The Third Annual

NORTH BAY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

This is a virtual bluegrass festival, in that it takes place at a series of venues and one person or group of people did not book these shows. This is just a listing of bluegrass and other acoustic events taking place in the North Bay over the course of two and a half weeks.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

1/25 John Reischman & The Jaybirds and Cliff & Julia Landis - hot bluegrass from the Northwest, led by former member of The Good Ol' Persons. Openers Cliff and Julia sing nice harmony duets. 8:30 PM. Bluegrass Gold, Sweetwater, 153 Throckmorton, Mill Valley. (415) 388-2820.

1/25 The Papermill Creek Rounders - traditional bluegrass from West Marin's finest bluegrass band featuring Banana, David Nelson, Paul Knight, Paul Shelasky, and Ed Neff. 8 PM.No cover. Iron Springs Pub and Brewery, 765 Centre Blvd., Fairfax. (415) 485-1005.

1/25 Bluegrass and Old-Time Session - join the jam. The Black Rose, 2074 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa. (707) 546-7673.

1/26 John and Nathan McEuen - founding member of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and son join together. 8 PM. 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley. (415) 383-9600.

1/26 Ed Neff & Friends - no-frills traditional bluegrass happens every Thursday. 6:30 PM. No cover. Willowbrook Ale House, 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. (707) 775-4232.

1/27 Kenni & Company - all-acoustic Americana/contemporary folk ensemble whose shows have an intimate, toe-tapping, old-timey feel. 8 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

1/27 The Roadoilers - playing the Contra dance at the Old-Time Fiddle Contest. 8 PM. Citrus Fairgrounds, Cloverdale. (707) 894-2067.

1/27 Danny Montana & The Bar Association - old-fashioned country music by one of Marin's finest country bands. 9:30 PM. Peri's Silver Dollar, 29 Broadway, Fairfax. (415) 459-9910.

1/28 The 31st Annual Cloverdale Old-Time Fiddle Contest - old-time is not a crime! Resin up that bow, and join the contest. 8 AM. Citrus Fairgrounds, Cloverdale. (707) 894-2067.

1/28 Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue - traditional bluegrass by Marin County's longest running bluegrass band. 8 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

1/28 David Thom's Afternoon Pickin' Parlor - David jams with special guests Belle Monroe and Ted Silverman. 3 PM. No cover. Iron Springs Pub and Brewery, 765 Centre Blvd., Fairfax. (415) 485-1005.

1/28 The Shots - Celtic greengrass with your morning coffee. 9:30 AM. No cover. Marin Coffee Roasters, Bolinas & Broadway, Fairfax. (415) 451-1825.

1/28 Acoustic Jam Session - do some pickin'! 2 to 5 PM. No cover. The Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol. (707) 829-6600.

1/28 Under The Radar - bluegrass, swing, blues, folk and country by Kevin Russell, Chip Dunbar, Ted Ducher, and Dan Ransford. 8:30 PM. The Black Rose, 2074 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa. (707) 546-7673.

1/29 Dry Branch Fire Squad - entertaining traditional bluegrass band that is led by humorous storyteller Ron Thomason. 3 PM. Sausalito Presbyterian Church, 112 Bulkley, Sausalito. (415) 383-8716.

1/29 Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack - Bluegrass-tinged, soulful songs from this fine trio from Davis. This will be the pub debut for Rita and her band Cousin Jack. 6 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

2/2 Marin Bluegrass Jam - all levels of players are welcome. 7:30 PM. Free. Marin Lutheran Church, 649 Meadowsweet, Corte Madera.

2/2 Ed Neff & Friends - no-frills traditional bluegrass happens every Thursday. 6:30 PM. No cover. Willowbrook Ale House, 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. (707) 775-4232.

