CBA Hosted pre-show Bluegrass Jam

Pairing a Bluegrass jam with a Grateful Dead night at the Sweetwater? Why that’s like cheese & crackers! Burger & fries! Flatt & Scruggs! Reno & Smiley! Jim & Jesse! Vern & Ray!

Most Bay Area pickers are probably familiar with Jerry Garcia’s deep connection to Bluegrass music, and his accomplished Scruggs-style banjo picking in Old & In The Way with David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, and John Kahn. Did you know that the Bluegrass supergroup’s self-titled release was the best-selling bluegrass album of all time from 1975 -2000, until the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack hit the airways. Drawing the attention of Jerry’s loyal Grateful Dead fanbase, Old & In The Way introduced a generation of Deadheads and rock fans to traditional bluegrass, cross-pollinating the two scenes. 

And this Cultural Bridge continues – the Dead’s music is enjoying huge popularity amongst fans in their 20’s and 30’s, and talented young bands are honoring and carrying on the Dead’s music, ensuring that “the music never [stops]”. 

So let’s share the night – and our love of Bluegrass’s high-energy, sweet high-lonesome vocals, and highly improvisational picking – with the Next Generation of Deadhead fans at Sweetwater!  Perhaps we’ll make some new friends and introduce some new potential members to the CBA!

Side note: Jerry Garcia’s Bluegrass roots; Before forming the Grateful Dead in 1965, Garcia was heavily dedicated to Scruggs-style banjo, and deeply involved in the Palo Alto area Bluegrass scene. At one point, he even considered auditioning for Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys!  Garcia’s bluegrass legacy was recently featured in a major exhibition titled “Jerry Garcia: A Bluegrass Journey” at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Join the Jam!

We’ll set up on the Sweetwater’s covered patio from 5:30 to 7pm, and have a ton-of-fun picking and singing hot Bluegrass while representing the CBA and entertaining pre-show attendees!  

A crackerjack Host Band- drawn from CBA talent around the Bay Area – will support the jam, so you can count on a welcoming environment, driving energy, and kickoff or harmony backup support as needed from downbeat to last note. Our Host Band bass player will gladly share their bass if you want to sit in for a few, so no need to bring an upright (and no place for you to store one at Sweetwater, anyways!).   

No show ticket is needed for access to the patio during the jam, so all CBA pickers and Bluegrass fans are welcome!  Of course, you will need a ticket to enter the building to attend the show once the doors open at 7pm… but tickets for the onstage electric jam and Next-Gen Dead show are just $10!

Questions about the Bluegrass jam? Feel free to reach out to BruceSadownick@CaliforniaBluegrass.net