Christine Wilhoyte is a second-generation bluegrass picker following the footsteps of her dad Mike, and stepmom Karen in Marin County. Another product of the California Bluegrass Association Youth Programs (CBA), Christine is the current Butte County Area Vice President two
Luke Abbott is a product – some may say prodigy – of the California bluegrass world from the first wave of CBA youth players. He was born in Santa Cruz and now calls San Luis Obispo home. You may have
I recently caught up with Brandon Godman (Laurie Lewis, Dale Ann Bradley, Doyle Lawson, etc…) on a morning hike up one of our many hills in San Francisco. Brandon opened The Fiddle Mercantile a couple of years back, and is
Gary Vessel is a renowned California Central Valley builder of all things violin and mandolin. He's been at it for over forty years, and started as a teenager building violins. He attended the Violin Making School of America, and while
Brooklyn born, San Francisco-based Jody Stecher is an old-time, bluegrass, traditional music artist like no other. He plays mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and guitar and has a long list of credentials, not the least of which is playing mandolin and singing
Oakland based Evie Ladin has a long list of music credentials, including banjo player, singer, songwriter, percussive-dancer, choreographer, square-dance caller, and educator. Though firmly entrenched in old-time styles, her music extends into African and Celtic styles. She was a 2020
This is an update of a previous interview for the California Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Breakdown where I had the opportunity to chat with Karen Celia Heil, the versatile, passionate (and very busy) San Francisco-based American old-time fiddler and guitarist. Hello Karen,
Bill Knopf is a prolific banjo virtuoso, former UCLA drum major, and music instructor from the LA area who has been playing since before most readers were born. He was active in the early '60s playing in his own bands
Fourth-generation, award winning fiddler/multi-instrumentalist Johnny Campbell is a tried-and-true bluegrass traditionalist. Originally from Nashville, he has made his way to and from California several times while playing with San Francisco’s Windy Hill. He and his wife, Whitney Campbell, hold down
Recent California Bluegrass Association Lifetime Member and Laurie Lewis right hand man, Tom Rozum, discusses his album, playing with Laurie, personal challenges, life in the California music scene, and much more. Playing multiple instruments, Tom is the perfect complement to Laurie's
