Summergrass 2025 Report

John Moore and friends headline Summergrass 2025. Photo by David Cupp.

August was a key month for bluegrass music in San Diego as once again it brought us the Summergrass Bluegrass Festival in Vista. Back in 2003 a group of local bluegrass leaders from the nonprofit San Diego Bluegrass Society and North San Diego County Bluegrass and Folk Club (NCBFC) began searching for a venue to host a major regional festival that could host top touring bands as well as local talent. Ideally, the venue would accommodate camping and a multi-day event and would be interesting for the whole family.

It was NCBFC leader Corky Shelton who suggested the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum “AGSEM” in Vista. A group of volunteer leaders visited the venue, including me, met with AGSEM leadership, and arrangements were made for the first Summergrass Festival in August 2003. Now, 23 years later, Summergrass is still going strong, although a few years ago its ownership and management was transferred from SDBS and NCBFC to AGSEM, itself a nonprofit organization.

Jamming in the Compound was non-stop. Photo by David Cupp.

This year the event highlights on the main stage included performances by John Moore, guitar and mandolin performer extra-ordinaire and his friends Rick Faris • Brian Wicklund • Todd Phillips • Jens Kruger. Also on the main stage were a nice collection of local and regional bands, including Stay Tuned • Vulcan Mountain Boys • Honey Buckets • Home Girls • Muddy Mountain West J.D. Given & Company • Philly & the Cheesesteaks • Sweet Tidings Gospel Jam.

For many the highlight of every Summergrass is the jamming in the campground and in the nooks and crannies of the venue. This year was no exception. The weather and temperature were perfect and there were jammers everywhere. For many, this is the key event each year where people reconnect with old friends and picking partners, and meet new like-minded folks.

The Kids Camp performance, Sunday on the main stage, is a highlight of every Summergrass Festival. Photo by David Cupp.

Also, an annual highlight is the Main Stage performance by the Kids Camp. These are youngsters who take multi-day instruction on their instrument of choice(guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass) and take classes from some of the professional performers. Each camp ends with a Sunday main stage performance, highlighting what the youngsters have learned.