Father's Day Bluegrass Festival

Father's Day Bluegrass Festival
Saturday, Jun 17, 2023
Nevada County Fairgrounds
11228 McCourtney Rd
209-588-6031

The CBA Father’s Day Festival has been held every year in the beautiful foothills of the Sierras – rain or shine – since 1976.

Stage Schedule

Saturday, June 17

Main Stage
10:00 am Hot October
11:00 am Never Come Down
12:00 pm The Kody Norris Show
2:55 pm Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
3:55 pm East Nash Grass
4:50 pm Lifetime Membership Awards
5:00 pm Kids on Bluegrass Alumni
7:30 pm Never Come Down
8:35 pm Blue Highway
9:40 pm Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Pioneer Stage
12:55 pm East Nash Grass
1:55 pm Matt and George and their Pleasant Valley Boys
3:00 pm Youth Academy Show
5:50 pm West 45

Vern’s Stage
12:50 pm DeltaGrass
1:35 pm Salty Sally
2:20 pm Wilhoyte and Sauber
5:45 pm The Corn Likkers
6:30 pm Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band

CBA Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival 2023, Music Workshops …

Music Workshops Schedule

Saturday, June 17 Lunch Break

“Another Great Deering Banjo Presentation”
A lively discussion about the general history of the modern banjo and what really is a modern banjo. The questions you have always had about the banjo will finally be answered by the master.
Presenter: Greg Deering
Area A, Deering Banjo Tent

“Basic Bluegrass Banjo Backup”
Learn to play backup behind bluegrass vocalists and instrumentalists—all skill levels welcome. A hands-on workshop--BRING A BANJO FOR BEST LEARNING!
Presenter: Dave Magram, Linda Maki, co-instructors.
Area D, Site: Old Maintenance Shop

“Recording Bluegrass Instruments And Vocals In Your Home Studio”
Joe’s most-requested workshop helps non-professionals learn to make better home recordings. Joe Weed answers your questions about recording.
Presenter: Joe Weed
Area F, Site: Northern Mines Building

“Collaborative Songwriting And Arranging”
Collaborators/co-writers can be an essential part of the creative process and bringing art into the world. Learn how Never Come Down utilizes the group mind to create, develop, and fine tune songs. Find out how songs evolve often from just a fragment of an idea to a fully composed and polished piece, and some of the key steps in the process.
Presenters:” Never Come Down”, all band presentation
Area G, Site: Ponderosa Hall

“Archtop Instrument Setup”
Do you own an archtop instrument like a mandolin or archtop guitar that is just difficult to play? Does it buzz when you play certain chords or notes, lack volume, play flat or sharp or even hurt your fingers as you try to compensate for some of these problems. If so, then your instrument needs a proper setup. What does that mean? Let’s talk about Archtop instrument set up and the factors that affect playability, volume, tone & intonation along what adjustments can be made to improve them.
Presenter: Gary Lewandowski
Area H, Site: Luthier’s Pavilion

"Crooked Tunes"
A look at what makes a tune Crooked and examples. There will be printed music to hand out and bring something to record the session if you wish.
Presenter: Chris & Cathy Carney
Area I, Site: Maybelle Meadow

Saturday, June 17 Dinner Break:

"Friendly Old-Time Jam"
Join Geff & Masha Crawford to play some familiar old-time Appalachian-style fiddle & banjo tunes at a friendly pace. We'll all play together, no solos, everyone welcome.
Presenters: Geff & Masha Crawford
Area B, Site: Back Stage Area

“Sacred Harp Singing Workshop”
Sacred Harp is a uniquely American singing tradition where people sing songs in three and four-part harmony from a tune book called, The Sacred Harp. The music is written in notation using four shaped-notes and is a proudly inclusive living tradition. Participants will learn about what shape-note singing is, how to read the music, and by the end will be singing four-part harmony in the Sacred Harp tradition. No singing or sight-reading experience is required, all welcome!
Presenters: David Elsenbroich and Andrea Tzvetkov
Area D, Site: Old Maintenance Shop

“Intermediate/Advanced Back-Up”
In this workshop we will continue to look at playing back-up Scruggs-style (Crowe, Emerson, etc) to more traditional tunes. We will discuss and demonstrate vamping, rolling patterns and up the neck back-up techniques. Attendees should be able to play breaks to songs, have a good working knowledge of chords, and understand the basics of beginning back-up. Bring your banjo!
Presenter: Dick Brown
Area E, Site: By Stage Right

“Breakdowns And Bluesy Fiddle Tunes”
For those excited to learn what breakdowns and bluesy fiddle tunes have in common, this class is for you. Rhythm can make or break a tune, and we will learn how to add just enough interesting rhythm to drive a tune. I will break down rhythmic variations of my favorite breakdowns and blues fiddle tunes. Geared towards intermediate and above players, and I will happily work to accommodate all skill levels.
Presenter:Michelle Yu
Area G, Site: Ponderosa Hall

“What Makes A Dreadnaught A Bluegrass Guitar”
My true expertise lies in guitar-making, and I will have several D sized guitars with me, some more targeted to Bluegrass than others, and I will talk about what makes them relatively so, using examples from my own inventory.
Presenter: Bruce Sexauer
Area H, Site: Luthier’s Pavilion

“Driving The Bus: Old Time Guitar Rhythm Fundamentals”
A beginner-intermediate course. We’ll talk about how backing up old time tunes and songs differs from other modern styles. We will discuss chord choices, norms and expectations, and communication. Best of all, how to relax and enjoy this crucial role. You should be able to make cowboy chords. All you need is your rhythm instrument.
Presenter: Chris Miller
Area I, Site: Maybelle Meadow

For tickets https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/cba/4889?venueidlist=15568.

All sales are final.
Tickets are non-refundable.
Festival is held rain or shine.