Courtesy of the Northern California Bluegrass Society:
The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is fun, relaxed, and close-to home.
This weekend’s Thursday-Sunday gathering features great California bluegrass bands on the main stage and many more bands on the ‘tweener stage. The Late Night Stage kicks off in the Dance Hall on Friday and Saturday nights. Plus, the First Stage beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday will feature even more exciting bands in the San Benito County Historical Park’s Historical Village.
The GOF offers flushy restrooms, hot showers, shade in the audience area, a low-power broadcast of the stage to the camp, excellent sound, tent and RV camping, children’s activities, a raffle, the NCBS election, food and craft vendors, nominations for the Northern California Bluegrass Awards, and easy handicapped access, along with plenty of fun jamming! New this year — a Band Scramble and free private lessons for kids.
The GOF is a benefit for the NCBS and helps the Society’s volunteers provide services to area bluegrass community all year long.
The San Benito County Historical Park is set in a beautiful valley of ranches and vineyards. The park has upgraded some facilities since our first year and features a lovely historical village that is perfect for jamming. There are gorgeous views of the hills.
The address of the Historical Park is 8300 Airline Highway, Tres Pinos (next to Bolado Park, 7 miles south of Hollister).
TICKETS: There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.
Gate Prices:
3-Day Adult $120
2-Day $90
1-Day Sat. $60
1-Day Fri or Sun $50
Youths (Ages 13-17) – above prices discounted to $70/55/40/30
Seniors (65 & above) – above prices discounted to $110/85/55/45
Children (12 & under) – FREE
Thursday Ticket $15. Gates open at NOON on Thursday. No early arrivals.
CAMPING: Camping is FREE with all multi-day tickets. The water is the same as at Bolado Park, so bring water for drinking and cooking purposes. No RV hook-ups this year. If hook-ups are needed, they are available next door at Bolado Park, but a vehicle will be needed. Walking from Bolado Park to the Historical Park on the highway is not advised.
MUSIC SCHEDULE:
There are no stage performances on Thursday afternoon, which is reserved for jamming and socializing.
(The ‘Tweener Stage alternates with the Main Stage.)
FRIDAY, August 9
10:00am — The Open Heart Strings (Santa Cruz)
11:00 — Home Stilled String Band (Sacramento)
Noon — Mood Swing (Los Angeles)
1:00pm — Festival Speed (Marin)
Main Stage
2:00pm — Ben Greenberg
3:00 — Bloomfield Bluegrass
4:00 — Wendy Burch Steel & Redwood
5:00 — Dinner/Workshops/Tours
6:00 — Dark Hollow
7:00 — Bean Creek
8:00 — Windy Hill
9:00 — The Town Howlers
Late Night Stage
10:00pm — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band
SATURDAY, August 10
10:00am — Rose Valley Thorns
11:00 — Red Dog Ash
Noon — Grasskickers
1:00pm — Lunch/Workshops/Tours and Band Scramble
2:00 — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers
3:00 — North Country Blue
4:00 — Nell & Jim Band
5:00 — Dinner/Workshops/Tours
6:00 — Rita Hosking Band
7:00 — Muleskinner Stomp
8:00 — AJ Lee & Blue Summit
9:00 — The Goat Hill Girls
Late Night Stage
10:00pm — Dave Holodiloff Band
SUNDAY, August 11
10:00am — The Gilly Girls
11:00 — Kids On Stage
Noon — Fog Holler
1:00pm — Festival Speed
2:00 — Stoney Mountain Ramblers
3:00 — Bluegrass Element
OTHER FUN: Take a tour of the historical village. Plus take a tour of the earthquake-driven landform that makes up the area.
