a publication by the southwest bluegrass association
TRANSCRIPT
A publication by the Southwest Bluegrass Association
The
Cover Photo By Reta Luontela
Pickers and grinners promoting Bluegrassmusic and those involved in it.
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The information in this publication is supplied by an all-volunteereffort and SWBA works hard to keep it accurate and up-to-date. Weencourage those whose events listed in this publication to keep yourinformation current – if you have any changes, additions or edits,please let them know by submitting an updated event info.Neither the Southwest Bluegrass Association nor the people involvedin providing information on this website can be held responsible forany result stemming from errors in information found on the SouthwestBluegrass Association website. Please check with the actual venuebefore traveling long distances to bluegrass events.
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Hello, Southwest BluegrassAssociation members and friends. Happy New Year, SWBA kicked off2020 at the Great 48 Hour Jam inBakersfield CA and it was great to seeso many SWBA members roaming thehallways and jamming on several
floors. This year Sheila and I traveled to Long Beach forour daughter Rebecca's wedding on Friday, so aftersetting up on Thursday and a few hours of jamming andvisiting we turned the SWBA Jam suite over to Marc andMissy. Thank you, Marc and Missy, for the awesomeweekend, keeping the jamming going and making folksfeel welcome. The jamming went into the wee hours of the morning onThursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A great timefor all who attended and I very much appreciate andthank everyone who visited the SWBA Jam suite to sayhi, visit and jam! SWBA is honored to be apart of this awesome eventhosted by the California Bluegrass Association and wethank Slim and Charlene Sims, Jack Pierce, CraigWilson and all those involved for there dedication andtime to organize, plan and host this event. At SuperJam last May we drew the raffle ticket for theMartin HD28v and called Ron Hibdon of Nevada to givehim the news that he was the new owner of this fineinstrument. Ron says he has never won anything andwas truly excited. He told us to keep it in Bakersfield untilThe Great 48 in January. You know how hard it is to havea Martin guitar in your house for 7 months and pull it outof the box and play it! So Ron picked up his guitar notlong after we arrived at the Great 48 and freed thisinstrument from its box, turned ur up and wroke thatMartin up from a long nap. Congudulations Ron Several months ago there were rumors that BlytheBluegrass Festival may not happen in 2020. The sitewas gone and the Blythe Chamber takes the summermonths off. After serval attempts to reach someone atthe City Chamber, one day a lady answered the phone,she wasn't with the Blythe Chamber but told me theColorado Fair was taking over the festival. So I calledthe fair and left a message. A few days later Bruce calledme back out brought me up to date and the BlytheBluegrass Festival was a go for 2020. Eric Nordbeck hauled the SWBA Booth stuff to Blythefor a weekend of bluegrass, jamming, and fellowship.With a nice turnout and support from the bluegrasscommunity, the Blythe Bluegrass Festival was a hugesuccess for the SWBA booth. With the help of
Volunteers, Connie and Rod Tripp, Eric Nordbeck,Patty Sullivan, Burt and Reta Luontela, ChuckAdamek, Ted Moes, Stan Jones, and Jerry Rutch, 10new, 13 renewal memberships, a mess of merchandisewas sold and festival-goers were provided info about theSouthwest Bluegrass Association and upcomingbluegrass events. Thank You you for volunteering,visiting and supporting the SWBA booth at the BlytheBluegrass Festival. Special thanks go out to the folks at the Colorado Fairand all involved for their efforts to continue a long-running festival and provide the bluegrass communitywith an awesome lineup, the best sound, good time,great memories, and a family-friendly event. Check out the Golden Shores/Topock ArizonaBluegrass Campout flyer. Topock is on the Arizona sideof the Colorado River near Needles CA not far from LakeHavasu on old Route 66. The Community center has alarge area for camping and you get some jamming in onyour way to Bluegrass on the Beach. This 2nd year forthis campout hosted by Gary Smith and everyone whoattended had a great time last year. The next event for the SWBA Booth will be Bluegrasson the Beach. Another long-running festival with a greatlineup. Bluegrass on the Beach has had a largeattendance for several years, with lots of room forcamping. If you have never been to this festival, youshould join a large number of SWBA members andattend this year. There are also several motels near thefestival location on London Bridge RD, they fill up fastso book ASAP. SuperJam details are still in the planning stages, butthe dates are set for May 21st-25th and group sites 1and 2 are reserved at Mojave Narrows Regional Park,18000 Yates Road in Victorville CA. The SWBAmembership meeting and potluck will be on Saturday.There will also be a White Elephant raffle for donateditems by SuperJam campers. Band Showcases, bingo,bunco, and jamming. The campout is open to allbluegrass associations, friends and family. So get theword out for a great weekend. More details coming inthe April/May Newsletter. Well I’m all out of SWBA stuff, so I will tell you aboutThe Bluegrass Cafe radio show I do live online onSundays from 3-5 PM pacific. The Bluegrass Jamboreesteams 24/7 All day Every Day.. Bluegrass, BluegrassGospel and Traditional Country. With 17 live shows, 18syndicated shows and auto dj between shows. Whilethe show has nothing to do with SWBA, Its a greatopportunity to promote bluegrass music. During theshow I can mention SWBA, festivals and events in thesouthwest and share with our listeners music from ourlocal bands in the southwest. I’m happy to say that overthe past months folks from the southwest have startedlistening and this has not gone unnoticed, Thank you forlistening! www.thebluegrassjamboree.comHope to see Ya soon, God Bless Terry Brewer
Wickenburg’s Bluegrass Festival…40 year’s of cookin’ with grass
By Bert LuontelaOh lordy, I just like that title “Cookin’ WithGrass”. On Sunday Reta purchased acookbook of “recipes from some of your
favorite Bluegrass artists” titled COOKIN’ WITH GRASSII. She spent the better part of the evening, nose down,reading the favorite recipes of Bluegrass’s “who’s who”including a number of artists showcased at the festival.Me, well, I heard the music emanating from the south sideof Constellation Rd. and my Brogan’s began walking inthat direction with me in them. This may have been Wickenburg’s 40th but it was our first.We’d been to Wickenburg many times and have afamiliarity with the town and Ben’s Saddlery where wepurchased some moccasins for our daughter who lives inAfrica, “butter for my feet” she calls them owning to theirsoftness. The venue, being somewhat offset from the town, is in arodeo arena complete with stock pens and shaded arenaseating, as well as, up close and personal seating, bringyour own chairs onto the arena floor. Camping’s availablein the main campground, converted parking grounds and“the penthouse”, an upper area reserved for big rigs. Thefood court and vender areas are located on the high groundjust before entering the multilevel arena seating. We arrived Thursday afternoon. The flat land campingareas of A and B were filling up with B at least two-thirdsfull. The main campground is accessed through campingarea B and consisted of large trailer pads with generousseparation between multilevel campsites off a dirt roadrunning along a small ridgeline then down through anarroyo. We picked a site with a generous trailer pad anda great westerly view of Wickenburg and the hills beyondrunning deep into the southwest sunset. The eveningsunsets were spectacular as the sounds of the coyote’ssongs rang out from the adjoining hills. We missed Friday’s opening ceremonies due to a visit toa cactus nursery that’s only open on Saturday’s or byappointment. However, we made up for the loss by havinglunch at one of our favorite stops in Wickenburg, ChaparralHomemade Ice Cream & Café, their lunches are great butthe ice cream is divine as in “to die for”. By the time we gotback Chris Jones & The Night Drivers were just gettingready to take the stage. Chris’s band was short one member, bass man MarshallWilborn, due to an emergent situation but they kept theship upright and moving along undoubtedly resulting insome changes to the original set list. Another new bandmember is Grace Van’t Hof, one of the original foundersof Della Mae. She’s a powerful banjo player, singer andUke rhythm section in the absence of the bass man.One of the unique and most memorable events of thefestival was the instrument contests guitar, banjo, fiddle,mandolin and specialty instrument. They’re interspersedbetween the bands and add a different dimension.Contestants range in age from well-seasoned seniors to
