Carltone

Read the July 13, 2007, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about The Whoreshoes and The Roadoilers here.

Read the June 1, 2007, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys here.

Read the January 19, 2007, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about Homespun Rowdy and The Barefoot Nellies here.

Read the August 11, 2006, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about the Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band here.

Read the July 7, 2006, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about the Poor Man's Whiskey and Four Year Bender here.

Read the March 17, 2006, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about the Bill Evans String Summit and Rick Jamison here.

Read the January 20, 2006, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about John Reischman & The Jaybirds here.

Read the December 9, 2005, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about Ray Bonneville here.

Read the October 7, 2005, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about the Kleptograss Bluegrass Gold Show here.

Read the May 20, 2005, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about Bluegrass Gold's 100th Anniversary Show here.

Read the April 22, 2005, Matt Kramer Pacific Sun story about the Bluegrass Gold six-year anniversary here.

BLUEGRASS GOLD
SWEETWATER STATION
500 Magnolia Ave.
Larkspur, CA 94939
(415) 924-6107

Bluegrass Gold is the longest running bluegrass series in the San Francisco Bay Area. The show began in April of 1999 at Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley, CA, and it is produced by Larry Carlin and Carltone Music. 145 shows took place since the series began, and over 12,500 people came through the doors to see bluegrass there. The show features both local and nationally touring acts, with such notables as Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Maria Muldaur, The Reeltime Travelers, The Kathy Kallick Band, Hot Buttered Rum, The Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Laurie Lewis, and King Wilkie having played.

But Sweetwater Saloon closed for good at its Throckmorton Street venue on September 23, 2007, after a long running dispute with the landlord. Sweetwater will be moving to a new venue on Miller Avenue in Mill Valley early in 2008.

You can read Paul Liberatore's stories about the demise in the Marin Independent Journal here and here. You can read the Greg Cahill August 31st Pacific Sun cover story here. And Matt Kramer's poignant farewell story in the Pacific Sun can be read here.

For the time being the Bluegrass Gold series will move to Sweetwater Station (formerly the Larkspur Cafe Theater), which is also now run by the owners of Sweetwater. With any luck bluegrass will continue to thrive in its new location.

~NEXT BLUEGRASS GOLD SHOWS~

WHO: THE ROADOILERS and THE BAREFOOT NELLIES

WHAT: BLUEGRASS GOLD -- BLUEGRASS MUSIC IN MARIN COUNTY

WHERE: SWEETWATER STATION, 500 MAGNOLIA, LARKPUR, CA (415) 924-6107

WHEN: THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008, AT 8 PM

The May edition of the Bluegrass Gold series at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur at 8 p.m. on the 8th will feature a twin bill of The Roadoilers and The Barefoot Nellies. This will also be a North Bay CD release party for the Nellies.

 Marin County’s one and only good-time old-time band The Roadoilers play square dance and contra dance music, traditional country singing, ragtime, and Irish traditional music. Fiddles, banjos, guitars, bass and bagpipes are the instruments that make up the band. The season Oilers – John Pedersen banjo and pipes, Perry Fly on guitar, Chuck Wiley on bass and Mike Drayton on fiddle – have played together in various combinations for over 25 years, forming this group several years ago. Taken together, the band has over 160 years of experience playing old-time and bluegrass music. Their CD from last year was simply called The Roadoilers, and they will still be releasing them at this show.

 The Bay Area's finest all-gal bluegrass band, The Barefoot Nellies, blend driving, high lonesome vocals, soaring sister duo and trio harmonies, and tasteful picking inspired by traditional bluegrass musicians like Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, and the Stanley Brothers. Although firmly rooted in the traditional sounds, the Nellies subtly bring together their diverse musical influences, from Balkan singing to Texas fiddling and hot swing to honky-tonk, bringing a drive and energy to their playing that takes them far beyond the "girl group" label. On this show they will be celebrating the release of their new CD titled Let Me Down Easy. The members are Jess Beebe on bass, Nicole Solis on mandolin, Erika Walther on guitar, Prentiss Sellers on banjo, and Betsy Maudlin on fiddle.

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WHO: DR. ELMO & WILD BLUE

WHAT: BLUEGRASS GOLD -- BLUEGRASS MUSIC IN MARIN COUNTY

WHEN: THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2008, AT 8 PM

Carltone Music Celebrates 15 Years of Producing Shows

In the spring of 1993 Marin County musician Larry Carlin decided to try his hand at producing a show. He contacted the owner of the Sweetwater Saloon in Mill Valley and proposed a singer/songwriter show with a few local acts, and if the show were successful, maybe he’d try it again on an occasional basis. 15 years and some 225 shows later, Larry is still producing shows though things have changed a bit since that first production in June of 1993.

