The California Bluegrass Association is pleased to announce the list of artists selected to appear on the esteemed Vern’s Stage at its 50th annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, taking place June 12-15 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, Calif. Named after Vern Williams, who helped introduce bluegrass music to the West Coast, the stage is dedicated to presenting hardworking performers who play bluegrass and old-time music night after night in tiny bars, out-of-the-way venues and anywhere else they can find audiences — and make new fans.
Representing the spectrum of traditional and old-time bluegrass and newgrass styles, they’ll join festival headliners the Del McCoury Band, the Gibson Brothers, AJ Lee & Blue Summit and over a dozen other performers gathered to celebrate the festival’s 50-year history of presenting top national, regional and local artists. The family-friendly festival has attracted several generations of fans, who return year after year to its site in the beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills to enjoy camping, jamming, square-dancing, free workshops and other activities — and of course, incredible performances. Passes are on sale now at fathersdayfestival.com.
Chosen by video auditions, the artists slated to fill Thursday-through-Saturday afternoon Vern’s Stage slots are: Bay Area Special, Blue Birds on a Wire, Charlie Torch, The Corn Likkers, Critical Grass, Dadweed, Deep Thicket Dwellers, Flatpick Hotel, Hey Lonesome!, Jesse Appelman's West Coast Stringband Project, the Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion, Marin County Breakdown, Matt & George and their Pleasant Valley Boys, Muddy Mountain West, and Skillet Licorice.
This year’s gathering also features singing, songwriting and fiddling legend Laurie Lewis — who will perform with her band, the Right Hands, and in a special “50 years of Togetherness” celebration with fellow Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Kathy Kallick, Lewis’ longtime collaborator.
Also performing are Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Junior Sisk Band, the Canote Brothers, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, the Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee, Clinton Davis Stringband and California showcase bands Bearcat Stringband, Matt Michienzie Band, Mission Blue, the Town Howlers and Windy Hill.
Special events will include Friday and Saturday evening square dances in the Whitney Pavilion, fireside-chat interviews and performances by artists who were part of the festival’s early years, and Sunday morning’s gospel jam and service, followed by the popular Father’s Day Brunch, along with workshops, the pre-festival music camp and other attractions.
Billed as “the best jamming west of the Rockies,” the festival is renowned as a place where lifelong friendships, musical partnerships and alliances of all kinds are forged through participants’ shared love of bluegrass jamming. That love is fostered early on through the festival’s kids’ programming, including an instructional Youth Academy; the KidFest children’s recreational area; and Kids on Bluegrass, an audition-based training program culminating in a mainstage performance.
Advance tickets prices range from $34 to $94 for single-day passes; full four-day festival passes are currently $79 for teens 13 to 17, $264 for adults up to age 65 and $254 for ages 65 and up. Children 12 and under attend free; CBA members receive ticket discounts. For tickets, go to fathersdayfestival.com.
Founded in 1976, the family-friendly Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival has become a beloved annual celebration of roots music. Bluegrass fans converge to frolic amid the majestic pines on this nearly 90-acre spot in the Sierra Nevada foothills, swinging their partners during square-dancing sessions, learning from masters during workshops, joining in on or listening to impromptu jam sessions, enjoying food, beverage and craft offerings, and camping under the stars (lodging is also available in Grass Valley and Nevada City). Kidfest, a major component of the event, offers crafts, games and music for younger attendees. The Kids on Bluegrass program gives musically skilled players up to age 18 an opportunity to perform on the festival mainstage. The CBA Youth Academy, for 8- to 16-year-olds, is a music camp for beginner and intermediate students.
Tent, camper-van and tent-trailer camping (without hookups) and parking for one car are included with full festival passes. RV hookups are available on a limited basis; for more information and fees, check the website.