some barely a decade old. The quality of the musicianshipis striking as it makes me what to burn my mandolin andtake up Cribbage. I have heard from some that bluegrass is over the hill andthat festivals are primarily attended by “gray hairs, long intooth”. Yes, there are a lot seniors, like myself, attendingthe festivals because we have the resources and time thatmany of the younger set do not. That said, in looking at thecontestants and jam participants it appears that bluegrass,however it evolves, is in good hands and will continue tobe handed down generation to generation even in thosearid areas where sometimes “the cactus is in bloom”. One of the vivid memories etched into my mind was thatof two young girls, siblings, one ten the other not that mucholder both had competed, one in fiddle the other in guitar.Both were walking back to the kids play area at the far endof the arena, behind them was another sibling, maybe 5years of age holding a lollypop. She would take a few steps,stop, lick the lollypop, take few more steps, stop and lickthe candy all the while falling further and further behind hersisters. I stopped and wondered, in another five years whatwould she be playing, a mandolin or perhaps a dobro, whoknows maybe she’s already started. All said bluegrass isin good hands. A number of years ago, at Bluegrass On The Beach, wewere introduced to the music of a band that traveled aroundin a 1965 GMC tour bus, something Monroe or the StanleyBrothers might have toured in. That bus would be hard tomiss even if you were blind. The band is The Po’ RamblinBoys. They were a good band then, they’re a great bandnow. Over a three-day period they played five sets. A newaddition to the band, permanent or temporary I don’t know,
Photo by Rita Luontela
was a sweet young lady that can play a wicked fiddle andsings a sweet song. As the fifth member she rounds outthe bands sounds and can go toe-to-toe with any of theboys when it comes to taking a break. I first met C.J. Lewandowki, front man and mandolinist forthe Po’Ramblin Boys, at the Lake Havasu festival’smandolin workshop. He has a unique sound that he definesas the Missouri, Ozark, sound. It’s a style/sound that hasbeen generationally passed down mentor to student, in hiscase from Jim Orchard. There’s a unique quality to thesound that I didn’t really appreciate until I heard him at thisfestival and didn’t fully recognize until I listened to hisalbum, “Ozark Mandolin”. The album, for me, would becheap at twice the price given the great tones andmusicianship however, “but wait, there’s more as an addedbonus”; I keep obsessing over two cuts, Dub (I assumenamed after Dub Crouch) and “Basher’s Blues”. If theywere on vinyl I’d have worn the record and needle out. Sunday afternoon the Po’ Ramblin Boys were the closingact. For most the festival was over, time to head for home.Some would spend the night and leave sometime onMonday. There’s a lot of work that goes into putting on a festival,lots of pieces to the puzzle that have to fit and a lot of bootson the ground to pull it all off. Thanks to Julie and all thefolks at the Chamber of Commerce for all their hard work.Big thanks to John Kennedy for MC-ing the festival andkeeping the train on time and on the tracks when it wantsto jump the track and take a dirt road. As always OldBlueSound did a superb job. And I can’t thank the ArizonaBluegrass Association folks enough for all they do, not onlyat the festival but, all year long for the music we all love somuch. Also a big thanks to Dennis at The Mandolin Storefor his generous raffle donation of a resonator mandolin. Sunday evening Reta’s firmly ensconced in the cookbookand my walking shoes are taking me up Constellation Rd.to where I hear the music. You don’t need to be Dick Tracyto find the jam as the parking lot’s empty and there wereonly a few rigs left in the adjacent RV camping area.There was one of those behemoth coaches with a singlelantern glowing under the awning. From there emanateda sweet youthful voice singing a hymn I’d not heard before.The music, the hymn and voice blended into thesurrounding visual tapestry as I looked around. To the easta full moon was set against a dark, ink blue, sky with wispsof ghostly pale clouds. To the west the black hills beyondWickenburg were silhouetted by a darkened glowingtangerine sky, below the hills lay the lights of Wickenburgclustered then thinning out in scattered light ribbons intothe vast upper Sonoran Desert. I lingered there with someof the other grinners listening to the music and a greatrendition of Georgia Peaches, “Way down south aroundMacon Georgia, where the sweetest peaches grow. Iwandered there to take my chances, twenty some oddyears ago”. The music, the sights and sounds, the citylights and the vastness of the quiet desert below made fora picture perfect Arizona evening and a great ending to awonderful festival.Till next time, Bert
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MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND MAY 7th - 10th, 2020Early Bird Tickets End March 8th 2020
www.ParkfieldBluegrass.orgThe Parkfield Bluegrass Festival Lineup
Lonesome Ace StringbandLonely Heartstring Band
Bruce Molsky & Allison DeGrootGina Furtado Project
Jeff Scroggins & the ScroggdogsAJ Lee & Blue Summit
High Water LineHoneysuckle PossumsSLO County StumblersBlah Blah Stringband
Amber Cross
“Rank Stranger”The Stanley Brothers (1960)Added to the National Registry: 2008Essay by Cary O’DellThough dozens of artists haverecorded the song “Rank Stranger”over the years, the Stanley Brothers’simple, effective treatment remainsits definitive version and it was this
recording that was named to the National RecordingRegistry in 2008. Though strongly associated with the legendary Stanleys,“Rank Stranger” was not authored by them. Instead, it wasthe work of prolific gospel songwriter Albert E. Brumley,Sr., The composer of such other seminal gospel classicsas “Turn Your Radio On” and “I’ll Fly Away.” Composed in1942, “Stranger” would not be popularized until the StanleyBrothers committed it to vinyl at the somewhat late date of1960. Though it is often reported that the brothers recordedthe tune in Nashville, various sources indicate otherwise,that it was actually tracked at a remote facility inJacksonville, Florida, near the end of May or early part ofJune of 1960. (The Stanleys were, at the time, headlininga live, weekly radio show, the Suwannee River Jamboree,from Live Oak, Florida.) The recording was released laterthat year on their “Sacred Songs from the Hill” album overthe Starday label. For the song, Carter Stanley took the lead while brotherRalph, with his soaring tenor, took on the echoing refrainin typical Bluegrass call-and-response style. In keepingwith Bluegrass tradition, the recording’s primaryinstruments were a guitar and mandolin. Spare andunamplified, the sparse instrumentation echoes the song’slonesome (high lonesome?) Premise and feel. Ranking with “Angel Band” and “I Am a Man of ConstantSorrow,” “Rank Stranger” is one of the Stanley Brothers’most significant songs. It retained a primary place in theirrepertoire until their musical partnership was ended bydeath in 1966 with the passing of Carter Stanley. RalphStanley, however, continues to perform to this day and heoften reprises “Stranger” with new accompanists. Heenjoyed a major renaissance in 2000 with his participationon the millionselling “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”Soundtrack. Since its recording and popularization, “Rank Stranger”has affected many and its premise and meaning has oftenbeen debated. To some, its wayfaring narrator is a Civil War veteranreturning from battle to find his world not only irrevocablychanged, but strangely alien as well: “Everybody Imet/Seemed to be a rank stranger/No mother or dad/Nota friend could I see.” To others, the meaning is more spiritual than literal. AsSoutherns often speak of “losing their religion,” is this theplight of the narrator? His return, as outlined by the lyricsof the song, therefore denoting not a physical return to aphysical place but a spiritual restoration and reckoning,albeit with the lingering question--has the narrator’sreconciliation arrived too late?