At that time Larry was involved with the Northern California Songwriters Association (now called West Coast Songwriters) while also playing bluegrass. He hosted the NCSA open mic at Sweetwater once a month for nine years. He formed Carltone Music, and his original idea for his first Local Gold singer/songwriter show on June 1, 1993, was to present four performers from Marin playing half-hour sets. The show was such a success that the club invited him back on month-to-month basis. For the next five and half years Local Gold ran monthly until the venue was sold and closed for a few months at the end of 1998 and the beginning of 1999. A total of 66 songwriter shows were produced, as well as some other special events.

When the new owners reopened Sweetwater in the spring of 1999 Larry decided to switch gears and he started producing the monthly Bluegrass Gold series that has now been running for over nine years.

When Sweetwater Saloon closed its doors in September of 2007, Larry moved the show to the Larkspur Café Theater in nearby Larkspur, and the series has continued non-stop. The venue has been renamed Sweetwater Station (same owners as Sweetwater Saloon), and now, some 225 shows later, Carltone Music will be celebrating its 15-year anniversary on June 19th at 8 p.m. with the Marin County bluegrass band Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue. Elmo played the very first show in 1993, and Larry plays in the band as well.

Wild Blue is Marin County's premiere bluegrass band. Three of the founding members have been playing together since 1991, making the band by far the longest running bluegrass ensemble in the county. The quintet mixes bluegrass classics and originals with folk and country songs, providing an entertaining and energetic show for audiences of all ages. The members feature Dr. Elmo, who is a real doctor, on banjo. Most people know him for his annual holiday hit “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” which has been the most popular Christmas song in the nation for the past 28 years, having sold over four million copies. But not too many know that he also is a fine five-string banjo picker that plays bluegrass the rest of the year. Originally from the state of Kentucky – the birthplace of bluegrass music – Elmo had hands-on experience with bluegrass as a kid when he had to mow the lawn every Saturday. Guitarist and band balladeer John Pierson also hails from the south, from the great state of Florida. Having worked most of his adult life as an investment banker, he left his job a few years back to get into a more secure line of work – the bluegrass music business. Dana Rath is a classically trained mandolin player who, when not playing with his Modern Mandolin Quartet, gets to play real mando in this bluegrass band. Rounding out the bottom of the band is bass man Larry Carlin, the self-proclaimed "King of King of Prussia, PA," now living in self-imposed exile in Sausalito. The normal band fiddler is Kenny Blacklock, but since he will be making his annual trip to partake in the competition at the Weiser National Old-Time Fiddle Contest in Idaho in mid-June, sittin’ in this night will be renowned Marin County country and bluegrass fiddler Doug Adamz.

All five of these guys are very talented musicians, and the three-part harmonies forge a musical blend that captivates and delights all audiences. Their self-titled recording, Wild Blue, covers a range of material, from ballads and Beatles to gospel and goofy songs, such as Elmo's inimitable rendition of "The Wild Dogs of Kentucky."

Come on out and celebrate 15 years of shows with Marin County’s most entertaining bluegrass band!

Previous Bluegrass Gold Shows

April 17, 2008 - Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands and Nell Robinson & Red Level

March 20, 2008 - The Itchy Mountain Men

February 21, 2008 - The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

January 24, 2008 - Rustler's Moon w/Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans

December 22/23, 2007 - Dr. Elmo & The Reindeer Band

November 29, 2007 - The Wronglers

October 25, 2007 - Poor Man's Whiskey

September 6, 2007 - Homespun Rowdy and Town Mountain

August 16, 2007 - String Break and The Deciders

July 18, 2007 - The Roadoilers and The Whoreshoes

June 7, 2007 - Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys and Rick Jamison

May 22, 2007 - Three Ring Circle and The Grass Cutters

May 2, 2007 - The Dale Ann Bradley Band and The Wronglers

May 1, 2007 - The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and Jerry Faires

April 19, 2007 - The Bill Evans String Summit and Keystone Crossing

March 21, 2007 - Poor Man's Whiskey and Adam Traum

February 7, 2007 - Hot Buttered Rum and The Mountain Boys

January 25, 2007 - Homespun Rowdy and The Barefoot Nellies

December 2, 2006 - Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force and The Rowan Brothers

November 15, 2006 - Rustler's Moon and Keith Little & Jim Nunally.