About California Bluegrass Association
The nonprofit California Bluegrass Association, founded in 1975, encourages, fosters and cultivates the preservation, appreciation, understanding, enjoyment, support and performance of bluegrass, old-time, gospel, and traditional instrumental and vocal music of the United States. The organization and festival are operated by volunteers dedicated to presenting premier acoustic music in a community-based, family-friendly setting. For more information, visit californiabluegrass.org.
For festival details or to purchase tickets, visit fathersdayfestival.com. Nevada City Fairgrounds are located at 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, Calif. 95949.
Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival Schedule
Main Stage Performers
Thursday, June 12
10 a.m. – Mission Blue
11:05 a.m. – Matt Michienzie Band
12:15 p.m. – Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
2:20 p.m. – Clinton Davis Stringband
3:30 p.m. – Junior Sisk Band
4:40 p.m. – Music Camp All-Stars
6:50 p.m. – Clinton Davis Stringband
8:20 p.m. – Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
9:50 p.m. – Junior Sisk Band
Friday, June 13
10 a.m. – Windy Hill
11:05 a.m. – Bearcat Stringband
12:25 p.m. – Junior Sisk Band
2:20 p.m. – Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
3:30 p.m. – AJ Lee & Blue Summit
4:40 p.m. – Kids on Bluegrass
6:50 p.m. – Good ‘Ol Persons
8:20 p.m. – Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands
9:50 p.m. – AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Saturday, June 14
10 a.m. – The Town Howlers
11:05 a.m. – The Canote Brothers
12:15 p.m. – The Gibson Brothers
2:20 p.m. – The Travelin’ McCourys
3:30 p.m. – Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick
4:25 p.m. – Lifetime Membership Awards
4:40 p.m. – Kids on Bluegrass
6:50 p.m. – AJ Lee & Blue Summit
8:20 p.m. – Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
9:50 p.m. – The Travelin’ McCourys
Sunday, June 15
10 a.m. – Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
11:05 a.m. – The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee
12:15 p.m. – The Gibson Brothers
2:20 p.m. – Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
3:25 p.m. – The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee
4:40 p.m. – The Gibson Brothers
Pioneer Stage Performers
Thursday, June 12
1:30 p.m. – Windy Hill
2:35 p.m. – Bearcat Stringband
3:40 p.m. – Sidesaddle & Co.
4:55 p.m. – Arkansas Sheiks
6:10 p.m. – High Country
Friday, June 13
1:30 p.m. – Mission Blue
2:35 p.m. – Matt Michienzie Band
3:40 p.m. – California Bluegrass Pioneers
4:55 p.m. – Blue & Lonesome
6:10 p.m. – Youth Open Mic
7:25 p.m. – The Canote Brothers
Saturday, June 14
Noon – Black Banjo Reclamation Project showcase
1:30 p.m. – The Town Howlers
2:35 p.m. – Youth Academy Show
3:40 p.m. – California Bluegrass Pioneers
4:55 p.m. – The Canote Brothers
6:10 p.m. – Good ‘Ol Persons
Sunday, June 15
9 a.m. – Bluegrass Gospel Jam and Service
Vern’s Stage Performers
Thursday, June 12
Noon – Marin County Breakdown
12:45 p.m. – Muddy Mountain West
1:30 p.m. – Matt and George and Their Pleasant Valley Boys
5:15 p.m. – Hey Lonesome!
6:10 p.m. – Deep Thicket Dwellers
Friday, June 13
Noon – Flatpick Hotel
12:45 p.m. – The Jimmy Touzel Bluegrass Explosion
1:20 p.m. – Bill & Faye Downs Awards
1:30 p.m. – The Corn Likkers
5:15 p.m. – Dadweed
6:10 p.m. – Charlie Torch
Saturday, June 14
Noon – Bay Area Special
12:45 p.m. – Blue Birds on a Wire
1:20 p.m. – Volunteer of the Year Award
1:30 p.m. – Critical Grass
5:15 p.m. – Skillet Licorice
6:10 p.m. – Jesse Appelman’s West Coast Stringband Project
Sunday, June 15
11 a.m. – Father’s Day Brunch