Of course “Rank Stranger” is alsoa song about death, thetranscendence and an afterlife —“They’ve all moved away/To abeautiful land by the bright crystalsea / Some beautiful day I’ll meetthem in heaven / Where no onewill be a stranger to me.” With is tale of isolation,
aloneness and time passing, this Stanley Brothers musicalclassic calls to mind a variety of other artistic worksincluding the Biblical book series “Left Behind,” anynumber of “Twilight Zone” or Rod Serling-type stories andsuch latter day recordings as Bruce Springsteen’s haunting“My Father’s House” and Gillian Welch’s “Orphan Girl.”The sonically similar “My Dear Companion” by JeanRitchie—recorded by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton andLinda Ronstadt as part of their “Trio” project—too seemsto owe much of its searching pathos to “Stranger’s” searinglament. Since the Stanleys’ rendition, “Rank Stranger” hasbecome a standard of the Bluegrass genre widely coveredby various Bluegrass ensembles and by such majormusicians as Ricky Skaggs. Even Bob Dylan recorded thesong to close out his 1988 album, “Down in the Groove.” Under anyone’s treatment, “Rank Stranger” has enduredas a premiere example of the uniquely American art formthat is Bluegrass music, its emotions and messages asresonating today as they were over 50 years ago.Cary O’Dell is with the Motion Picture, Broadcast and
Recorded Sound division of the Library of Congress. Heis the author of the books “June Cleaver Was a Feminist!”(2014) and “Women Pioneers in Television” (1997). Healso served as assistant editor of “The ConciseEncyclopedia of American Radio” (2009) and “TheBiographical Encyclopedia of American Radio” (2010)NOTE: The Southwest Bluegrass Association was grantedpermission to reprint this Essay by Gary O’ Dell for use inThe Bluegrass Soundboard by the Library of Congresson December 31, 2019. ~ Terry BrewerAbout the Library of Congress and the NationalRecording Registry.The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library thatofficially serves the United States Congress and is the defacto national library of the United States. It is the oldestfederal cultural institution in the United States. The library ishoused in three buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.;it also maintains the National Audio-Visual ConservationCenter in Culpeper, Virginia.The National Recording Registry is a list of soundrecordings that "are culturally, historically, or aestheticallyimportant, and/or inform or reflect life in the United State. "The registry was established by the National RecordingPreservation Act of 2000, which created the NationalRecording Preservation Board, whose members areappointed by the Librarian of Congress. The recordingspreserved in the United States National Recording Registryform a registry of recordings selected yearly by the NationalRecording Preservation Board for preservation in the Libraryof Congress.
The Stanley Brothers Original label
“the dogleg” (for good reason), this method does have its risks,particular for old-time musicians who commonly sit close to eachother in a tight circle. More than once I’ve witnessed someonesuddenly raise their leg and accidentally kick the person sittingacross from them. Ouch!The foot. Instead of raising their leg, some people simply raisetheir foot. Depending on the size of the session, this is a signalthat could easily get overlooked. The pause or gap. This is my personal favorite. When I’mplaying a tune, I will leave a quick pause or gap in the music rightbefore I play the final tag or ending. For me, this never fails tobring the session to a comfortable stop. The instrument. Occasionally someone will raise the neck oftheir instrument to communicate that the tune is ending. Whatout for those whirling ceiling fans! The tag. Near the end of a tune many musicians will play aseries of notes that are sometimes called a “tag.” These notescan very, depending on the instrument and the style beingplayed. The tag is usually followed by an ending tag, whichsometimes resembles the old phrase, “shave and a haircut, twobits.”The accent - The accent means that you play a strong or loud
note or chord just before the end. The finger. When the end of the tune is fast approaching,sometimes the jam boss will wave their right index finger in acircle, like a flag. The problem with this method is that it’s oftenconfused with a “turnaround.” The turnaround. On slower, country-type songs, musiciansoften play a turn around. This simply means playing the last lineof the chorus instrumentally at the end of the regular chorus.Many times the leader will signal a turn around by waving theirindex finger in the air. When you hear the turn around, applyyour brakes. The middle finger. If you see the leader extend the middlefinger of their right hand in your direction, it means “that ain’t nopart of nothin’,” as Bill Monroe once said.The Birch Monroe. Speaking about Bill Monroe, the most
sudden stop I’ve ever witnessed took place at the front of the oldbarn at Monroe’s Bean Blossom festival in 1971. Best Iremember, I was in the thick of a huge jam with six or seven ofus wailing away at ninety miles an hour on “Little Girl inTennessee.” I was singing lead and playing guitar with a crowdof thirty or forty people gathered around our little circle, fivedeep. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Birch Monroe, whowas the no-nonsense brother of Bill Monroe, and the managerof the park. I detected a fierce determination in his eyes as hemarched headlong into crowd while the song was going fullblast. Since I was playing guitar and singing lead, Birch marcheddirectly up to me. Without saying a word, he suddenly wrappedboth his hands firmly around the fingerboard and neck of myguitar. The song stopped so suddenly that we practically gotwhiplash! In all my days of jamming, I’ve never seen anythingstop so quickly.Not known for the secrecy of his signals, Birch then ordered usto move our jam to the stage, which was empty at that time.Since we didn’t want to tangle with Birch anymore than wealready had, we obediently followed his orders, and wecontinued the jam from the stage of the old barn.So now that you know the secret signals, get out there and jamyour guts out.Wayne Erbsen is a musician, author, publisher & bluegrassradio host. He has written over 30 bluegrass song & instructionbooks for banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin & ukelele. Visitwww.nativeground.com
© 2018 By Wayne Erbsen nativeground.comIt’s Saturday night. Instead of relaxing safe athome plopped comfortably in front of your bigscreen TV, you’re got your hind quartersparked squarely on a hard folding chair. If
