Grab your hat, your sunscreen, your folding chair, and get ready for the West Coast’s premier bluegrass festival: Summergrass. From Friday August 14 through Sunday August 16 there will be top flight national, regional and local bluegrass bands on the main stage plus a Kids Music Camp, vendors, camping, workshops, a slow jam, a raffle, and more informal jamming than you can shake a pick at! It all takes place at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista located at 2040 North Santa Fe.
The Line Up: The Box Cars, Becky Buller, Sideline, Bluegrass Etc., High Mountain Road, the Bluegrass Brethren, Front Porch Music Preservation Society, Box Canyon, Rocky Neck Bluegrass Band, the Brombies, and Lonesome Otis will all take the stage. Check www.summergrass.net for the daily schedule, tickets, and other info.
Kids Camp: For youngsters 6-16. A chance to learn hands-on bluegrass playing with the Rocky Neck Bluegrass Band as instructors. There is instruction on all the bluegrass instruments, ensemble practice, and a live performance on the main stage on Sunday. Sign up your kids or grandkids for a memorable experience! Learn more at: www.summergrass.net/kids-camp.
Camping, Vendors, Workshops, Raffle: There is plenty of dry camping for tents and RVs. Camp in the main campground and be part of the jamming and other action, or find a quiet spot in one of the quiet areas. There are a variety of vendors on site, offering everything from outstanding food to music supplies, arts and crafts, and other interesting wares. There will also be free music workshops, an instructed slow jam, and a fabulous raffle. Check it all out at: www.summergrass.net.
Summergrass is great fun for the whole family. Even those not that in to bluegrass music will find the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum a fascinating place to visit with its collection of antique steam engines and farm equipment and one of the largest old style weaving barns in the country, as well as a period school house, a miniature train, a working blacksmith shop, and a well-stocked gift shop.
Summergrass is a co-production of the San Diego Bluegrass Society and the North San Diego County Bluegrass and Folk Club, both non-profit charitable organizations.
IBMA AWARDS VOTING.
Once a year the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) professional members nominate and vote on the bluegrass equivalent of the Grammys. The Entertainer of the Year is selected, (reigning Entertainer of the Year is North Carolina’s Balsam Range), along with the top performers on each of the bluegrass instruments and winners in a variety of other categories. Prominent members of the bluegrass community are also inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, based on their lifetime achievements.
The winners and inductees are announced at the annual Awards Show held at the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass event in Raleigh, North Carolina. As we go to press the second round of balloting is underway for this year’s winners. The winners will be announced in Raleigh on Thursday, October 1. You can hear a live rebroadcast of the show on KSON’s Bluegrass Special radio show, hosted by Wayne Rice every Sunday night from 10pm to midnight at 97.3 and 92.1 on the FM dial. We’ll let you know when the rebroadcast is scheduled. Visit www.ibma.org for more info about the awards and about World of Bluegrass.
LOCAL NEWS
Encinitas Thursday Jam has a new home. The long running Thursday Night Jam held in Encinitas has changed locations. For decades it has been at Today’s Pizza on Santa Fe Avenue just west of freeway 5. Recently, however, the restaurant was sold and changed format and the jam session has relocated to the Round Table Pizza at 1321 Encinitas Blvd. in the small shopping center at the intersection of Encinitas Blvd. and El Camino Real, next to the Sprouts. The time has not changed. It’s still every Thursday from 6:30 to 9pm. Sessions are led by Jason Weiss, and the public is welcome. Attendees chip in $5 each and the group shares pizza and salad. For more for information, visit their Myspace site at: https://myspace.com/thursdaynightpickers.
Gospel Concert coming this fall? Word has it that the San Diego Bluegrass Society is working on presenting a free gospel music concert this fall. Check back for details as they become available.
Special Consensus coming next January. The SDBS has booked outstanding national touring band Special Consensus for a concert on Friday, January 22, 2016 at the Frist Baptist Church of Pacific Beach. There will be an opening band (to be determined) at 7:30pm with Special Consensus coming on at 8. Admission is free; donations are suggested. Check this column for more info as the date approaches.
Interested in local bluegrass events? Visit the San Diego Bluegrass Society (SDBS) on their website at: www.sandiegobluegrass.org and the North San Diego County Bluegrass and Folk club at: www.northcountybluegrass.org.
