Bluegrass festival hits Bolado Park
A bluegrass festival was held over Memorial Day weekend
– the Dabney and Hicks Bluegrass Family Festival at Bolado Park
in Tres Pinos.
The event featured many first-rate talents and old-time friends
to Bluegrass. Among them were: Phil Walker and High Country (at 42
years, possibly the longest playing Bluegrass band in the region),
Bean Creek, The Courthouse Ramblers, Trail Ride Band (of Salinas
Rodeo fame), and in the opinion of Dave Gooding, long-time
Bluegrass bassist, the sleeper-surprise of the weekend was The
Central Valley Boys.
Bluegrass festival hits Bolado Park
A bluegrass festival was held over Memorial Day weekend – the Dabney and Hicks Bluegrass Family Festival at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos.
The event featured many first-rate talents and old-time friends to Bluegrass. Among them were: Phil Walker and High Country (at 42 years, possibly the longest playing Bluegrass band in the region), Bean Creek, The Courthouse Ramblers, Trail Ride Band (of Salinas Rodeo fame), and in the opinion of Dave Gooding, long-time Bluegrass bassist, the sleeper-surprise of the weekend was The Central Valley Boys.
The festival was the inspiration of Lora Hicks of Aromas and husband Pete Hicks of the band Bean Creek. Lora has been bringing bluegrass musicians together for a number of years. She began with bluegrass on the Slough at Moss Landing. In 2005 she organized the Gilroy Bluegrass Festival at Casa de Fruta; 2008 was the Big Sur Festival at Fernwood. Her friend and financial backer, John Dabney, has been partnering in these projects since 2007. Lora feels the community that is created at the festival is like a four-part harmony.
The festival’s “official” sponsor was Phil Di Girolamo, owner of the Central Coast favorite at Moss Landing – Phil’s Fish Market.
There are some great opportunities for local Bluegrass yet this summer:
– June 13 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga: The Chick Corea Freedom Band (www.mountainwinery.com)
– August 13-15 at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos: Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival (www.scbs.org)
– September 10-12 at Ludwig Ranch Park in San Martin, and sponsored by Northern California Bluegrass Society: Jake’s Brown Barn Festival (www.scbs.org)
– Every Thursday night from 6:30-9 p.m. open jam at the Grange Hall on Fourth St. in Morgan Hill (novices welcome).
