14th Annual San Francisco Bluegrass And Old-Time Festival

Photo Credit: James Martin

SFBOT 2013 is proud to announce a newly added show date by an icon in the folk world, David Bromberg! David will appear on February 14th at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage. Audience attendees will experience his original songswhich are clever, funny, and frequently profound. David's depth of knowledge of traditional folk and blues is staggering. His current quartet includes Mark Cosgrove on guitar, mandolin, and vocals, Butch Amiot on bass and vocals, Nate Grower on fiddle, mandolin, and vocals, and David on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and vocals. David has performed with the likes of the Grateful Dead, Dylan, Carly Simon, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge, and Phoebe Snow. David continues to delight his live audiences and continually up the ante with his recorded work. His latest CD, "Use Me", features guest appearances from John Hiatt, Tim O’Brien, Vince Gill, Los Lobos, Widespread Panic, Dr. John, Keb’ Mo’, Linda Ronstadt, and the late Levon Helm.

Another highlight of the festival will feature Rebel Records recording artist Don Rigsby who will join local bluegrass luminary David Thom and his band for a night of classic and contemporary bluegrass at the Freight and Salvage on February 10th. Don and David will start the show in the old brother duet style, followed by bluegrass that will feature Don on lead and harmony singing, as well as mandolin and fiddle. Don Rigsby has remained true to his mountain roots and made his own marks as a powerful tenor and distinctive mandolin player. Prior to his solo career, Rigsby performed with the Lonesome River Band as well as J.D. Crowe and the New South, and the supergroup Longview. He is one of Ricky Skaggs' cousins, and you can hear it in his singing and playing. Don is a two-time Grammy nominee and two-time SPBGMA Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year!

The events of the 14^th annual San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival (SFBOT) will honor old-time music from the past, highlight hot new talent from the present and glimpses into the refreshing Alt-Bluegrass sounds of the future through performances and dance. The 10-day festival runs from Feb. 7-17 and comprises more than 25 shows at 18 clubs and live music venues around the Bay Area featuring some of the most talented musicians on the Americana and Roots music scene today.

 Highlights of this year’s festival includes Bay Area favorites such as master banjoist Bill Evans, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, The Bee Eaters, Crooked Jades, David Thom Band with Don Rigsby, The Stairwell Sisters, The Earl Brothers and the Brothers Comatose. Outside talent showcased will include: Snap Jackson & The Knock On Wood Players from Stockton, from Los Angeles Triple Chicken Foot is an Old-Time trio playing and singing fiddle and banjo tunes and songs. In 2011 they were voted “Best Folk Band in LA” by the LA Weekly. 2012 they had a full-length feature article in the Los Angeles Times Arts section and a studio session for Roz Larman’s FolkScene radio show on KPFK, the Henhouse Prowlers from Chicago and and many more! Several bands will be representing our Northern Oregon neighbors; The Portland Invasion evening will feature Sassparilla, Hook & Anchor and Left Coast Country. A new talent appearing at this year's festival is GRAMMY-nominated fiddle virtuoso Casey Driessen. Driessen straddles the line between roots, jazz, funk and every in-between with a mad scientist-style of eccentricity accentuated by his signature red shoes and magic violin!

The 14^th annual SFBOT festival will spotlight some new talent in this year's schedule. From Turlock, Red Dog Ash utilizes hard driving tunes, tight harmonies, hot licks and high-lonesome mountain soul to combine the best of original and classic bluegrass while also incorporating elements of folk, country, gospel and blues.The youngest performers are Paige Anderson and the Fearless Kin who are helping to close out the Festival 's final night with a performance at Cafe du Nord. The band members are Paige (18 yrs.), Aimee (16 yrs.) and Ethan (13 yrs.) who respectively play guitar, banjo and fiddle. They bring a fresh approach to the folk/americana/bluegrass scene incorporating strong sibling harmonies with vocal styles resembling music from the Appalachian Mountains and powerful original songs.

Confirmed 2013 Acts

Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands ★ Casey Dreissen ★ Stairwell Sisters ★ David Bromberg ★ The Bee Eaters ★ Brothers Comatose ★ David Thom Band with Don Rigsby ★ The Crooked Jades ★ The Earl Brothers ★ Bill Evans ★ Black Crown Stringband ★ Windy Hill ★ Belle Monroe and Her Brewglass Boys ★ Dustbowl Revival ★ Water Tower ★ JimBo Trout & the Fishpeople ★ Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman ★ Savannah Blu ★ Knuckle Knockers ★ Front Country ★ Snap Jackson & the Knock On Wood Players ★ Misisipi Mike's Southern Comforts ★ Gayle Schmitt & the Toodala Ramblers ★ Emily Bonn and The Vivants ★ SUPERMULE ★ Evie Ladin Band ★ Toshio Hirano ★ Anne and Pete Sibley ★ Scott Nygaard & Sharon Gilchrist ★ Jordan Ruyle ★ Misner & Smith ★ Paige Anderson and the Fearless Kin ★ Triple Chicken Foot ★ Henhouse Prowlers ★ Grandpa Banana's Band ★ Big Jugs ★ The Creak ★ Arann Harris & the Farm Band ★ Sassparilla ★ Whiskey Brothers ★ Poor Man's Poison ★ The Juncos ★ Willy Tea Taylor ★ Hook & Anchor ★ The Drifter Sisters ★ Cascada de Flores ★ The Get Happy String Band ★ Left Coast Country ★ Lonesome Holler String Band ★ Fret Not ★ Keystone Station ★ The F**king Buckaroos ★ Barbwyre ★ Red Dog Ash ★ Taco Jam ★ and many others.

Unlike any other festival in the country, the San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival is a grass-roots, non-profit, volunteer-run festival dedicated to keeping the tradition of bluegrass and old-time alive. For more information on the festival, visit http://www.sfbluegrass.org