The bikers may be gone, but there’s a new invasion in town —
only these folks ride haywagons instead of Harleys.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society is bringing the 12th
Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival to Bolado Park today
through Sunday.
Hollister – The bikers may be gone, but there’s a new invasion in town — only these folks ride haywagons instead of Harleys.
The Northern California Bluegrass Society is bringing the 12th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival to Bolado Park today through Sunday.
“It’s a great festival because the park is beautiful,” said Lori Hicks, President of the NCBS. “It’s close to everyone, and stays warm at night, which is great for jamming and singing until the wee hours of the morning.”
The festival is typically attended by 900 people, with 30 bands slated to perform this year. Each band plays a one-hour set on the mainstage, making for 12 hours of continuous music on Saturday alone.
“This is how we (bluegrass enthusiasts) spend our summer,” said Mark Varner of the Sibling Brothers band. “Instead of taking a trip to Mexico, we’ll just go to three or five of these festivals.”
Day passes are $25 for today or Sunday, while a Saturday ticket is $35. For locals seeking the ultimate bluegrass experience, a three-day pass is $65 dollars at the gate, which includes camping fees. Two-day passes are also available for $50.
“Everyone’s real low-key,” said Scott Daily of the Stoney Mountain Ramblers. “You stumble through camp in the evening and just about everyone will invite you into their tent. After the stage shows are over, you get 20, 30, maybe 50 jams going on at night.”
Daily’s band features “grassified” covers of popular songs – everything from the Grateful Dead to Green Day. This year their set will include a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage.”
The camp also sets up a low power FM radio station every year. It’s designed to broadcast to the camp, but locals might be lucky enough to a pick up a signal in town.
Hicks was eager to stress that this is a family event.
“One of the real highlights of the festival is the Kids on Stage,” she said. “They practice all weekend and on Sunday we put them up there, and they bang out whatever they like.” Children’s activities are also planned near the stage area to keep them occupied.
“There’s a lot of really talented bands from around here,” said Varner. “And this is a showcase for them – for the hardworking guys who play at restaurants and farmers’ markets.”
The festival is by no means an amateur event, however. Bill Evans, for example, has been a full-time musician for 30 years, and has traveled all over the world in different bands. His set is a musical history of the banjo in America, playing instruments and songs from the 1790’s to the present day.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been to this festival,” he said. “And I’m really excited. I’ve heard a lot of great things about it.”
For many of the artists and fans, bluegrass isn’t something one is necessarily born into, but comes later in life.
“I was into folk music, I was into country,” said Varner. “And it all kind of comes together in bluegrass. The structure of the music is usually very simple, so anyone can join in. That’s the appeal.”
“People come here from all over,” said Hicks. “The sort of people you usually never get to hang out with, but the music brings you together.”
