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Virtual Strangers Bluegrass Band

Virtual Stangers

The Virtual Strangers, 2007 Arizona Bluegrass Band contest winners, bring a great mixture of traditional and progressive songs. Their sound is a mixture of the traditional with Stanley, Monroe, and Flatt & Scruggs material along with more progressive material from Blue Highway, Lonesome River Band and Del McCoury. They have shared the stage with Rhonda Vincent, Bluegrass Etc., California, the Dillards, Lonesome River Band, Nashville Bluegrass Band, and others. Virtual Strangers perform in numerous events & festivals in San Diego and throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado, among others. In addition, Virtual Strangers lead the annual Cruise2Jam Carnival Line Catalina/Ensenada Cruise each February where they teach passengers about jamming etiquette and hold onboard jam sessions.

Virtual Strangers also has an alter ego – the Tatar Patch Bluegrass Buddies. Several times each year, the Strangers morph into this kid-friendly persona and go into classrooms to educate school-age children about bluegrass music and how to start playing it. They have performed in schools and kids camps at many festivals.

Mike Tatar Sr., on banjo, holds down the lead vocals. He’s played with In Cahoots, Snowy River, Full Deck, LeRoy McNees, and was made an honorary Piney Creek Weasel by the late Rick Abrams.

Jon Cherry plays mandolin, and sings harmony/lead vocals. Jon’s played with Union Creek and Snowy River, and proudly plays his handmade Cherry Mandolin on stage.

Yvonne Tatar plays the acoustic bass and sings harmony. She is a proud fourth generation string player and has accompanied many old time-fiddlers. She’s played with In Cahoots, Full Deck, LeRoy McNees, and sitting in with many other bands.

Kit Birkett plays guitar and also sings lead vocals. His credits include the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers and Down the Road, 2001 Southwest Bluegrass Play-off Winners.

http://www.virtualstrangersbluegrass.com/

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Mike Tatar Sr. – banjo, vocals; Jon Cherry – mandolin, vocals; Yvonne Tatar – bass, vocals; Kit Birkett – guitar, vocals

David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition

David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition

Summergrass 2016 proudly welcomes David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition to the mainstage August 20th and 21st.

David grew up playing bluegrass with the Southern California favorite – Don Parmley & the Bluegrass Cardinals.  Cardinal Tradition signals a direction that encompasses the sound of the Bluegrass Cardinals but also new songs that re-imagine that heritage.

Cardinal Tradition features David on guitar, Doug Bartlett on mandolin, Steve Day on fiddle, Dale Perry on banjo and Ron Spears on bass.  This Nashville group plays hard driving bluegrass, soulful country and heartfelt gospel.  Need we say more?

Make sure you see David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition at Summergrass 2016!

The Gibson Brothers

Gibson Brothers

Summergrass 2016 proudly welcomes The Gibson Brothers to their Summergrass debut!

The Gibson Brothers were voted 2012 & 2013 Entertainers of the Year at the IBMA World of Bluegrass, along with many, many other awards over the years. Steve Leftridge of PopMatters described them this way: “Eric and Leigh Gibson might have, pound-for-pound, the most impeccably fine-sounding traditional bluegrass band on the contemporary scene…the reason these guys can’t lose is that Eric and Leigh sing bluegrass’ tightest harmony blend, and, instrumentally the group plays with unmatched alacrity and taste.”

Wonderful bluegrass right here, folks! Don’t miss them as they take the Summergrass stage Saturday August 20th at 4 and 9p.m.!

The Vintage Martins

Vintage Martins

What happens when you pair a couple of exemplary bluegrass guitar players and vocalists?

Well, you might just get a beautiful album, Traveled, released last August, and in a couple of weeks, August 20th, 3:00pm at Summergrass San Diego, you’ll get an hour of some of the best bluegrass anywhere. The Vintage Martins, Eric Uglum and Bud Bierhaus bring a resume of talent and experience playing for and with a plethora of luminaries in the country, bluegrass and acoustic genres.

Don’t miss them.

 

Bluegrass, Etc

Bluegrass Etc.

No other band represents Summergrass Bluegrass Festival like Bluegrass Etc. This legendary band has been part of so many great Summergrass memories over the year that we’ve lost count.

Although we claim them as our own, Bluegrass, Etc. are known worldwide for their stellar music and stage antics. They are both entertaining 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 mandolin, 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!

Bluegrass, Etc. will take the stage Friday and Saturday at Summergrass 2016.

Video below courtesy Paul Grinvalsky, Alvin Blaine and Old Blue Sound