. 6: Words + Music w/ Laurie Lewis, Don Henry, Claudia Russell, & Nina Gerber - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Jan. 12: Nefesh Mountain - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Jan. 13: The Gibson Brothers - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Jan. 13: Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Summit House, Los Gatos

The Punch Brothers; Haley Heynderickx -

- Jan. 14: Cascade Theatre, Redding

- Jan. 15: Fox Theater, Oakland

- Jan. 17: Sunset Center, Carmel

- Jan. 18: Campbell Hall, Santa Barbara

- Jan. 19: Ace Hotel, LA

Jan. 18-19: Tommy Emmanuel, CGP with Mike Dawes - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Jan. 20: Purple Mountain Majesty Band - Summit House, Los Gatos

Jan. 21: AJ Lee & Blue Summit - Ivy Room, Albany



Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway -

- Jan. 25: Center for the Arts, Grass Valley

- Jan. 26: Goldfields, Sacramento

- Jan. 27: Sweetwater, Mill Valley

- Jan. 28: The Siren, Morro Bay

- Jan. 31: Soho, Santa Barbara

- Feb. 1: The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano

- Feb. 2: The Roxy, Los Angeles



~~~~~~~~~~~

Coming to the Freight & Salvage, Berkeley -

• Feb. 9: Bruce Molsky & Alison deGroot
• Feb. 25: Evie Ladin Band
• March 4: Mr. Sun (featuring Darol Anger)
• March 23: David Nelson & Eric Thompson; Suzy (Thompson) Sings Siebel
• March 30: Della Mae
• April 7: Aoife O'Donovan
• April 12 (rescheduled from Dec. 7): Rodney Crowell

March 4: AJ Lee & Blue Summit - HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol

April 1: Infamous Stringdusters; Duistbowl Revival - The Fillmore, SF

FESTIVALS

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

Jan. 13-16: Portland Old Time Music Gathering - Portland, OR

Feb. 24-27: Wintergrass - Seattle

Sister Sadie; The Dawg Trio (David & Sam Grisman, Danny Barnes); Peter Rowan's Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; Della Mae; Mr. Sun; Hubby Jenkins; Tony Trischka/Bruce Molsky/Michael Daves; Travelin’ McCourys; Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands; Kenny & Amanda Smith; Jake Blount; AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Brother Boys with Missy Raines; Caleb Klauder & Reeb Williams Country Band; Nefesh Mountain; Mike Block Trio; Betse & Clarke; Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer; Eli West; Pearl Django; Joe Craven & Mamajowali, Miles & Karina; The Brothers Comatose; Never Come Down; Kristen Grainger & True North; The Jangles; Farmstrong; Brother’s Keeper

March 4-6: Bluegrass On the Beach - Lake Havasu City, AZ

Appalachian Road Show, Little Roy & Lizzy, Special Consensus, Monroe Crossing, Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa, Seth Muldar & Midnight Run, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Bluegrass Etc.

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

Sierra Hull; Allison Russell; Steep Canyon Rangers; Samantha Fish; AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Sunny War; Ron Artis II; Evie Ladin Band; John Craigie; Marley’s Ghost; Lindsay Lou; Rainbow Girls; Rita Hosking; Barbaro; …

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

​California Showcase Bands: Blue & Lonesome; Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band; North Country Blue; Skillet Licorice; Sheri Lee

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

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

​

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

JAM SESSIONS

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

First & Third Saturdays (12-3 pm): Coffee Catz, Sebastopol

Second & Fourth Saturdays (12:30 - 2:30 pm): Arlene Francis Center, Santa Rosa

Host/info: David Carlson davidacarlson62-at-hotmail-dot-com

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 (3-5 pm): Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association monthly jam - Rose Garden Park, Naglee & Garden Dr., San Jose