2/2 Pete Olson - a mix of honky-tonk, old-time rock & roll, and sweet, original love songs. 7:30 PM. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

2/3 Sonoma Mountain Band - traditional and contemporary bluegrass music from Murphy's longest-running bluegrass band. 8 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

2/3 Peter Rowan & Keystone Crossing - Peter plays as a duo with hot mandolinist Sharon Gilchrist. Opener Keystone Crossing sings the song of the brother duos from the early days of bluegrass. 8 PM. Larkspur Cafe Theatre, 400 Magnolia, Larkspur. (415) 924-6107.

2/4 Corinne West & Caren Armstrong - Corinne is a Marin singer/songwriter who combines country, folk and bluegrass. Opener Caren Armstrong is a fine singer/songwriter from Oakland. 8 PM. Larkspur Cafe Theatre, 400 Magnolia, Larkspur. (415) 924-6107.

2/4 Andrew Freeman - Sizzling guitar licks and rustic vocals from this red-hot Americana musician from San Francisco. 8 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

2/4 Acoustic Jam Session - join the fun! 2 to 5 PM. No cover. The Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol. (707) 829-6600.

2/4 Old School Freight Train and David Jacobs-Strain - blending jazz, Latin, Celtic, bluegrass and pop, (OSFT) creates electrifying acoustic music. Young blues phenom Jacobs-Strain opens. 9 PM. Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Ave., Sebastopol.

2/4 The Roadoilers - Contra dance in Calistoga by Marin County's favorite (and only) old-time band. 8 PM, Tucker Farm Center, 1201 Tucker Road, Calistoga. (707) 942-9695.

2/4 The Farallons - three singer/songwriters from Sonoma County join forces. 8:30 PM. The Black Rose, 2074 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa. (707) 546-7673.

2/4 Josh Needleman's Acoustic Band - originals, fiddle tunes, historic folk, newgrass, Latin jazz, Gypsy jazz, & popular music. 8 PM. The San Geronimo Cultural Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Geronimo. (415) 488-8888.

2/5 Acoustic Celtic Music Jam Session - Traditional Irish music session, musicians and listeners alike are welcome to come in and enjoy the music. 6 PM. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

2/8 Old School Freight Train and David Jacobs-Strain - blending jazz, Latin, Celtic, bluegrass and pop, (OSFT) creates electrifying acoustic music. Young blues phenom Jacobs-Strain opens. 8:30 PM. Bluegrass Gold series at Sweetwater, 153 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. (415) 388-2820.

2/9 Ed Neff & Friends - trad grass still happens every Thursday. 6:30 PM. No cover. Willowbrook Ale House, 3600 Petaluma Boulevard North. (707) 775-4232.

2/10 Solid Air - Sonoma County's favorite contemporary folk duo. 8:30 PM. The Black Rose, 2074 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa. (707) 546-7673.

2/10 Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire - Marin's finest rockabilly band doing the songs of Johnny Cash and more. 8 PM. Larkspur Cafe Theatre, 400 Magnolia, Larkspur. (415) 924-6107.

2/10 The David Thom Band - smokin' traditional bluegrass band from Marin. 8 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

2/11 Keystone Crossing - sings the songs of the brother duos from the early days of country and bluegrass. They will be singing for their coffee this morning. 9 AM. No cover. Marin Coffee Roasters, Bolinas & Broadway, Fairfax. (415) 451-1825.

2/11 Four Shillings Short - combines the talents of native Irishman, Aodh Og O'Tuama and Californian, Christy Martin in a fascinating and spirited night of Celtic, folk and World music. 8:30 PM. The Black Rose, 2074 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa. (707) 546-7673.

2/11 The Acme String Ensemble - old-timey music, Appalachian style, roots of bluegrass and country music. 8 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

2/11 Acoustic Jam Session - do some pickin'! 2 to 5 PM. No cover. The Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol. (707) 829-6600.

2/12 Shades of Green - an eclectic mix of Celtic, country, and modern tunes. 6 PM. No cover. Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street East, Sonoma. (707) 935-0660.

Discover new venues, make new friends, and enjoy the great music! No age restrictions except for Sweetwater and 19 Broadway, where you must be at least 21 to attend.