President's Corner

	Darby Brandli, CBA President
	MONTHLY MESSAGE September 2010

We are so lucky to live in California where summer is not over until Thanksgiving! September is a big month for us in the CBA and for music lovers in general in the northern-central part of our great and bankrupt State.

I have no idea how I am going to get any work done at my “day job” during September. Every week is jam packed (pun intended) with wonderful events. I do not know how the local clubs fare with so many options for weekends away with hundreds of our best friends and non-stop music. The following is a list of CBA events and other events with CBA participation and it is possible that you can make all of them with just a bit of overlap.

September 2-6th (Labor Day Weekend): The Strawberry Music Festival at Camp Mather near Yosemite. There are some CBA member bands on the lineup this year (two of whom appeared at Father’s Day): The Tuttles with A. J. Lee and Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands and Nell Robinson are included in a very eclectic lineup. We head up early the week preceding both Memorial Day and Labor Day to stay at the Evergreen Lodge and spend time in our premier California National Park, Yosemite. I so look forward to these vacation weeks and then a festival that I neither produce nor volunteer. (www.strawberrymusic.com)
September 8-12th (Weds-Sun): The Berkeley Old Time Music Convention is held in various locations in Berkeley including events at the Freight and Salvage in it’s magnificent NEW Home in the downtown Berkeley Theatre District near BART. (www.berkeleyoldtimemusic.org) The CBA is one of many partners for this wonderful old time event.

September 9th: The USS Potomac (Oakland Estuary) features High Country starting at 6PM. This is a dockside concert series held on the USS Potomac, FDR’s Presidential Yacht moored at Jack London Square in Oakland. All proceeds will go toward funding 20 educational cruises for East Bay school children grades 5 through 8. (510 627-1215 or www.usspotomac.org) 49 Special will appear on October 7th and the Kathy Kallick Band is booked for October 21st.

September 10-12th: The Brown Barn Festival in San Martin (founded by CBA Member #2, Jake Quesenberry) is located near Gilroy. This festival is now sponsored by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Lots of your friends and fellow CBA members will perform on the stage at this sweet little festival. Information can be found in this month’s Bluegrass Breakdown.

September 11th (one day): Old Time Bluegrass Festival at the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake, CA. (www.andersonmarsh.org) featuring lots of CBA members and bands: John Reischman, Bill Evans & Megan Lynch, Pat Ickes and Bound to Ride and the Anderson Family Band among others.
September 17-19th: Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills is produced by our great friends Larry and Sondra Baker of L&S Promotions, this festival is a “must attend” for many of us and is held in the gold country in Plymouth, California. (www.landspromotions.com) The CBA and L&S have put together a great deal for this “a TWO-fer” buy a ticket for Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills and get a coupon for free admission to Hobbs Grove.

September 24-26th: Hobbs Grove Festival. This is the third year that the CBA will produce this festival which has been in existence for a decade. This is our “mid state” festival located near Fresno in a lovely setting in the foothills. Go to the Breakdown or website for all information about this sweet little festival. Take advantage of the Two-fer with Plymouth and take a vacation during this perfect weather time in our State.

September 27th-October 3rd: IBMA World of Bluegrass in Nashville (www.ibma.org) This event obviously does not take place in California but the CBA has a huge presence. The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band is an official Showcase Band this year (Californians Peter Rowan, Keith Little, Paul Knight and Jody Stecher) and OMGG (Marty Varner, Nate Schwartz, Max Schwartz and A. J. Lee) will be representing us in the Kids on Bluegrass Program and all over the Convention Center. The CBA will continue the tradition and sponsor two suites. Treat yourself to this event at some point in your life.

October 1st-3rd: The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. The CBA has had a membership booth at the event since its inception. This is the fourth year in a row I have missed it because of the conflict with the IBMA but Warren promises there will be no conflict in 2011. If you have never attended HSB you have missed something very special. Warren Hellman produces the event as a gift to all of us who love the music and it is indescribable. Warren sometimes can be seen wearing his CBA Jacket as he travels stage to stage. The star power on the many stages is unbelievable! We wave goodbye to many who go from the stage at Fan Fest in Nashville and hop a plane to San Francisco. FREE. (www.strictlybluegrass.com)

There is still time to purchase raffle tickets which is our fundraiser for the IBMA. Don’t bother with the California Lottery and spend your money on our lottery instead where you have a great chance of winning a fantastic instrument. Details on our website. The drawing will be held at our Annual Meeting in October.

Posted: 9/1/2010