For bluegrass music fans, the
”
big weekend
”
in Hollister is not the first weekend of July — it’s the second
weekend. That is when bluegrass bands and fans from all over
California meet in Hollister for the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass
Festival.
For bluegrass music fans, the “big weekend” in Hollister is not the first weekend of July — it’s the second weekend. That is when bluegrass bands and fans from all over California meet in Hollister for the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival.
The 11th annual festival starts today and runs through Sunday at Bolado Park. This year’s event is expected to be the largest ever. Approximately 50 bands will play on two stages, while hundreds of other bluegrass “pickers” will play informal music all around the grounds.
Last year, the festival grew to the point that the Northern California Bluegrass Society, the events sponsor, expanded the amount of space at the fairgrounds three-fold. This year, an even larger crowd is anticipated. “This is the NCBS’ most important fundraiser,” said Rich Evans, president of the local bluegrass organization. “We use the proceeds to present workshops, jams, concerts, and other smaller festivals all over the San Francisco Bay Area and the Monterey Bay Area.”
Last year, these events were held from Marin County in the north to Moss Landing in the south, according to Evans.
There will be plenty of tickets available at the gate. Regular ticket prices are; $65 for a 3-day adult ticket, $50 for a 2-day ticket, $35 for a Saturday 1-day ticket, and $25 for a Friday or Sunday 1-day ticket. However, San Benito County residents with ID will receive a $10 discount on single day tickets — $25 for Saturday and $15 for Friday or Sunday.
“We hope local folks who would like to try out some bluegrass music will take advantage of the discounted price and enjoy this great show in their town,” said Gary Mansperger, the group’s vice-president and ticket sales manager.
The festival will feature new facilities, a shaded audience area, two stages of live music, food vendors, children’s activities, on site camping, a low power FM broadcast of the stage to the camp, a raffle, and non-stop music on and off the stage.
The Hollister-based band Sidesaddle & Co. will close the show tonight. On Saturday, Hollister resident Lolita Ferrell, known to bluegrass fans around the west as “Yodeling Lady Lolita,” will perform as she is introduced as the newest NCBS Honorary Lifetime Member.
July 9-11, 2004
Bolado Park, Hollister
FRIDAY
3 p.m. — Farm Fresh
4 p.m. — Min-Tones
5 p.m. — Grizzly Peak
6 p.m. — Birch Lake Ramblers
7 p.m. — Bean Creek
8 p.m. — Mr. Banjo & The Lonesome Wailers
9 p.m. — Sidesaddle & Co.
SATURDAY
10 a.m. — Stoney Mountain Ramblers
11 a.m. — HeartWood
Noon — Abbott Family Band
1 p.m. — New Five Cents
(2:00 — Workshops)
2:45 p.m. — Special Guest: Yodeling Lady Lolita
3 p.m. — Stay Tuned
4 p.m. — Courthouse Ramblers
5 p.m. — Circle R Boys
6 p.m. — Lone Prairie
7 p.m. — Highway One
8 p.m. — John Murphy’s Carolina Special
9 p.m. — Alhambra Valley Band
SUNDAY
9 a.m. — Windy Ridge
10 a.m. — MacRae Brothers
11 a.m. — Homespun Rowdy
Noon — Sibling Brothers
1 p.m. — Kids On Stage
2 p.m. — On The Loose
3 p.m. — Fog Valley Drifters
4 p.m. — Bluegrass Contraption
5 p.m. — Wires & Wood