that’s the case, chances are you’re either at a festival watchingyour favorite bluegrass band, or perhaps you’re huddled undera tarp in the pouring rain jamming with friends or total strangersat a fiddlers convention. Either way, you often witness secret ornot-so-secret signals or cues from one musician to the rest ofthe group to alert them that a song or tune is about to end. Thisarticle will help you decode many of the secret signals that arecommonly used at bluegrass and old-time jams andperformances. If you’re watching a bluegrass band that’s used to playingtogether, you might not see any signals at all. Just last night wasI was chatting with Bobby Hicks, a long time Bluegrass Boy andfiddler. I asked him how Monroe signaled to the band when asong was supposed to stop. He said Bill never used any kind ofsignal. He explained that after you played night after night on theroad with Bill, you knew exactly where and when a song wasgoing to end. He did point out that after the song was over,Monroe often raised his white hat in the air while the audiencewildly applauded. The most likely place you’ll see signals or cues is at large jams.Sometimes, the size of the jam will help determine which signalis used.The bluegrass jam leader. In a bluegrass jam, it’s normally thelead singer who becomes the “jam boss.” He or she make it theirbusiness to send signals to the rest of the group. If a bluegrassinstrumental is being played, whoever kicks off the song usuallyhelps guide it to a smooth ending by sending a clear signal tothe other musicians.The old-time jam leader. Typically it’s a fiddler who rules the
roost in an old time jam. Nearly always it’s the fiddler who selectsthe tune, sets the tempo, decides how long it will last, and whenit will end. If there’s more than one fiddler, whoever starts thetune will take ownership of that tune and will signal the endingto the other jammers.The shout. You often hear the jam boss speak or shout
commands like “one more,” “one more time,” “last time,” “take ithome,” or “take it to the barn.” Many people find it difficult orimpossible to speak while they’re playing, so they rely non-verbalsignals. I remember one young lady was leading a jam and Icould tell she wasn’t comfortable speaking and fiddling at thesame time. Instead of using one of the more wordy shouts,through clinched teeth she managed to grunt the word “end,”and then the tune suddenly stopped!The nod. This is a common method of communicating either
that it’s someone’s turn to take the next break, or that the songis about to end. Confusion about the meaning of the nod cansometimes result in a train wreck.The eye. Making eye contact when the end is in sight is one ofthe approved signals that are used both in bluegrass andold-time jams. The eyebrow - Be alert to the “eyebrow shrug,” a sure sign thatsomething is about to happen. The look. If the jam boss gives you “the look,” either the songis going to end, or your zipper is unzipped. The leg. The most common secret signal is now so common
that it’s no longer a secret. If you see the jam leader lift one leg,you can count on the song ending very soon. Sometimes called
The Secret Signals of Musicians
Bluegrass Rulesand don’t you dare break them!
Bluegrass Rules● Every slow song performed by a bluegrass band must
be preceded by the statement, “we’re going to slowthings down just a little.”
● Unless you’re Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, nomatter how simple your band name is, a festival M.C.will always be capable of messing it up in yourintroduction.
● Related rule: No matter what your band name is, it willalways be abbreviated to the first name of the bandleader plus “and them,” e.g. “Doyle and them,”“Russell and them,” “Rhonda and them,” etc.
● Every bluegrass musician and fan of bluegrassbelieves that he or she can imitate Bill Monroe talking.
● In modern bluegrass songwriting, “Grandpa” is thenew “Mother.”
● There are fewer than five appropriate bluegrass songsfor a wedding, and most bands hired to play weddingsdo 12 to 25 songs.
● The first question at any songwriting workshop willalways be “which do you write first, the music or thelyrics.” The question is never really answered.
● If you still have cell service, you haven’t yet arrived atthe festival.
● Will the Circle Be Unbroken must finish everyfinale/encore/jam session on stage. Only the first twoverses may be sung. Repeat if necessary (and it willbe necessary). Exception to rule: if Sam Bush ispresent, the finale must be a song by The Band.
● Every traditional bluegrass festival must feature atleast one band wearing dark suits in 98 degreeweather.
● Every progressive, mixed-genre festival must featureat least one band performing barefoot.
● Bluegrass music will always be the last genre of musicto completely accept a new music format, like the CD,or the digital download. As evidence, the phrase “longplay album” was still being used in stage patter asrecently as 2015.
● No matter how famous a bluegrass artist you may be,when you meet a stranger who finds out that you’re aprofessional musician, and they ask, “would I haveheard of you?” the correct answer is always “no.”
● The larger the jam session, the louder everyone plays.● There’s nothing quite as beautiful as a small 5:00 a.m.
jam session under a tree at a bluegrass festival(unless you’re the one in the tent nearby trying tosleep).
It is my hope that these are all identifying principles ofour music today we can all agree on, but if not, feel freeto debate them in comments below. I won’t participate.Chris Jones wears many hats in his bluegrass career. Inaddition to leading his own band, with whom he tours andrecords, Jones is an award-winning broadcaster andsongwriter.
By Chris Jones Opinion / HumorBluegrass Today bluegrasstoday.com In the 1970s, once bluegrass music hadevolved into its own genre, with its own
festival circuit, its own record labels, and its ownpublications, a set of rules became established to help usdifferentiate bluegrass music from other genres, especiallyother forms of country music. These rules mainly involvedwhat kind of instruments the music could and couldn’thave, because those were rules easiest to articulate andunderstand (and if necessary, enforce). Rules about howthose instruments could be played, or what singing stylewas or wasn’t appropriate to the music were a little moreof a murky area. To this day we love to argue about thesethings (and when I say “we,” I really mean “people with toomuch time on their hands”). Take the argument about drums in bluegrass, for example;the view that many hold today is that drums don’t belongin bluegrass music under any circumstances: “There areno drums in bluegrass.” It’s an easy enough rule to drawup, since Bill Monroe didn’t use them in 1946-47 withLester and Earl, etc. Neither did the first generation ofbands that followed, at least not for a while. What promptsdebate about this is the fact that almost every firstgeneration bluegrass act did use drums just a few yearslater, some, like Jimmy Martin, throughout most of theircareers. Apparently no one briefed them on this rule,probably because there weren’t rules like this in 1958. Tocomplicate matters, Bill Monroe himself used drums on alot of his recordings throughout the 1950s, but this isdisputed, too, by those who say that it doesn’t countbecause the drum was played by the bass player, ErnieNewton, who had it mounted on his bass. To me—not totake sides here or anything—that’s a little like saying DocWatson wasn’t playing harmonica on his recordingsbecause he was also playing the guitar and the harmonicawas hanging on his neck. These are the kinds of arguments these bluegrass rulesgenerate, and we spend valuable time debating them, timethat could be better spent solving the problem of globalterrorism, helping to feed hungry children, or doing ourown truss rod adjustments. I would prefer not to open or reopen any of thesediscussions (ever), but for those who love rules, I presenta partial list of some new bluegrass music rules that I hopeare much more cut and dried. It’s my hope that these aren’tthe kinds of rules that lead to more debates like whetherthe dobro is really a bluegrass instrument, or whether ornot Bill Monroe could have started bluegrass music withoutthe banjo.
