The Great 48 in Bakersfield

The John Jorgenson Blulegrass Band was a featured concert. From left: Partick Sauber, John Jorgenson, Mark Fain, Herb Pederson. Photo by Dwight Worden.

Over the weekend of January 15-18, the bluegrass tribe gathered at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Bakersfield for the annual Great 48 event. There were folks from the San Diego Bluegrass Society and the North San Diego County Bluegrass and Folk Club, as well as pickers from Los Angeles, central California, and the northern reaches, and from out of state. Some rode into town on a train with on-board bluegrass jamming.

The event featured workshops, showcase concerts open mic, and an offsite concert by the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band. The main activity, however, was jamming in every nook and cranny of the Marriott—in the hallways, the lobby, and in the numerous suites, including the one sponsored by the SDBS and NCBFC.

The Great 48 is produced by the California Bluegrass Association (CBA), the largest non-profit bluegrass organization in the country. The CBA also produces the annual South State 48, a sister event, held every November in Carlsbad. The popular Julian Family Fiddle Camp is also a production of the CBA.

John Reischman is coming to San Diego. John Reischman and his great group the Jaybirds will be appearing at an SDBS event on Saturday, February 7 at the Sea Change Church, 627 Gentner, La Jolla. The show starts at 5:30 with a 30-minute opening set by Muddy Mountain West, followed by John Reischman and the Jaybirds. Admission is free, but a good will offering of $20 per person is suggested, with all proceeds going to the band.

John Reischman is universally regarded as one of the top mandolin players of al time. Known for his beautiful playing and  stellar songwriting, including the popular Salt Spring, John and his Jaybirds will knock your socks off!

Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley will appear at the Del Mar Town Hall on Friday, February 6.

Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley appearing at the Del Mar Town Hall on Friday February 6.

What a flood of great bluegrass coming to San Diego! Rob Ickes is the 15-time winner of the IBMA Dobro Player of the Year award and with partner Trey Hensley, a two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year award winner, this outstanding duo will be appearing in the City of Del Mar Town Hall as part of the Del Mar Foundation’s Bluegrass and Beyond series. For info about the concert and tickets: Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley – Bluegrass and Beyond – Del Mar Foundation

Tidbits

• The Julian Family Fiddle Camp will take place this year from May 6-10, 2026. Read all about it here: Tix – Ticket Sales – Event Details
• Bluegrass Day at the Fair, sponsored by SDBS and NCBFC will occur this year at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Sunday, July 5, 2026 on the Avenue Stage from noon to 5 pm. Stay tuned for details on the line up and how to enter the band scramble and get free admission and parking.

Dwight Worden, who has been writing a bluegrass column for the Troubadour since its beginning, plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and bass and is active in several bluegrass bands. He is a board member of the San Diego Bluegrass Society, a prior board member of the International Bluegrass Music Association, a recovering lawyer, a Del Mar council member for 10 years, and mayor of the City of Del Mar for two years.