Friday, October 10th, 2008 Mostly Strictly Bluegrass -- If you are not there yet, load up the car and head to the Stockton KOA for the CBA Fall Campout that runs through Sunday. Besides bluegrass there will probably be some old-time and country songs sung as well…
Pizza and Tea -- The Tea Sippers will be heating up the kettle and singing fine old-time and original songs at Mission Pizza in Fremont on the 10th from 7-10 p.m. The Sippers play Appalachian fiddle tunes, old-time country blues, gospel, and Carter Family songs. The band is Laura Lind on autoharp, Searle Whitney on fiddle, David Brown on fiddle, banjo and guitar, and Dave Krinkel on guitar and dobro. Bill & Megan on tour -- Enjoy some hot banjo pickin’ and fiddlin’ with Bill Evans & Megan Lynch on the 10th at McGrath’s in Alameda and on the 11th at The Frog and The Fiddle in Sonora.
Blue and green grass in Sonoma -- At Murphy’s Irish Pub in the town of Sonoma on the 10th at 8 p.m. The Spiral Mystics offer up far-ranging styles, from bluegrass, Celtic and folk to Appalachian. On the 11th enjoy the traditional bluegrass sounds of Dr. Elmo & Blue, and on the 12th it will be Celtic grass at 6 p.m. with Shades of Green. Tasty food is available in a family-friendly atmosphere, and there is no cover.
Utunes in Oakland -- The premier show last month at the Utunes Coffee House series at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland with Chad Manning, Laurie Lewis and Jody Stecher was a great opener. This month, they have Stefan & Friends, featuring the Duck River Band and Half Dozen of the Other. It's not all bluegrass, but there's some, as well as old-time and rich folky harmonies. Enjoy fresh baked goods and Peet’s Coffee. The show starts at 8 p.m. For questions contact Sharon Dolan at (510) 292-6574 or scdolan@sbcglobal.net.
Jamless in Sonora -- On the second and fourth Friday there is normally a jam at the The Frog and The Fiddle in Sonora. But there will be no jam tonight due to the Campout in Stockton. Instead the band Parson Brown will play.
Iron Springs at four -- The Iron Springs Brewery in the town of Fairfax is celebrating its four-year anniversary on the 10th with a special performance by D'Lilah Monroe (a.k.a. Belle Monroe) & The Tom Cats starting at 9 p.m.
Honoring Chip -- The Second Annual ChipFest, an event the honors the memory of the late Sebastopol mandolin player and teacher Chip Dunbar, will be held on the 11th at 8 p.m. at Weischmann Hall, 460 Eddie Lane, in Sebastopol. See Sherry Jones, The Mighty Chiplings, Westside, Ted Dutcher & Ellen Silver, Sara Winge & friends, Riggy Rackin, Chips Off the Old Block, Under the Radar and others. Tickets are available at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa.
Turn your radio on -- Tune into Peter Thompson’s Bluegrass Signal radio show on KALW (91.7 FM) in SF on the 11th from 6:30-8 p.m. The show this week is titled That Was Now ... This Is Then and it will be an overview of the music of innovative and influential mandolinist Frank Wakefield, who's coming west for next weekend's Big Sur Bluegrass Festival. If you're interested in receiving news every six weeks or so of Bay Area bluegrass and old-time music events, please drop Peter a note at bgsignal@comcast.net.
Jammin’ in Sebastopol -- The place for bluegrass pickin' on Saturdays is the Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave, from 2-5 p.m.
Grateful and alive -- The Grateful Dudes will be playing bluegrass on the 11th at Vincenzo’s Pizza in Newhall from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Band members Bill Bryson, Dennis Fetchet, Scott Micale and Rodger Phillips have been playing at Vincenzo’s for 20 years now.
Sibling rivalry -- The Stairwell Sisters and The Earl Brothers will play a high-octane party show on the 11th at the Starry Plough in Berkeley starting at 9:30 p.m.
Let’s see a show of hands -- SF’s Gayle Lynn & The Hired Hands will be having a CD release party on the 11th at The Riptide in SF. The CD is titled Just Came Around and you can listen to some cuts on their site.
Nell in Stinson -- See Nell Robinson & Red Level when they play on the 12th at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach from 12-3 p.m. No cover, great food and music, and afterwards you can take a walk on the beach.
Swing your partner! -- Join the family square dance at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on Sunday the 12th from 3-4:30 p.m. Evie Laden will be calling and The Mercury Dimes will provide the music. All ages welcome, and no experience necessary.
Alison, Bobby and Katie -- Alison Krauss & Robert Plant will be on the CBS Sunday Morning show on the 12th talking with Katie Couric. The show airs from 9-10:30 a.m. EST.
Jammin’ in the Southland -- The monthly second Sunday jam at Tucker's Grove County Park in Santa Barbara will be starting at noon and going until whenever. For more info, e-mail Alan Aleksander at constatty@aol.com. Also on the 12th from 12:30-3:30 p.m. there will be a bluegrass jam at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena, which is connected to the coffee house and seats 49, so there is plenty of room for players as well as spectators. Players tend to be intermediate to advanced. This is an acoustic event without amplifiers or microphones. The coffee house offers a wide selection of drinks and pastries.
B. Judd, Bluegrass Philosopher -- “Remember, everybody makes mistakes, and you will have the opportunity to laugh at them.”
The Almost Daily News is updated almost daily. If you have news that you would like to share with our bluegrass community, let me know and I’ll spread the word. E-mail me here.
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