SIDELINE SIDELINE sets a furious pace for spring with a slew ofdates in support of their new release, BREAKS TO THEEDGE. The reigning IBMA Song of the Year (for "ThunderDan") award-winning group will headline shows acrossthe U.S. bringing their boundless high-energy style andremarkable skill set to new audiences.Sideline is a pedigreed six-piece powerhouse whose style
has set the pace in Bluegrass for over two decades. Found-ers Steve Dilling (banjo), guitarist Skip Cherryholmes andJason Moore (bass) can all claim their own historical signif-icance to the genre as members of highly awarded groups,multiple Grand Ole Opry appearances and years of nationaland international touring. What started as a side project forthe seasoned players soon moved to the front and centerand they began to record and release albums in earnest. In2019, Sideline won the IBMA Song Of The Year Award fortheir hit single, "Thunder Dan." To listen to Sideline reminds the fan of why so many peoplefall in love with Bluegrass in the first place; pulse-poundingdrive, songs sung from the heart, perfected timing and dy-namics as well as a visceral emotion in the rendering. A bandthat was started as an off-season fun experiment has be-come a full-time dream team of players and singers, includ-ing its latest additions, Zack Arnold (mandolin), JamieHarper (fiddle) and guitarist Jacob Greer. Whether live or in the studio, the sextet moves dynamicallyfrom well chosen, hard-hitting neo-traditional covers of clas-sic songs to new material, all curated by a band with aperfect sense of who they are and what they have to say.Combine all this with their on-stage energy and finesse aswell as their powerful and affecting harmonies, and you havethe embodiment of the North Carolina Bluegrass sound.Sideline has released 5 national projects and records for thehighly awarded Mountain Home Music Company based nearAsheville, NC.
West Coast DatesMAR 5 - Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center / Weaverville, CA
MAR 6 - Firehouse Arts Center / Pleasanton, CAMAR 7 - Benefit for Rotary Club of Willits / Willits, CA
MAR 8 - The Reel & Brand / Sonoma, CAMAR 9 - The Side Door / Sacramento, CA
MAR 10 - Golden Valley Christian Fellowship Bakersfield, CA.MAR 11 - Mark Shutts Fabricators / Huntington Beach, CA
MAR 12 - Tony Pritchett House Concert / Rialto, CAMAR 14 - Boulevard Music / Culver City, CA
Join Terry Brewer as he brings The Bluegrass Cafeto the airwaves, Sundays a 3 - 5 PM Pacific with amix of Buegrass and Bluegrass Gospel.
Live from the Streets of Bakersfield CaliforniaOnly on www.TheBluegrassJamboree.com
Help Needed!
SWBA Booth At Bluegrass on the Beach If you plan to attend Bluegrass on the Beach MusicFestival in March. We need your help in the booth to tellthe folks about SWBA and how to join!
Volunteer to work a 2 hr shift for 1, 2 or 3 daysAny Help would be very much appreciated!
Contact Terry Brewer - [email protected]
Long Beach CA: Every Saturday 10 am - noon+ Bluegrass forBeginners, Recreation Dog Park 5201 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA90804Newhall, Ca: Every 2nd Sunday BASC Jam from Noon to 4PMVincenzo's 24504 Lyons Ave Newhall CASan Diego, CA: 3rd Monday 7 - 8:30 PM SDBS Bluegrass SlowJam Learning session, Our Savior Lutheran Church (in the back)4011 Ohio St, San Diego, CA [email protected] Diego, CA 4th Tuesday 6:30 – 8 pm SDBS, Open mic andpick up bands 8 – 9 pm Featured Band Lots of jamming outsideBoll Weevil Restaurant 9330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San DiegoSan Diego, CA: San Diego Bluegrass Society's 3rd Mondayinstructed Slow Jam, 7:00-8:30pm at Our Savior's LutheranChurch 4011 Ohio St. more info: [email protected] Diego, CA: Walt Richards SLO Jam 6:20 PM 3rd FridaySan Carlos Recreation Center, 6445 Lake Badin Ave., 6:30PM-9PM SDBS Open Mic, Pickup Bands, Featured BandSan Juan Capistrano: SJC Bluegrass Pickers meet everySaturday under the Oak trees 9 am – 12-noon at Historic TownCenter Park 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CASanta Margarita CA: 2nd & 4th Wednesday The Porch Cafe22322 El Camino Real, (805) 438-3376 http://theporchcafe.com/host: The Toro Creek Ramblers & the BMSCCSanta Monica CA: 4th Wednesday Finn McCool's: The BillCheatham Bluegrass Jam / Chris Murphy. 8:30 PM. Finn McCool's2702 Main Street Santa MonicaTemecula CA: “The Third Jam"6:30-9 PM every Third Tuesdayhosted by Bill Frisbie. Come join the fun at Round Table Pizza27644 Ynez Road Temecula, CATemecula CA: Third Tuesday of every month 6:30 pm to 9:00pm Burgers & Beer, 41577 Margarita Rd Suite 101, Temecula,CA 92591 No admission charge, all levels welcome.Contact: Bill Frisbie, (631) 804-0146 [email protected], CA: EL CAMINO College Bluegrass Jam, 1st Sundayof the month 1-3 PM 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Steve Barilovits310-367-8975 [email protected] Hills, CA: 4th Sunday, Jam 1-5 PM The WestValley Music Center, 24424 Vanowen St. 818-992-4142,Everyone Welcome! Join the Jam or just listenYorba Linda, Ca: Thursday Jam 6-9 PM Main Street Restaurant,4902 Main St., (714) 777-9427, Jan host Barney Barnhouse.Ventura, Ca: 2nd & 4th Wednesday, Grapes and Hops Wine Bar.454 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93003 Contact:[email protected] 805-340-2270Vista, CA : Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum stage at thebig green lawn is usually available for jamming. For jam days,times & updates visit northcountybluegrass.orgTucson AZ: 1st Sunday, 4 pm Year-round SaddlebrookeClubhouse Jam Agave Lounge howardjamesk@gmail 64500 E.Saddlebrooke Blvd. TucsonApache Junction AZ: 1st & 3rd Sundays October – April ElksClub Jam 2455 N. Apache Trail. all skill levels. Galen at Galenat [email protected] AZ: 1st & 3rd Monday 6-8 pm year-round Bluegrass &American Roots Music Inter.- Advanced Shalimar Golf Course 2032E. Golf Ave. Rich Ment [email protected] AZ: 1st & 3rd Tuesday 6 pm Peoria Library Jam 8463Monroe St. Robert White [email protected] City AZ: Last Tuesday 6:30 pm First Christian Church 14001N. Thunderbird Blvd. Paul Wilson 623.341.9417Willcox AZ: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 2 – 4 pm Studio 128, WilcoxTheater 134 N. Railroad Ave. Ned Robbins [email protected] AZ: 2nd Thursday 7- 9 pm ABA Workshop jam FrayGarces Columbian Hall 8066 N. 49th Ave Rick [email protected]
