| Jewish Music Festival | March 1-25 |
| Held at various venues in Berkeley and San Francisco, CA. Artists this year include Amir Milstein, Babel/Ashkenaz, Basya Schechter, Ben Goldberg, Bustan Quartet, Carla Kihlstedt, Emmanuel Mann, Frank London, Jeff Parker, Jewlia Eisenberg, Michael Winograd, Myra Melford, Taiseer Elias, Talia Cooper, Yair Dalal, Zohar Fresco, and Judith Berkson. Complete schedule available at www.jewishmusicfestival.org/. | |
| Sonoma Co. Bluegrass &Folk Festival | March 10 |
| Held at the Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. Artists include Bill Evans, Grandpa Banana's Band, David Thom Band, spark &Whisper, Snap Jackson &the Knock on Wood Players, John Reischman &the Jay Birds, and Houston Jones. Complete info available at www.sonomauncorked.com/wine-country-events/annual-events/sonoma-county-bluegrass-and-folk-festival/. | |
| BACDS Spring Fever Dance Weekend | March 16-18 |
| High-energy weekend of hot contras, exuberant English country dance, and exhilarating music, held At Monte Toyon, Aptos, CA. Callers Erik Weberg and David Newitt, and musicians Dave Langford, Bill Tomczak, Ann Percival, Jim Oakden, Anita Anderson, and Michelle Levy. Registration and other info available at bacds.org/sf. | |
| Redwood Coast Jazz Festival | March 22-25 |
| Held in Eureka, CA. Four fun-filled days of traditional Dixieland Jazz, swing, calypso, zydeco and more! Happening all over town. Contact www.redwoodjazz.org/, or call | |
| World Rhythm Festival | April 27-29 |
| Enjoy a weekend of total immersion in world music, drum, and dance. Includes intensive rhythm workshops for adults, performances, community drum circle, and dance party. Held at the Seattle Center, Seattle WA; free admission. Info at swps.org/swps?dpage=indrhythmfestival. | |
| West Coast Ukulele Retreat | May 16-20 |
| Held at Asilomar, in Pacific Grove, CA (on the Monterey Peninsula). Three solid days of workshops and FUN. More info available at www.ukuleleretreat.com. | |
| California Autoharp Gathering | May 17-20 |
| Held at the St. Nicholas Ranch, Dunlap, CA. This year, the year of musical variety (a multi-genre autoharp extravaganza). For registration or other information, contact calautoharp.com, or call Mike Mueller at | |
| Northwest Folklife Festival | May 25-28 |
| Seattle Center, Seattle, WA. FREE. Annual celebra-tion of music, dance, folklore, crafts, food, art and more from around the world. Info: | |
| SFFMC Memorial Day Campout | May 25-28 |
| Rustic setting among the redwoods in Santa Cruz County. Jams, campfires. No advance registration. However, Mark would like to have an idea how many are coming: or Info, including map and directions: Melissa Sarenac, or Ed Hilton, | |
| Country Roads Folk Music Camp | May 25-28 |
| Mount Madonna County Park, Watsonville, CA. A family camp for all ages. Children as well as adults join in sing-alongs, playing guitar and other instruments, crafts and recreation. Informal jams, campfire sing-along and open-mic. Info: Anna Green, | |
| Cajun &Blues Festival | May 26-27 |
| Held in Simi Valley, CA, this is a full weekend of non-stop, award-winning, Cajun, Creole, and blues music, great food, and kids' activities. More info at simicajun.org/2011. | |
| ZoukFest Traditional Irish music Weekend | June 7-10 |
| Held at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Albuquerque, NM. Staff includes Mick O'Brien, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Luke Plumb, Moira Smiley, Steve Smity, Stanley Greenthal, Paddy League, Blayne Chastain, Roger Landes, Alec Finn, Randal Bays, Brian McGrath, Eliot Grasso, and Douglas Goodhart. Details at www.zoukfest.com. Contact Info: ZoukFest, P.O. Box 2968, Taos, NM 87571. | |
| CBA Summer Music Camp | June 10-13 |
| Father's Day Festival | June 14-17 |
| For bluegrass and old time musicians of all ages. Held in Grass Valley, CA. Camp includes numerous and varied elective classes. Dances, jamming, concerts, fun! For details: www.cbamusiccamp.org. Father's Day Festival also includes Old-Time Music Gathering, featuring Bigfoot, Foghorn String band, jamming, workshops, and camping under the pines at the Nevada Co. Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. | |
| Kentucky Music Week | June 17-22 |
| Held in Bardstown, KY. Fun-filled, affordable week of classes, concerts, open stages, evening activities and jams. Classes in dulcimer, harp, fiddle, banjo, uke, mandolin, steel drum, flutes and whistles, guitar, autoharp, singing and orchestra, plus lots of crafts. More info at www.KentuckyMusicWeek.com. | |
| Jazz Camp West | June 23-30 |
| An 8-day jazz immersion program for adults and teens 15 and up—held in the beautiful redwoods of La Honda in Northern California. Workshops, personalized instruction, student performances, faculty concerts, late night jams. All levels welcome. Create your own schedule from over 130 workshops. Info available at www.jazzcampwest.com/. | |
| California Coast Music Camp | July 8-14, July 15-21 |
| Held in Placer County, CA. CCMC summer camp offers 1-2 weeks of classes, workshops, jams, concerts, dances, etc. Small-group classes in vocals, guitar, banjo, bass, fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, songwriting, percussion, and more; styles include folk, blues, swing, jazz, bluegrass, rock, old-time, Brazilian, Celtic, etc. For adults, but musically inclined teenagers are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Info available at www.musiccamp.org, | |
| American Banjo Camp | Sept 6-9 |
| An intense weekend of old-time and bluegrass classes, concerts, and jams in the Pacific Northwest! ABC features dozens of one-of-a-kind banjo classes as well as full fiddle and guitar tracks. Instructors include Paul Brown, Greg &Jere Canote, Janet Davis, Bill Evans, Adam Hurt, Bill Keith, Alan Munde, Alan O'Bryant, Cathy Barton Para, Ken Perlman, and Tom Sauber, AmericanBanjoCamp.com, e-mail | |