Chatham County Line
This great bluegrass group will be at AMSD concerts on Thursday October 1. If well done traditional bluegrass is your cup of tea, don’t miss this show! Tickets and info: www.amsdconcerts.com/October.html
Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen
Saturday, October 17 at AMSD concerts. Herb Pedersen has played with everyone from Emmy Lou Harris to the Laurel Canyon Ramblers. Chris Hillman, of course, is a founding member of the Byrds and a member of the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame. Together these two present some of the best duet music you will ever here. Tickets and info: www.amsdconcerts.com/October.html
The Railsplitters
Wow, one of the hottest new bands in bluegrass, the Railsplitters, will be in concert at the Del Mar Powerhouse for the Del Mar Foundation on Sunday, October 18. Tickets and info: http://delmarfoundation.org/bluegrass2.html
Chris Thile
Four-time Grammy winner, recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant Award, front man for the Punch Brothers, incoming host of radio’s Prairie Home Companion, and arguably the best mandolin player to ever pick up the instrument, will be in concert in La Jolla at Sherwood Auditorium on Saturday, November 7. Tickets and info: http://ljms.org/ai1ec_event/chris-thile-mandolin/?instance_id=
Special Consensus
Top national band Special Consensus, based in Chicago, will appear for the San Diego Bluegrass Society on Friday, January 22, 2016. Opening band, Gone Tomorrow, at 7pm; Special Consensus at 7:30pm. Admission is free, donations requested. First Baptist Church of Pacific Beach, 4747 Soledad Mountain Road.
If you want to get involved in bluegrass, as a player, a jammer, or a listener there are lots of opportunities here in San Diego:
Visit the North County Bluegrass and Folk Club’s first Tuesday of every month event at the Round Table Pizza in Escondido at the corner of Washington and Ash. Open mic and pick up bands 6:30-8pm, followed by a featured band in concert from 8-9pm. More info: www.northcountybluegrass.org. Admission is free.
Stop by the SDBS second Tuesday of every month jam session and open mic at Fuddruckers Restaurant in the Grossmont Shopping Center in La Mesa. Open mic and pick up bands 6:30-9pm, with lots of jamming on the patio. To sign up in advance, email George Noble, Jr. at georgenoblejr.@gmail.com, or sign up on site, space permitting. Admission is free.
Also try the SDBS 4th Tuesday of the month event at the Boll Weevil Restaurant at 9330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. at the corner of Ruffin Road. There is open mic and pick up bands from 6:30 to 8pm, and then a featured band in concert. To sign up in advance email Dwight Worden at dworden@roadrunner.com or sign up on site, space permitting. Admission is free.
Looking for a chance to learn bluegrass at a manageable pace? You’re in luck! We have the best slow jam teacher in the country right here in San Diego. Attend sessions with Janet Beazley every third Monday of the month, 7-8:30pm at the Our Savior Lutheran Church, 4011 Ohio Street, North Park, San Diego, CA 92104. $5 to SDBS members, $10 to others (you can join SDBS on site and get an immediate discount). Read about Janet — she was the cover story in the August Troubadour.
Attend the Emma’s Gut Bucket Band sessions every Wednesday from 6:30-9:30pm at the Whitman Elementary School, 4050 Appleton in the Clairemont area. Bring your instrument, and drop in to the auditorium to play or just to listen in. Admission is free.
Like radio? Listen to Wayne Rice’s “Bluegrass Special” radio show every Sunday from 10pm to midnight on KSON radio, 97.3 and 92.1 on your FM radio dial.
Life is short. Get involved in bluegrass music. You won’t regret it!