Arroyo Grande CA: Tuesdays Bluegrass Jam 1-4pm. HeritageSquare Park (sm Gazebo behind lg Gazebo between theHistorical Library and Museum Buildings 126 S Mason St.,Contact: Yael Gott (805) 450-7571. Please bring a folding chair.Arroyo Grande CA: 1st Thursday Branch Street Deli 3-6 p.m.203 E. Branch St.,Arroyo Grande Village; Contact: Yael (805)450-7571Arroyo Grande CA: Lightning Joe's Guitar Heaven: 2ndSaturday of the month 1-4 PM in the village. Plenty of stools butbring music stands. Go up the stairs to the left of Lightning Joe's.100 East Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420Arroyo Grande CA: 1st Sunday Nipomo CommunityPresbyterian Church 5:30 PM. 1235 N Thompson Rd, ArroyoGrande, Ca 93420Bakersfield, Ca: 1st Monday of the month, 6-9 PM, Rusty’sPizza, 5430 Olive Drive contact: S. C. "Slim" [email protected] 760-762- 6828Covina, Ca: Open mic night, 1st Saturday of the month, 8PM,The Fret House Music Shop, 309 N Citrus. Entrance fee is $2.00.Call (626)339-7020Covina, Ca: 3rd Sunday every other month from 2-5pm at TheFret House Music Shop, 309 N. Citrus Ave., Covina. (626)339-7020. René Baquet jam hostEncinitas, Ca: Thursday nights, 6-9 PM, Round Table Pizza,1321 Encinitas Blvd. behind McDonalds near El Camino RealEscondido, Ca: 3rd Wednesday of the month 6 PM San DiegoNo. County Bluegrass & Folk Jam, Round Table Pizza, 1161 EWashingtonFresno CA: Santa Fe Basque Restaurant: The Fresno FolkloreSociety has a weekly jam. It's the friends of Kenny Hall Memorialjam at the Santa Fe Basque Restaurant every Wednesday from5:30 - 7:30 pm.Fountain Valley CA: Every Saturday 10 am - noon+ Bluegrass forBeginners, Mile Square Park 16801 Euclid St. Fountain Valley,CA 92708, Lot A on the left side of the park road, about 300 ftSouth of the Euclid entrance.Henderson, NV: Tuesday Night Bluegrass & Old Time MusicJam, 5-8 PM, Heritage Park Senior Facility, 300 Racetrack,Henderson 702-267-2950 . For details call Betty Bess (702)564-1630.Huntington Beach Ca: 4th Sunday jam, 1-5 PM, ShuttsFabricators 15481 Electronic Lane, Unit C, Huntington Beach, CA.92649 (562) 432-4648 SWBA Jam Host Mark ShuttsLa Mesa, Ca: SDBS Open mic & jam, 2nd Tuesday of the month6:30-9 PM Fuddrucker’s, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., For infocall Fuddruckers at (619)589-6144 or SDBS info line at (858)679-4854 Sponsor - San Diego Bluegrass SocietyLas Vegas, NV: Thursday night Bluegrass Jam, 6 - 8:30 PM,NW Mountain Crest Park Community Center, 4701 N. DurangoRd., call Vera Vann-Wilson (702)875-3579.Loma Linda, Ca: Jam American Traditional Music Tuesdays,7 PM, Loma Linda University,Patio Pantry, Anderson St. at . CallDon Hergert (909) 796-8812 for info & directions.Lonpoc, Ca: 2nd and 4th Wednesday Southside Coffee Co 105So. H St 7-9 PM: LOMPOC: evening jams, 7-9 PM for more infocall Bill at (805) 736-8241.Long Beach, Ca: Tuesday’s Soup Jam 7PM, 2420 Gundry Stin Signal Hill , Contact: Don Rowan (562)883-0573, open toeveryone (this jam is held in an industrial building)Long Beach, Ca: Open Bluegrass Jam 2nd Thursday of themonth 7-10 PM Red Leprechaun 4000 E Anaheim St, LongBeach, CA [email protected]
FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTHNORCO AMERICAN LEGION POST 328
(breakfast 9am jam at noon) AT 1pm3888 OLD HAMNER ROAD I-15 at 6TH ST
NORCO CALIFORNIASECOND SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH BIG BEAR AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS
CHAPTER 584 11am to 3pm41606 BIG BEAR BLVD. BIG BEAR CITY CALIFORNIA
THIRD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTSAN JACINTO AMERICAN LEGION POST 848
(breakfast 9am jam at noon) AT 1pm312 MAIN STREET, SAN JACINTO CALIFORNIA
For more information contact Jerry TurnerEmail: [email protected]
Fret House Music Shop309 N. Citrus Ave., Covina CA
(626) 339-7020
ARTIN PRESSPRINTING AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Quality printing for today's freshest designs958 N. Grand Avenue, Covina, CA
626-915-4255 www.artinpress.com
Shutts Fabricators
15481 Electronic Lane, Unit C, Huntington Beach, CA. 92649
WE BUILD COOL STUFF!
www.shuttsfab.com(562) 432-4648
The Bluegrass Soundboardis made possible bySWBA Membership
Thank You!Pickers and Grinners
promotingBluegrass music
Back Porch BluegrassPhelan CA 760-868-2850
facebook.com/BPBluegrassBand
Bill Dempsey Music San Juan Capistrano CA
949-357-7333billdempseymusic.net
Billy Proulx & Tommy Too Claremont CA 909-268-9878
facebook.com/Billy-Proulx
Blue Creek Band San Diego CA 760-659-0094
bluecreekband.com
Bluegrass BrethrenLong Beach CA 562-428-6179
bluegrassbrethren.com
Chris CernaAnd The Bluegrass Republic
Highland CA 808-782-1275facebook.com/Chris-Cerna
Edgar Loudermilk Band706-768-1503
edgarloudermilk.com
Fair Market BandClaremont CA 909-358-1669
fairmarketband.com
Flint Hill SpecialArizona 575-740-1563
Flinthillspecial.com
Frequent FlyersBlue Diamond NV
02-875-3579
GrasslandsFountain Valley CA
714-454-1976grasslands-socal.com
Grinder CountryOrange CA 714-865-9729
facebook.com/GrinderCountry
HAWAIIANS @ HEARTWashtub Band
Corona CA 951-372-8266cornbreadentertainment.com
High LonesomeTucson, AZ 571-212-3100
highlonesomebluegrassband.com
HighviewBarstow CA 760-953-8520
Honey BucketsRancho Cucamonga CA
909-957-8470honeybuckets.band
Lilies of the WestAnaheim CA 714-635-5834
musicbypatty.com/lilies-of-the-west
MohavisoulSan Deigo,CA 619-379-3288
mohavisoul.com
Murphy Family BandCulver City CA 310-559-3095
facebook.com/Murphy-Family-Band
Old Blue BandLittlefied AZ 970-260-7873
oldblueband.com
Out of the DesertLas Vegas NV 702-521-5615facebook.com/outofdesert
Portneuf Gap BluegrassArimo, ID 208-251-0575
portneufgap.com
Sagebrush String BandLas Vegas NV 702-373-1926hfacebook.com/Sagebrush-Stringband
ShinboneCovina CA 626-337-0071
SidelineRaleigh NC 919-398-0366
Sidelinebg.com
Stillhouse RoadSt. George UT 435-674-1226
Stillhouseroad.com
Sweet Tidings Gospel JamLoma Linda CA 909-796-8812
facebook.com/Sweet-Tidings-Gospel-Jam
The BrombiesLos Angeles CA 323-874-0583
thebrombies.com
Through The AgesHesperia CA 760-953-4429
facebook.com/throughtheages
Virtual StrangersPoway, CA 858-386-8459
virtualstrangers.ipower.com
Wimberley BluegrassSanta Ana CA 714-538-8321
Wimberleybluegrassband.com
The Bluegrass Soundboardis made possible bySWBA Membership
Thank You!
Pickers and Grinnerspromoting Bluegrass music
And those involved in it.
