The California Bluegrass Association will celebrate its 50th annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival with a special 50th-anniversary lineup featuring headliners the Travelin’ McCourys, the Gibson Brothers and AJ Lee & Blue Summit, who top a 32-act roster packed with established and emerging talents coming together June 12-15 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, Calif. Tickets go on sale today at fathersdayfestival.com for the festival, which draws generations of bluegrass lovers to California’s beautiful Sierra Foothills for four days of camping, jamming, square-dancing, workshops and family fun — and of course, performances by top national, regional and local artists.
This year’s gathering also features singing, songwriting and fiddling legend Laurie Lewis — who will perform with her band, the Right Hands, and in a special “50 years of Togetherness” celebration with fellow Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Kathy Kallick, Lewis’ longtime collaborator. Also performing are Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Junior Sisk Band, the Canote Brothers, Crying Uncle, the Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee, Clinton Davis Stringband, along with California showcase bands Bearcat Stringband, Matt Michienzie Band, Mission Blue, the Town Howlers and Windy Hill. Fifteen additional California bands will be announced.
Special events will include a Saturday after-hours show; performances, fireside-chat interviews and celebrations with artists who performed during the festival’s early years, along with the popular Father’s Day Brunch, workshops, pre-festival music camp and other attractions.
Billed as “the best jamming west of the Rockies,” the festival is renowned as a place where lifelong friendships, musical partnerships and alliances of all kinds are forged through participants’ shared love of bluegrass jamming. That love is fostered early on through the festival’s kids’ programming, including an instructional Youth Academy; the KidFest children’s recreational area; and Kids on Bluegrass, an audition-based training program culminating in a mainstage performance.
Single day tickets, ranging from $25 to $85, and full four-day festival passes — $70 for teens 13 to 17, $235 for adults up to age 65 and $220 for ages 65 and up — are available now by visiting fathersdayfestival.com. Children 12 and under attend free; CBA members receive ticket discounts.
Founded in 1976, the family-friendly Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival has become a beloved annual celebration of roots music. Bluegrass fans converge to frolic amid the majestic pines on this nearly 90-acre spot in the Sierra Nevada foothills, swinging their partners during square-dancing sessions, learning from masters during workshops, joining in on or listening to impromptu jam sessions, enjoying food, beverage and craft offerings, and camping under the stars (lodging is also available in Grass Valley and Nevada City). Kidfest, a major component of the event, offers crafts, games and music for younger attendees. The Kids on Bluegrass program gives musically skilled players up to age 18 an opportunity to perform on the festival mainstage. The CBA Youth Academy, for 8- to 16-year-olds, is a music camp for beginner and intermediate students.
Tent, camper-van and tent-trailer camping (without hookups) and parking for one car are included with full festival passes. RV hookups are available on a limited basis; for more information and fees, check the website.
About California Bluegrass Association
The nonprofit California Bluegrass Association, founded in 1975, encourages, fosters and cultivates the preservation, appreciation, understanding, enjoyment, support and performance of bluegrass, old-time, gospel, and traditional instrumental and vocal music of the United States. The organization and festival are operated by volunteers dedicated to presenting premier acoustic music in a community-based, family-friendly setting. For more information, visit californiabluegrass.org.
For festival details or to purchase tickets, visit fathersdayfestival.com. Nevada City Fairgrounds are located at 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, Calif. 95949.
