A proud sponsor of

Huck Finn's Jubilee Father's Day Weekend

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                Featured SWBA Member Band: Highway 65

Not only is Highway 65 (also known as State Route 65) a pathway that extends from Bakersfield, California to Porterville and up as far as Exeter, California, it is also the name of one of Kern County's best bluegrass bands and is quickly becoming one of the hottest bands around. Highway 65 began its journey in 2009 and hasn’t looked back. They thoroughly enjoy giving the crowd quality music and high energy, entertaining bluegrass.
Their rich, hard-driving instrumentation and fine detail to harmony create a lively blend of Highway 65 originals, traditional and cutting-edge Bluegrass. They will be the featured SWBA Member Band appearing on the Main Stage at Huck Finn this year, and previously they have opened for such bands as Special Consensus, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and IIIRD Tyme Out. They have played Hobbs and Jake’s Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival and have played numerous gigs and fundraisers in southern, central, and northern California...  Click HERE to find our how you can read more about them in the current issue of our newsletter, The Bluegrass Soundboard. 

Annual SWBA SuperJam & Membership Meeting

Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 - 28, 2012

Glen Helen Regional Park near the junction of 215 & 5 highways (see link to map below.  This is a great time for members (& soon to become members) to get together and enjoy wonderful bluegrass music.
 

For more information about this upcoming event, including advance reservations 

SWBA is a proud sponsor of the upcoming Huck Finn Jubilee - Father's Day Weekendd
	DEERING BANJO RAFFLE As in the past, we will raffle a fine instrument from Deering banjos.  This year, it is an Eagle II, valued at $2500.00, the drawing to be held June 17, 2012, Father's Day Weekend at Huck Finn's Jubilee, Victorville, California Ticket Prices: 1 for $1 - 6 for $5 - 12 for $10 - 25 for $20.  Raffle tickets will be on sale at the SWBA booth during the festival, but you can also order them by mail. for a form to mail in for tickets.

                                                                          DURING FESTIVAL

DEERING’S JAMMING SCHOOL FOR BANJO PLAYERS

FREE for beginning and intermediate players, and taught by Andy Rau, the school gives banjo players the tools to start pickin’ with other musicians. The goal – to be able to jump in and play whatever song that’s thrown at you in a jam session. You can register at the Village Shelter in the Mountain Man village.

DEERING BANJO CHAMPIONSHIP

12 Noon, June 16, 2012 on the Huck Finn Main Stage
1st Place - $1000 cash, 2nd Place $300 cash & 3rd Place $200
This is an open context with $25 entry fee, and limited to 12 contestants. Register prior to contest, or day of the event by 11:30.
for full details and a form for mail in entry.

PRE-FESTIVAL:

WERNICK METHOD JAM CLASS

Calling all pickers arriving Wednesday and Thursday before the festival! Class is open to all acoustic bluegrass instruments, including banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro and bass. The event is presented by the Southwest Bluegrass Association and taught by Randy Torno. Pre-registration is recommended since all jammers will receive a valuable packet of information from Pete Wernick. You can also register at the SWBA stage on day of class.

Classes: Wednesday 3pm – 6pm; Thursday: 1pm – 4pm
 

                                for more information

• March 28, 2012: NASHVILLE, Tenn., Earl Scruggs has died - The—Bluegrass legend and banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs, who helped profoundly change country music with Bill Monroe in the 1940s and later with guitarist Lester Flatt, has died. He was 88. Scruggs' son Gary said his father died of natural causes Wednesday morning, March 28, at a Nashville, Tenn., hospital.

• March 26, 2012: UK Banjo web site offers a guide to choosing first banjo - The guide isn’t about the finer points of difference between different qualities of banjo: but is really about the real basic-basics of how to choose the kind of banjo to suit you.. Click HERE to read the full article.

• February 66, 2012: The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) announces their 38th Annual Midwest Bluegrass Music Awards  - The All American Bluegrass Band captured the Entertaining Group of the Year while Jeff Hardin captured Entertainer of the Year honors.  Click HERE for the full list and further information. information

• January 19, 2012: California Bluegrass All-Stars Play the Music of Flatt and Scruggs - Flatt & Scruggs Tribute BandOne of bluegrass banjo artist Bill Evans' projects that he's involved with in northern California is something called the Flatt and Scruggs Tribute Band. Featuring many of our region's best traditional musicians, they present an evening of music from Lester & Earl, dressed in hats & ties and have a whole lot of fun playing this great repertoire of songs. For more info on this band, click HERE.

• December 21, 2011: SWBA announcers "Members Only" section on website - Current members of the association can now login to this special area, where they can read and download the latest issues of the SWBA newsletter, The Soundboard.  Members who have yet to register may do so above, and those who aren't members can join (we'd love to have you!).  Click HERE to read more about The Soundboard.

• October 23, 2011: Guitarist Blog/website offers free information for guitar players  - This relatively new online resource provides considerable information for guitar pickers.  Click HERE for more information.

SWBA MEMBER BANDS APPEARING SOON

• The Brombies - Monday, April 30, 2012:  Viva Fresh Cantina at 900 Riverside Dr. in Burbank, 8 PM - 11 PM

• The Murphy Family Band - Saturday May 5, 2012: Me-N-Ed’s Pizza 4115 Paramount Blvd. Lakewood CA, 90712 6:30 pm-10:00 pm (562)421-8908

• Saddleback - Saturday, May 19, 2012:  ME-N-ED'S Pizza Parlor, 4115 Paramount Blvd. (at Carson) Lakewood, CA 562-421-8908

   SWBA ONLINE STORE

The Southwest Bluegrass Association is pleased to offer CD's, tuners, music books, instrument stands, strings for all instruments, guitars, mandolins, banjos on our website. Through a co-operative effort with Tricopolis Records SWBA earns much needed funds. Most deliveries within a few days. 

4th Annual Parkfield Bluegrass FestivaL

May 10 - 13, 2012

Parkfield, California, 93451. Featuring SWBA Member Band Virtual Strangers, along with Special Consensus,  Loafer's Glory, High Plains Tradition, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands, The Get Down Boys,   Snap Jackson & the Knock On Wood Players, California Pearly Blue, The Alkalai Flats,  LeRoy Mack & Bluegrass Gospel Band,  and several more terrific bands!  2012 marks the 14th year for the Mother’s Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival in Parkfield California, with convenient access from Hwy 101 or I-5 / US 99, good roads lead to Parkfield and are easy travel for RV rigs. The same beautiful festival setting with 65 acres of flat camping sites, including great tent and RV camping facilities with plenty of shade, fires OK, pets on a leash (but not in audience area), shared electrical hookups, hot showers, food and craft vendors and a spectacular tree lined lawn audience area. Kids programs, door prize drawing and a special treat for the Mom’s. Jamming, jamming, and more jamming. Plus a great Sunday morning Gospel Program. Advance tickets available until March 31, 2009. Visit website for prices and directions.

  For More Information

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