Article Contributed by McGuckin Entertainment PR
Published on 2026-08-06
The California Bluegrass Association, in partnership with Help’s On The Way, will present a special benefit concert at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The event will raise funds for the organization’s Afterschool Bluegrass Club program, which provides subsidized music education to underserved youth across California.
A Patron Reception will take place from 5:30–6:45 p.m. and will feature music from Pacific Drive, food and drinks, and a meet-and-greet with the evening’s artists. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the concert running from 7–10 p.m.
General admission tickets are $79. Patron tickets are $153 and include access to the reception. The all-ages event will also feature a silent auction and raffle.
Proceeds will help provide scholarships, instruments, instructors, and expanded programming as the Afterschool Bluegrass Club works to reach more communities throughout California.
“Youth musical education is about so much more than learning an instrument,” said Helen Foley, California Bluegrass Association board member and head of the organization’s Youth Program. “It’s one of the few art forms where kids learn to listen, communicate, and create something together in real time.”
“Through the Afterschool Bluegrass Club, we’re helping young people build confidence, friendships, and a lifelong connection to music,” Foley continued. “This concert will help make those opportunities possible for even more children.”
Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band will open the evening, offering a powerful example of the impact of the California Bluegrass Association’s youth education efforts.
The nationally acclaimed young bluegrass group got its start through the organization’s Youth Program and has since grown into one of the genre’s most exciting touring acts. Its success reflects how mentorship and music education can inspire lifelong artistic achievement.
David Nelson Band & Friends will headline with a one-night-only lineup featuring Suzy Thompson, Eric Thompson, Paul Knight, Lowell “Banana” Levinger, and David Nelson.
A pioneering figure in the West Coast psychedelic-Americana tradition, Nelson has spent decades performing with members of the extended Grateful Dead musical family through projects including New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band.
At a time when arts and music programs are often among the first removed from school budgets, the Afterschool Bluegrass Club fills a critical need by providing accessible and subsidized instruction.
Originally launched in Garberville, the program has become a model for bringing music education directly into local communities. Funds raised through the benefit will help expand the program beyond its current location while supporting scholarships, instruments, instructors, and additional educational resources.
The Afterschool Bluegrass Club provides weekly after-school instruction for students in grades four through eight. Currently operating in Southern Humboldt through a partnership with Help’s On The Way, the program offers instruction in guitar, fiddle, vocals, and ensemble performance in a welcoming, community-centered environment.
Bluegrass is especially well suited for young musicians. Its simple chord structures, memorable melodies, and ensemble-based learning allow beginners to quickly experience the joy of making music together while developing confidence, teamwork, and creativity.
Rooted in gospel harmony, African American blues traditions, Celtic and Appalachian music, and jazz influences, bluegrass also introduces students to a broad range of American musical history.
For more than 50 years, the California Bluegrass Association has connected more than 1,000 young musicians with instruction, mentorship, and community. Some have gone on to pursue professional music careers, while many others have developed a lifelong love of music.
Sponsorship opportunities for the benefit are available at levels ranging from $250 to $5,000.
Event Details
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Sweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera Avenue
Mill Valley, CA
Patron Reception: 5:30–6:45 p.m.
Doors: 6:30 p.m.
Concert: 7–10 p.m.
All ages
General Admission: $79
Patron Ticket: $153, including the Patron Reception
Tickets are available at SweetwaterMusicHall.com.
For more information about the Afterschool Bluegrass Club, email ABC@CaliforniaBluegrass.net or visit CaliforniaBluegrass.org.
About the California Bluegrass Association
Founded in 1975, the California Bluegrass Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating bluegrass, old-time, gospel, and traditional acoustic music.
Operated almost entirely by volunteers, the organization presents educational programs, community events, and one of the country’s longest-running and most respected bluegrass festivals.
