Welcome to Summergrass 2021 Summergrass is back and we’re so glad you are join- ing us this 18th year! Summergrass proudly brings to Southern California this outstanding weekend of authentic bluegrass music, work- shops, & music camps, along with a multitude of other festival activities— all to create a memorable Summergrass musical extravaganza at this nos- talgic museum setting! Summergrass t-shirts are here and available for purchase. Make sure to visit our t-shirt booth to buy the style of your choice. Supplies are limited, so get yours early! Sample the delicious food here at the food court (see menu on page 15), and visit our vendors, too. Summergrass has something for everyone! Don’t forget to check out the fantastic raffle items to be raffled on Sunday! (see page 18). Buy your raffle tickets now! Great prizes! Cheers to all our volunteers & fans - you’re the heart of Summergrass! Thank you one and all! And have a wonderful time at our 18th Annual Summergrass San Diego Oh Brother, That’s Good Bluegrass! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Memory of Dick Pierle Sadly, in 2020 Dick Pierle, owner of the iconic Old Blue Sound, passed away. He was a stalwart supporter of the music, the fans, and he was filled with that spirit of camaraderie that bluegrass music brings to so many. many. He loved it all! And he was so grateful to see his dream come true — to see bluegrass music come to the western United States through the many bluegrass festivals and events now prospering here. Dick was a “one of a kind” who knew sound engineering bluegrass music like no other. He loved Summergrass and looked forward to providing sound here each year. Summergrass entertainers always breathed a “Yes!” with a thumbs up on know- ing Old Blue Sound was doing our stage sound. He also had a passion for bluegrass music education for all ages. It was his wish to gift Summergrass for everything our music festival had given to him over the years. His estate has graciously donated funds to support all of our various music in- struction along with support for backstage. This gift from Dick is given “in gratitude for everything that bluegrass music gave to him and for him.” We thank you, Dick, for your support, your friendship, and your dedication throughout the years. You did the Dick Pierle of music proud! . Old Blue Sound FESTIVAL GUIDELINES With the changing Covid19 guidelines at the time of our program printing, Summergrass assures our fans we will adhere to the current mandates at the time of festival. Your safety is our top priority. Summergrass wishes everyone to enjoy our festival, but in order to ensure that EVERYONE has as much fun & comfort as possible, here are a few items to note_ Workshop Area: All music workshops will be held in the Assembly Building. Chairs: Note this new chair policy for 2021 -If another person’s chair is vacant during any stage show, please refrain from using it. If you leave your chair & it’s occupied upon your return, please kindly ask the person to give it up. Wiping down your chair each day is a good practice. Your safety is our first concern. You may leave your chair in the audience area through the festival & not have to bring it every morning. Audience Area: For everyone’s safety, please do not sit in the fire lane directly in front of the stage. And no smoking, no pets, no loud chit chat during performances (respect the people sitting around you who are here to enjoy the music). Umbrellas are not allowed as they block other’s views. Dancing, hula hoops, etc. (which can distract from the stage show) are ok, but only in the designated area in the back of the audience (again, be courteous to your neighbors). Videotaping or taping of any kind during the performances is not permitted. No glass containers, alcohol or drugs in audience area. Any person clearly under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be immediately escorted from the festival grounds with no refund. Campground Area: No parking in designated fire lanes. Pets are OK in the campground area only. Owners must control pets (be on a hand-held leash), prevent them from barking, and perform Pet Poop Pick Up. Generator use: from 6 am to 10 pm. NO Campfires. No showers available. Lost & Found: Will be near the Club booths. 