Classifieds
LessonsGuitar, Banjo & Harmonica: Bill Dempsey, San Juan Capistrano(949)357-7333.Banjo lessons: Bill Purcell, Bluegrass banjo all levels Riverside CA(951)231-7321 [email protected]
Fiddle lessons by Shelah Spiegel, Fountain Valley CA, (714) 454-1976, e-mail: [email protected]
Fiddle lessons with Phil Salazar: Ventura, CA (805) 701-2508fiddlelessonswithphilsalazar.com
Guitar & Banjo lessons: Pete Roehling, teaches most styles ofguitar, flat & finger picking, old-time & bluegrass banjo. Luthier& instrument re-pair man Redlands CA (909) 794-6125
Old time banjo & Mountain dulcimer: Doug Thomson RancoCucamonga CA (909) 987-5701
RepairsBlock's Musical Repair Lake Elsinore, CA 951-283-8955blocksmusicalrepair.com
Classic String Repair Hesperia CA 760-949-2266
Folk Music Center Claremont CA 909-624-2928
McCabe’s Guitar Shop Santa Monica CA 310-8284497
Roll Over Beethoven’s Music Store Hesperia CA 760-244-8822
Sorensen Mandolin & Guitar Co Santa Clarita, CA 661-345-6684
The Fret House Covina CA 626-339-7020
Old Blue SoundOld Blue Inc.. 520 S 9th St Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 260-7873 Oldbluesound.com
Shutts Fabricators 15481 Electronic Lane, Unit C, Huntington Beach, CA. 92649
(562) 432-4648 Siteshuttsfab.com
Susanville Bluegrass FestivalLassen County Fairgrounds
195 Russell Drive Susanville, CA(530) 251-8900 www.lassencountyfair.org
Support Our SWBA MemberBands and Businesses
Band or Business Membership in the Southwest Bluegrass Associationbrings with it many benefits. These include; a listing in this publicationand on the SWBA website southwestbluegrass.org, targeted mailinglists, eligibility to participate in SWBA sponsored contests and events.Referrals to the public, booking agents and promoters.
Always verify dates and times, sometimes scheduled events change or we maynot have listed everything correctly. For more Info on events listed below andothers visit southwestbluegrass.org for one click links
Every Saturday ME-N-ED’S Pizza Parlor Bluegrass Concerts 6:30 PM –10:30 PM Me N Ed's Pizza Parlor 4115 Paramount Blvd.,
Lakewood, CA 90712 562-421-8908
1�� Sunday Of Every MonthNorco American Legion & Southwest Bluegrass Association
P. T.S.D. Awareness Program "PICKING & JAMMING AMERICA"3888 Hamner ( I-15 & 6�� Street) Norco CA
1�� & 3�� Tuesdays The Brombies @ Viva Rancho Cantina 7:30 PM,900 Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91506, 818-515-4444, Jo Ellen
Doering 323-874-0583 [email protected]
1�� Tuesday San Diego No. County Bluegrass & Folk Club 7 – 9 pm Live bluegrass bands, local & regional. Jamming on the
patio from 7 pm – ? Round Table Pizza 1161 E. WashingtonEscondido, CA northcountybluegrass.org
2ⁿ� & 4�� Tuesday San Diego Bluegrass Society 6:30 – 9 PM Open mic and pick up bands, Lots of jamming outside.Food and beverages are available for purchase. Guests welcome.
Fuddruckers, 5500 Grossmont Center Grossmont Center Dr LaMesa, CA sandiegobluegrass.org
March 10th, 2020 Sideline ConcertGolden Valley Christian Fellowship
690 McKee Rd Bakersfield, CA 93307
March 12th 2020 Sideline Concert 1772 W Persimmon St, Rialto, CA 92377
Apr 15-19 Julian Family Fiddle Camp Julian, CASWBA SuperJam May 21– 25, 2020
June 3-5 Pagosa Bluegrass Camps in Pagosa Springs, CO
June 14th – 17th CBA Summer Music Camp in Grass Valley, CA
June Susanville Music Camp Susanville, CA
June 23rd – 27th Flagstaff Roots & Boots Music Camp Flagstaff, AZ
July 19tn-23rd RockyGrass Academy Lyons, CO
Aug 9th – 15th Colorado Roots Music Camp Colorado Springs CO
Feb 13-15 - Palatka Bluegrass Festival - Palatka, FloridaFeb 14-16 - Joe Val Bluegrass Music Festival - Framingham, MA Feb 14-16 - Mid-Winter Bluegrass Festival - Denver, ColoradoFeb 18-23 - Florida Bluegrass Classic Festival - Brooksville, FloridaFeb 20-23 - Wintergrass Music Festival - Bellevue, WashingtonFeb 21-22 - Des Moines Area Bluegrass Festival - Johnston, IowaFeb 21-22 - Winter Bluegrass Festival - Wichita, KansasFeb 21-23 - Bluegrass First Class - Asheville, North CarolinaFeb 21-23 - WinterWonderGrass Steamboat - Steamboat Springs COFeb 28-29 Bluegrass in the Bluegrass with Sam Jam & Rudy Fest Lexington KYFeb 28-29 - Winter String Summit - Kissimee, FloridaFeb. 29��–Mar 1�� Glendale Folk & Heritage Festival, Glendale, ArizonaMar 6th-8th - Bluegrass on the Beach - Lake Havasu City, ArizonaMar 5th-7th Cabin Fever Pickin’ Party, Virginia Beach, VirginiaMar 5th-8th Shorty’s Strickly Bluegrass Festival, East Peoria, IllinoisMar 14th Snoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival Sebastopol, CA
Bluegrass Festivals
Mar 14th - 15th Marana’s Bluegrass Festival - Marana, ArizonaMar 12-14 - Withlacoochee River Bluegrass Festival - Dunnellon, FLMar 20-21 - Bristol Bluegrass Spring Fest - Bristol, VirginiaMar 20-22 - Clarion River Jam Bluegrass Festival - Clarion, PAMar 26-29 - Sertoma Spring Bluegrass Festival - Brooksville, FloridaMar 27-28 - Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival - Wilmington, OHMar 27-29 - WinterWonderGrass Tahoe - Squaw Valley, CaliforniaMar 28 - Blue, Brew & 'Que Festival - Kenansville, North CarolinaApr 2- 4 Florida State Bluegrass Festival - Perry, FloridaApr 10-12 Big Sky Big Grass - Big Sky, MontanaApr 16-19 Old Settler’s Music Festival - Tilmon, Texas.Apr 17-19 Durango Bluegrass Meltdown - Durango, ColoradoApr 17-19 River Falls Roots & Bluegrass Festival - River Falls WIApr.17-18 Nelson McGee Memorial Bluegrass Festival San Angelo TXApr 15-19 Daughters of Bluegrass Festival in Guyton, Georgia.Apr 17 - 19 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival - Dahlonega GAApr 18 Ladies of Bluegrass Music Festival - Green Bay WIApr 18 Fort Cooper Bluegrass Festival - Inverness, Florida.Apr 23-26 Merlefest - Wilkesboro, North Carolina.April 30-May 2 Little Roy & Lizzy Music Festival Lincolnton, GeorgiaApril 30-May 2 Boxcar Pinion Bluegrass Festival Chickamauga GeorgiaApril 30- May 2 Twin Oaks Park Spring Bluegrass Festival Hoboken GAMay 1-3 Bluegrass Heritage Festival Farmers Branch, Texas.May 3-5 Tucson Folk Festival, Tucson ArizonaMay 5-25 Silver Dollar City Bluegrass and BBQ Festival Branson MOMay 9�� – 10�� Bluegrass in the Spring Festival in Yermo CaliforniaMay 7�� – 10�� Parkfield Bluegrass Festival in Parkfield, CaliforniaMay 13-16 Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival Manteo N. CarolinaMay 15-17 Bluegrass From the Forest Festival Shelton, WashingtonMay 15-16 Sevierville’s Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Sevierville TNMay 17 Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival Agoura Hills CAMay 15-17 Bluegrass from the Forest in Shelton, WashingtonMay 21-23 Lil John’s Mountain Music Festival Snow Camp N. CarolinaMay 21�� – 25�� Strawberry Music Festival in Grass Valley, CA.May 20-23 Dr. Ralph Stanley’s Hills of Home Festival Coeburn Virginia.May 21-24 DelFest Cumberland, Maryland.May 28-30 Graves Mountain Festival of Music Syria, Virginia.May 29-31 Ogden Music Festival North Fork Park, Utah.June 3�� -6�� Bluegrass in the Hills Hopedale, Ohio.June 5-7 Pagosa Folk ‘n Bluegrass Festival in Pagosa Springs, COJune 11�� - 14�� Festival of the Bluegrass Lexington Kentucky.June 11�� - 13�� Cherokee Bluegrass Festival Cherokee N Carolina.June 18�� – 21�� CBA – Father’s Day Festival in Grass Valley, CAJune 19�� – 21�� Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival Cashmere WAJune 18�� – 21�� Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, COJune 25th – 28th Susanville Bluegrass Festival in Susanville, CAJune 27th-28th Prescott Bluegrass Festival in Prescott, ArizonaJuly 4th Atascadero 4th of July Bluegrass Freedom Festival Atascadero, CAJuly 3rd – 5th Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival in Fossil, OregonJuly 9th-12th High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival Westcliffe COJuly 10th – 12th Lost River Bluegrass Festival in Merrill, Oregon