October 11, 2006 - Heidi Clare & AtaGallop and Julay Brandenburg & The Nightbirds

September 28, 2006 - Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue

August 16, 2006 - The Donner Mountain Bluegrass Band

August 2, 2006 - Eric Thompson's Kleptograss

July 12, 2006 - Poor Man's Whiskey and Four Year Bender

June 14, 2006 - King Wilkie and The New Good Old Boys

May 4,2006 - Peter Rowan

April 20, 2006 - Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek and Grizzly Peak

April 5, 2006 - The Roadoilers, The Mercury Dimes, and Amy & Karen

March 23, 2006 - Bill Evans String Summit and Rick Jamison

March 1, 2006 - Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass and Homespun Rowdy

February 14, 2006 - Sweetwater Sweethearts

February 8, 2006 - Old School Freight Train and David Jacobs-Strain

January 25, 2006 - John Reischman & The Jaybirds and Cliff & Julia Landis

December 7, 2005 - Kathy Kallick & Friends and Keystone Crossing

November 9, 2005 - Poor Man's Whiskey and Howdy

November 3, 2005 - Homespun Rowdy and Chris Stuart & Backcountry

October 18, 2005 - Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen and Doug Blumer & Pam Brandon

October 12, 2005 - Eric Thompson's Kleptograss

September 21, 2005 - Hot Buttered Rum

September 14, 2005 - The Papermill Creek Rounders

August 16, 2005 - Brotherly Lovers show, with Cliff & Julia Landis, Eric & Suzy Thompson, Keystone Crossing, and The Cash Magnets

August 10, 2005 - The Rowan Brothers and Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike

July 19, 2005 - Doug Adamz & Bravo and Jeanie & Chuck's Country Roundup

July 14, 2005 - The Hot Buttered Rum String Band

June 3, 2005 - The Waybacks and Lane's Badass Duo

May 24, 2005 - King Wilkie and Kevin Welch - Show # 100!

May 17, 2005 - The Stairwell Sisters and Suzie Thompson

April 26, 2005 - The Kathy Kallick Band and Hit & Run Bluegrass

March 15, 2005 - Due West and The Clarridge Fiddlers

February 22, 2005 - The Acme String Ensemble and The Roadoilers

February 15, 2005 - John Reischman & The Jaybirds plus Paul Shelasky and Kathy Kallick

January 11, 2005 - Orrin Star & JimmyGaudreau and Keith Little

December 14, 2004 - Peter Rowan and The David Thom Band

November 16, 2004 - The Ho'Down Quartet and Poor Man's Whiskey

November 9, 2004 - Chris Stuart & Backcountry and Valerie Jay & The Americanos

October 28, 2004 - Peter Rowan and Highway One

October 5, 2004 - The Hot Buttered Rum String Band and PamBrandon

October 1, 2004 - The Waybacks and Corinne

September 28, 2004 - High Country and Homespun Rowdy

August 31, 2004 - Peter Rowan and Fragment

August 4, 2004 - Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen and Audrey Auld

July 20, 2004 - The Hot Buttered Rum String Band and Brett Dennen

June 15, 2004 - Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue and The Alhambra Valley Band

May 25, 2004 - The Kathy Kallick Band and The Cash Magnets

May 19, 2004 - Hot Buttered Rum String Band and Rachel Garlin

May 4, 2004 - King Wilkie and Homespun Rowdy

April 27, 2004 - Open Road and Carolina Special

April 20, 2004 - Keystone Station and Mary & Mars

April 6, 2004 - Poor Man's Whiskey and Korby Lenker

March 31, 2004 - Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen and Jeanie & Chuck Poling

March 23, 2004 - The Stairwell Sisters and The Earl Brothers

March 4, 2004 - The Waybacks and A.J. Roach

February 26, 2004 - The Papermill Creek Rounders and Keystone Crossing

January 27, 2004 - The Hot Buttered Rum String Band and Mary & Mars

January 13, 2004 - Due West and The David Thom Band

December 29, 2003 - The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience

November 11, 2003 - Detour and Homespun Rowdy

October 23, 2003 - The Laurel Canyon Ramblers and The Waller Brothers

September 30, 2003 - Peter Rowan and The Hot Buttered Rum String Band

August 2, 2003 - Poor Man's Whiskey and Borderline

July 1, 2003 - Reeltime Travelers and The Mud Hens

June 24, 2003 - Peter Rowan and The Earl Brothers

May 20, 2003 - The Pine Valley Boys and The How You Duo

April 23, 2003 - The Stairwell Sisters and The Roadoilers

March 25, 2003 - The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience

February 11, 2003 - Peter Rowan and Tonee & Bill Norman

January 21, 2003 - The Earl Brothers and The Sibling Brothers

And many more. Bluegrass Gold began in April of 1999, and as of September, 2007, there have been 139 shows!