2 Festival Bands for 2021 LONESOME RIVER BAND Lonesome River Band returns for 2021! Since its formation 38 years ago, this award-winning band continues its repurtation as one of the most respected names in bluegrass. Whether performing at the Grand Ole Opry or headlining major concerts & festivals they continue to be one of the most loved and influential acts of our time. LRB features the 2017 IBMA Momentum Award Vocalist Jesse Smather (guitar), fiddle extraordinaire Mike Hartgrove, Cameron Keller on bass and Adam Miller (mandolin & vocals), along with 5-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year and Virginia Country Music Hall of Famer Sammy Shelor. LRB is bluegrass gold! See Lonesome River Band! SPECIAL CONSENSUS Welcome back Special Consensus! For 4 decades, this bluegrass band that has achieved a lasting sound for young & old alike, making their music a modern classic. The band is led by Greg Cahill, banjo player and recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from IBMA, Dan Eubanks (bass), Nate Burie (mandolin) and newest member Greg Blake (guitar). “Special C” tours the globe and follows their creative desires without straying too far from their bluegrass roots. Their 19th band re- cording, Rivers and Roads was nominated for the 2018 Best Bluegrass Album GRAMMY award and received 2018 IBMA awards for Album of the Year and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year. Don’t miss Special C! BLUEGRASS ETC. After a brief hiatus, Summergrass excitedly welcomes back our hometown boys Bluegrass Etc.! No other band says “Summergrass” like Bluegrass Etc. Known worldwide for their stellar music and stage antics, they are both entertain- ing and masters of their instruments. Dennis Caplinger on banjo and fiddle (and anything else he wants to play), is joined by John Moore who plays a stunning guitar and man- dolin, and the legendary Steve Spurgin on bass. Together they perform bluegrass (and etc.) to the delight of their audiences. It’s a real treat to have these hometown heroes return again to our stage! Be sure to see Bluegrass Etc.! 3 More Great 2021 Summergrass Bands THE PO’ RAMBLIN’ BOYS The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys passion for bluegrass is as clear as it is contagious. With a heavy touring schedule across the US and Europe, the Boys are well on their way to becoming the quintessential bluegrass band of their generation. According to CJ Lewandrowski, mandolinist with the group, the band’s goal is to ―honor the past, honor the fathers, but bring it to new audiences with our own touch. Represent our music the best way we can and bring the real stuff to the table.‖ PRB also includes Jereme Brown on banjo, Josh, Rinkel on guitar, Jasper Lorentzen on bass, and Laura Orshawk on fiddle. Come see The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys & see the real deal! HIGH FIDELITY High Fidelity makes their debut performance at Summergrass! Few bands have come along in recent years that directly draw their influence from that classic era of the 1950s & 60s music’s history. High Fidelity is a rising group whose love and devotion to that music is unsurpassed. The name alone says it all: HIGH FIDELITY. High Fidelity draws much of their inspiration from bands like Don Reno & Red Smiley, The Stanley Brothers, & others. Described as the new Johnson Mountain Boys, this band interprets classic bluegrass through the fresh, young perspective of today’s generation. High Fidelity is so widely loved by every audience they perform for – both by the grandparents and the grandchildren. Visit them at highfidelitybluegrass.com and on Facebook at High Fidelity- Bluegrass. Don’t miss their show! CHRIS CERNA & the BLUEGRASS REPUBLIC Back by popular demand, Summergrass welcomes Chris Cerna & the Bluegrass Republic. This band is Chris Cerna on mandolin and vocals, David Dickey III on guitar and vocals, Celeste Cerna on upright bass and vocals, and Keith Chagnon on banjo. They deliver top quality traditional bluegrass with deep chops on all the instruments. The vocals are tight and compelling, and the repertoire is excellent. This group brings years of experience to the task they love—presenting exciting bluegrass music to their audiences. This promises to be a great performance! Chris Cerna & Bluegrass Republic! Stop by the Cruisin’ T’s booth and pick up a collectible Summergrass t-shirt! PROUD SUMMERGRASS SPONSOR 4 VIRTUAL STRANGERS What a thrill for the Virtual Strangers to be back on the Summergrass stage! after their recent hiatus! With half the band moving to Tennessee IN 2017, they have been enjoying new bluegrass venues back there, y’all!. Back again for the summer, they are up to their old antics as the “Strangers” impart their own brand of bluegrass for their Summergrass fans. Catch their show on Saturday and come up for a “shake & howdy” when you see them. Welcome Mike Tatar on banjo, Kit Birkett on guitar, Jon Cherry on mandolin, and Vonnie Tatar on bass. The Virtual Strangers love bluegrass music and Summergrass! BLUEGRASS BRETHREN Bluegrass Brethren returns to do Summergrass 2021 proud as they play the mainstage and delight our fans as the featured gospel band on Sunday morning! This group presents a unique blend of gospel, hymns and traditional instrumentals to their listeners.