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

Wednesdays (7 pm): Andronico’s Oldtime Jam via Zoom;

info/link: dinahbeatrice-at-gmail-dot-com

Dec. 12 (3 pm): Tony Phillip's old time jam - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Dec. 19 (3 pm): Richard Brandenburg's bluegrass/country jam - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

GATHERINGS

Jan. 6-9: CBA’s Great 48 Jam - Bakersfield

Includes workshops, open mic, and concerts

INSTRUCTION

Some possibilities ...

• Evie Ladin (her clawhammer class pictured)
• 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 Fall II series of online Freight & Salvage classes began the week of Nov. 7th, and ends the weeks of Dec. 12th.

Sundays

5:30 pm: Travis Picking Guitar w/ Kay Eskenazi

Mondays

7:00 pm: Crafting a Simple Bluegrass Solo w/ Dix Bruce

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

Tuesdays

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

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

Wednesdays

​5:30 pm: Hustle (freelancing) Hero: Folk w/ Evie Ladin 

​5:30 pm: Intermediate Mountain Dulcimer Tunes, Harmonies, & Chords w/ Deborah Hamouris

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

Thursdays

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

7:00 pm: Flatpicking Essentials w/ Richad Brandenburg

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

​MUSIC CAMPS

May 4-8: Julian Family Fiddle Camp - Julian

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

tbd, 2022: Walker Creek Music Camp - Marshall

instructors: Greg Schochet (Beginning Bluegrass Jamming) • Steve Pottier (Bluegrass Guitar) • Evie Ladin (Old Time Ensemble) • Howard Rains (Rhythm & Old Time Back-up Guitar) • Alan Munde (Bluegrass Banjo) • Tony Marcus (Swing Rhythm Guitar) • Leela Grace (Clawhammer Banjo) • Joe K Walsh (Bluegrass to Newgrass Mandolin) • Steve Roy (Bass) • Richard Brown (Bluegrass Monroe Style Mandolin) • Ivan Rosenberg (Dobro) • Tim Connell (Swing & Jazz Repertoire Mandolin) • Nate Lee (Bluegrass Fiddle) • TBA (Bluegrass Vocals) • Tricia Spencer (Old Time Fiddle) • Rebecca Stout & Clinton Davis (Harmony Singing) • Paul Shelasky (Swing Fiddle) • Katie Glassman (Swing Vocals) 

June 12-15: CBA Music Camp

June 15-18: CBA Youth Academy

RADIO SHOWS

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.

Dec. 4: Hicks With Sticks

Jose Segue presents some of the twang sounds that have caught his ear of late.

Dec. 11: The Fiddle & the Banjo ...

... were, once upon a time, all you needed for a dance band. Leah Wollenberg surveys some of her fave duets. 

Dec. 18: Holidays ...

... are all about giving, and this is a chance for you to support KALW radio on behalf of your favorite bluegrass/old time radio show ... yes, it's the Holiday Membership Campaign special! Lots of excellent new releases to accompany your call (1-800-525-9917) or click with your much-appreciation donation.

Dec. 25: On This Christmas Day

PT has found some brand-new Christmas-themed releases, including Newberry & Verch's title track; additional music from Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Self Rising Flour, Theo & Brenna, Tammy Rogers & Thom Jutz, Becky Buller, Cup O' Joe, Jackson Hollow, and Nefesh Mountain.

Jan. 1: New Songs For A New Year

PT spotlights "new" songs by Mark Schatz, Frank Wakefield, Lynn Morris Band, Larry Sparks. Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Kathy Kallick Band, Slocan Ramblers, Mike Compton & David Grier, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Strange Creek Singers, and, yes, the New Lost City Ramblers.

Jan 8: Get myself a rockin’ chair/To see if I can lose/Them thin dime, hard times/Hell on Church Street blues

Leah Wollenberg compares and contrasts the Punch Brothers (in the area this week) tribute with Tony Rice original; bonus: fiddle tunes with this date’s title.