Topock ArizonaBluegrass Campout
Dry CampingNo HookupsSuggestedCampingDonation
$5.00 a Night13136 Golden Shores Pkwy
Topock, ArizonaContact Gary Smith 760-217-9875
Golden Shores
February 26th - March 1st 2020
CLICK HERE
SWBA SuperJam May 21st – 24th, 2020Mojave Narrows Regional Park 18000 Yates Road Victorville CA
I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT, WAIVER AND RELEASE AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AMAWARE THAT THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND A CONTRACT BETWEEN MYSELF, THE HESPERIA RECREATION ANDPARK DISTRICT, THE CITY OF HESPERIA, AND THE SOUTHWEST BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION AND I SIGN IT OF MY OWNFREE WILL.
NAME______________________________________________________________________ DATE ____________
SWBA FALL CAMPOUT AGREEMENT, WAIVER AND RELEASEI have carefully read the description of the SWBA event for which I/We are registering and in consideration for being permitted byMojave Narrows Regional Park, the County of San Bernardino and the Southwest Bluegrass Association to participate in the (above)activity, I hereby waive, release and discharge any and all claims for damages for personal injury, death or property damage which I mayhave, or which may hereafter accrue to me as a result of participation in said activity. This release is intended to discharge in advanceMojave Narrows Regional Park, the County of San Bernardino, their officers, employees and agents and the Southwest BluegrassAssociation from any and all liability arising out of or connected in any way with my participation in said activity. It is further agreedthat this waiver, release and assumption of risk is to be binding on my heirs and assigns. I agree to indemnify and to hold the aforementionedpersons or entities free and harmless from any loss, liability, damage, cost or expense which they may incur as a result of my death orany injury or property damage that I may sustain while participating in said activity.
Name__________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone_____________________________________E-Mail________________________________________________
Deadline to return advanced reservations by mail is May 10th 2020Please don't arrive before 8 am on Thursday May 21st
Bluegrass Association member SWBA Other __________________We will be camping these nights (please circle) THURS FRI SAT SUN
Type of rig? Motor home Truck/Trailer/5th Wheel Tent Car OtherTotal nights camping_____ x $15.00 = $_____________________
{ }Check here for Associate membership and include $5.00 Associate Member Name____________________________________________________________________________
All Non-Bluegrass Association members wishing to attend MUST purchase an Associate membership. Make Checks Payable to Southwest Bluegrass Association Mail to: SWBA PO Box 55 Mira Loma, CA 91752
PLEASE NOTE: We will not be sending receipts. Your name will be added to the reservation list and checked off at check-in.
SWBA SuperJam 2020 Early Bird Form
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Mojave Narrows Regional Park Gate Hours 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The SWBA group camp site 1 & 2 are dry camping, if you need hock-upsyou may contact the park at (760) 245-2226 to reserve a site ASAP. Dogs Must be on 6' leash at all times. Campfires must be offthe ground. Camping: Tell ranger at gate Southwest Bluegrass Group camp 1&2 Check in with SWBA camp host on arrival please.Not Camping Day use fee is $10 per car pay Ranger at the gate. For more info email: [email protected] (760) 563-2068
Early Bird Camping Registration $15.00 A NightPrepay and SAVE $5.00 A Night $20.00 a Night at Campout
Also Available Online at southwestbluegrass.org
JOIN US FOR A GREAT WEEKEND OF BLUEGRASS JAMMING AND FELLOWSHIPALL BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION EVENT: SWBA will waive the associate member fee for anyone who is not a SWBA memberbut belongs to another association, IBMA CBA, BASC, NCBFC, SDBS, SNBMS, ABA, BMSCC, DBA ….All Non-Bluegrass Association campers must pay a $5 Associate Member fee for single, married or family for the event ifcamping. Does not apply to day use.
SWBA Membership Meeting Band Showcases Workshops Slow Jams Kids ActivitiesGames Saturday Potluck White Elephant Drawing Sunday Gospel Music and Jam and More!
PO Box 55 Mira Loma CA 91752
NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. Postage PAID
Permit #675 Upland,CA 91786
COMPLIMENTARY COPYYour membership is invited!
Sout
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Definition of membershipsFamily: Parents and all children under the age of 18 (over 18 are considered adults and must have their own membership)Band : A group of 6 (max) persons performing bluegrass or related music for monetary compensation (single membership for one bandmember, band listing in Soundboard and on SWBA website.Canadian residents are required to add 1st class postage
Please Indicatec Newc Renewalc Change
Last Name_____________________________________ First Name______________________________________
Spouse Name__________________________________________________________________________________
Band or Business_______________________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________________________________State________ Zip_______________________
Phone______________________________ E-mail__________________________________________________
List me in the SWBA Directory (must sign)__________________________________________________________
c $25.00 1 year single, married, family
c $30.00 1 year band or business
c 1st class postage Add $10.00 for 1 year
Office Use: Date Issued____________ [ ] Cash [ ] Check #________________ Amt $_______________
Mail to: SWBA Membership PO Box 55 Mira Loma CA 91752Please enclose a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
Make checks payable to Southwest Bluegrass Association
SWBA Membership Form Please Print
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