Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival next week

The 11th Annual Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival will
fill the Sebastopol Community Center with the vibrant sounds of
roots and old time country music on Saturday, March 12, from 1 p.m
to 8 p.m.
The popular event is a partnership with the California Bluegrass
Association and the Sonoma County Folk Society, according to Event
Director Mark Hogan.
“This is the only event in Sonoma County that tries to focus on
bluegrass and old time music,” said Hogan, “That being said, it
isn’t a straight bluegrass event. We incorporate other types of
folk music too.”
Hogan said featured acts are scheduled to include former
International Bluegrass Music Association guitar player of the
year, Jim Hurst.
Hogan said Hurst, who will perform solo, will also conduct a
guitar workshop in the youth annex.
“He is an extraordinary player,” Hogan said, adding that other
performers will include The Stairwell Sisters, with their brand of
old time music.”
They offer “very lively performances,” he said, adding they will
conduct a vocal workshop during the lunch break. “Black Crown
String Band is what I describe as proto-bluegrass. “ Hogan said,
“Not slick bluegrass. Very edgy with an old time influence.
Euphonia. Based around the singing of Sylvia Herold, of Wake the
Dead fame. Great instrumentalists as well as singers.”
Others will include Sarah Elizabeth Campbell and Nina Gerber,
who, Hogan said, will perform together for the second time at the
festival.
“Sarah has for years been a staple at the Strawberry Music
Festival, ably backed up by side-woman extraordinaire, Nina Gerber
on guitar. Susie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band,” he said. “Susie
had a short career on Broadway before moving to Southern California
to begin singing folk and bluegrass.
Hogan, who said he got into bluegrass in 1969 at age 17, said he
has been volunteering for the past 31 years in order to promote the
genre, which he says is a distinctive American invention.
“About bluegrass music generally,” Hogan said, “I hate to see it
get sucked into the black hole I call Americana. It is recognized
as a specific genre, the invention of which is attributed to Bill
Monroe. It has spawned many imitators and off-shoots.”
“Bluegrass music,” Hogan said, “has been a training ground and
launched careers in country and other types of music for artists
such as Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Garcia.”
The year 1945 at the Grand Ol’ Opry, Hogan added, “is considered
the “big bang” in the development of bluegrass. Bill Monroe
incorporates Lester Flatt, guitar, Chubby Wise, fiddle and most
importantly Earl Scruggs, on banjo to develop the matured version
of Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys with the sound and band
format recognized today as bluegrass.”
Calling it “great” family entertainment, Hogan said, “You don’t
have to be a young person to play it. Unlike Hollywood and most of
the music industry, people come to “listen” to the music. You can
be 80 years old and if you can still cut it musically people will
listen. Bluegrass audiences tend to be tougher in that most of them
probably play the music.”
• Advance General Admission – $28. Door General Admission – $33.
Advanced SOCOFOSO/CBA Members – $25. Door SOCOFOSO/CBA Members –
$30. Tickets are available at Peoples Music, The Last Record Store,
and www.cbaontheweb.orgSonoma County.
George Snyder can be reached at ge****@so********.com.