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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). 

Nov. 29 - Dec. 5: Larry Sparks ... live!

Some of PT's fave live recordings of Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers (mostly from 1976-80) and Larry with his first boss, Dr. Ralph.

Dec. 6-12: Happy Birthday, Chubby Wise

Leah Wollenberg spins some her favorite sides by the first influential fiddler in bluegrass.

Dec. 13-19: Across the Tracks

New releases – although not necessarily new recordings – with an emphasis on music from the west … and on guitar players.

Dec. 20-26: On This Christmas Day 

Brand-new holiday music, presented with good wishes and seasonal cheer.

Dec. 27 - Jan. 2: Honey, Please Don’t Go

Songs addressed to and/or about the singer’s “honey” – or not, as the case may be.

Jan. 3-9: Songs For A New Year

KALW PLAYLISTS

BLUEGRASS SIGNAL: What's Goin' On - Nov. 27, 2021

theme -

THE NEW ACOUSTIC COLLECTIVE: Key Signator/Art of Acoustics (self/21)

LAURIE LEWIS: I'll Take Back My Heart/Freight ’98 (Spruce and Maple/21)

MOLLY TUTTLE: She’ll Change/single (Nonesuch)

KATHY KALLICK BAND: Footprints In the Snow/forthcoming - What Are They Doing In Heaven Today? (Live Oak/22)

PETER ROWAN: Wild Geese Cry Again/Bluegrass Boy (Sugar Hill/96)

BLOOMFIELD BLUEGRASS BAND: Ruby Ridge/demo (self/21)

BLUE & LONESOME: I Hope You Have Learned/A Tiny Taste Of Blue & Lonesome (self/19)

SKILLET LICORICE: Geese Honking/Allsorts Orchestra (Old Time Tiki Parlor/21)

THE GOAT HILL GIRLS: Banjo Pickin’ Girl/Live (self/19)

WILDCAT MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS: Ask My Dog/Turn Your Radio On (Bluegrass Signal/19)

AJ LEE & BLUE SUMMIT: Back To Bluegrass/I’ll Come Back (Old White Horse)

FOG HOLLER: Spider Dance/Turn Your Radio On (Bluegrass Signal/18)

BROKEN COMPASS: Ghost On That Train/Live on KZFR, Chico (self/21)

WINDY HILL: You'll Never Know/ Live From the Ratz Nest (Hoss Unit Records/18)

MISSION BLUE: Brown Eyed Darling/Live At the Back Room (self/8-3-19)

BELA FLECK: Vertigo/My Bluegrass Heart (BMG/21)

CONCERTS PREVIEWED

Nov. 27: The New Acoustic Collective - The Back Room, Berkeley

Nov. 27: Laurie Lewis & Friends (including Molly Tuttle, Kathy Kallick, and Peter Rowan) - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Nov. 28: Peter Rowan - The Chapel, SF​ (with Ramblin' Jack Elliot; Rainy Eyes)

Nov. 30 (and every Tuesday): Skillet Licorice - The Page, SF

Dec. 2 (and first two Thursdays of month): Blue & Lonesome - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Dec. 2 (and every 1st Thursday): The Goat Hill Girls - Summit House, Los Gatos

Dec. 4: Broken Compass - The Back Room, Berkeley

Dec. 4: Kathy Kallick Band - Sebastopol Community Center

Dec. 5: Kathy Kallick Band - Freight & Salvage, Berkeley (with The High Water Line)

Dec. 5: AJ Lee & Blue Summit - Club Fox, Redwood City (with Dante Marino)

Dec. 9 (and every 2nd Thursday): Wildcat Mountain Ramblers - Summit House, Los Gatos

Dec. 10: Fog Holler - River Road Gallery, Locke (Walnut Grove)

Dec. 12: Fog Holler - Sweetwater, Mill Valley (with Hank & Ella & the Fine Country Band)

Dec. 12: Béla Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart - UC Theatre, Berkeley (also 12/10 - 12/17 in Redding, Reno, Carmel, San Diego, and LA)

Dec. 16 (and every 3th/4th Thursday): Bloomfield Bluegrass Band - Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma

Dec. 17: Windy Hill; Mission Blue - Bottom of the Hill, SF (with False Bottom)

Dec. 31: AJ Lee & Blue Summit - Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz (with the Coffis Brothers)

Jan. 27: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway - The Sweetwater, Mill Valley (also 1/25 - 2/2 in Grass Valley, Sacramento, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, San Juan Capistrano, and LA)

Please visit the Bluegrass Signal website for the October and November, 2021, playlists -- and all the others!