CA Strawberry Festival - Cashdollar, Black, Franklin & L

Scott Shewbridge · From: Bay Area, N. California

Because of posts on this forum, I went to the Strawberry Music Festival in Mather Camp, California over the Labor Day weekend. It was a veritable smorgasbord of steel guitar. I can't imagine a better show for the instrument and its heros.

Mather Camp is located in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains at about 4,000 ft. on the northern border of Yosemite National Park. It was originally the early 1900s workers camp for San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy water system. It's now a family camp, with great facilities for kids and beautiful camping and cabins in the woods. The summer-transitioning-to-fall mountain weather was perfect for me, sunny and warm in the day and very cool in the evening, with no dew in the morning (if you like camping, you know what I'm talking about).

This was my first time at Strawberry Festival; I was told I was a "st-irgin." It won't be my last. The major focus is bluegrass, but a subtheme for this festival was Western Swing.

On Thursday Night, Dave Alvin and the "Guilty Women" played the coveted final set. Cindy Cashdollar had about four or five steel guitars (no pedals). I was back a way and couldn't tell exactly what kind, but one looked like a Weissenbourn. It was the first night of the festival, so the sound crew seemed to still be working things out; it took a long time for Ms. Cashdollar to get set up. Once they got going though, there was no stopping them. I am not that familiar with Dave Alvin, but that is going to change fast. Ms. Cashdollar and the Ms. Nina Gerber (on Strat I think) had some great complimentary things to add to Mr. Alvin's singing and great guitar playing. This was a great set that went late. I couldn't leave, even though I'd left home at 4 AM that morning.

On Saturday, the Bay Area's Lost Weekend had the leasted coveted time slot - mid afternoon. It was a warm day and most folks elected to avoid the sun and listen to the concert via "Hog Radio," the festival's pirate FM broadcast. Being a diehard swing fan, I braved the heat and was glad I did. Bobby Black played wonderfully and Pam Brandon (torch extraordinaire) was smokin'. More on that later.

That evening, at the second to last slot, "The Time Jumpers" played an incredible set of country and western swing. I did a bit of internet research on these folks before the festival and found out they are the hot insiders ticket at the Station Inn on Monday evenings in Nashville (wish I'd known that when I was there in April). This band was over the top fantastic. Everything was so well played, with apparent ease. Paul Franklin's playing was beautiful. I wish this band could come to California more often. I think they made a very big impression. And what do you know, they got the crowd movin' without one hint of a rock and roll back beat. Who'd of thunk? I wish country radio was filled with their stuff.

The Time Jumpers at Strawberry Music Festival Fall 2009

Del McCoury had the last full set that night. I'd call his band's playing - shredding heavy-metal bluegrass at its fastest. Apparently to be Del McCoury's son you have to play fast. Very fast. It was amazing and frankly a bit ticky-ticky numbing to my non-bluegrass accustomed ears. A great set though and Mr. McCoury is the consumate showman. The end of the set was punctuated by a cosmic omen - two brilliant jet con-trails crossed right next to the full moon. X marks the spot as Mr. McCoury said. We all knew we were in the right place.

Afterwards, I got tickets to go to Amy's Orchid Cafe, a side show held in the camp dining hall, decorated to look like an intimate musical night spot. Lost Weekend had the stage and we lucky few got to swing dance and two step until the wee hours. I end up on my butt (literally) but had a great time. This music is so fun, I wish they had dances like this every night (oh well, I guess I'll have to watch American Idol instead (not)).

Sunday evening, a group called Works Progress Administration had the final set. Greg Leisz was their pedal steel man and did a great job complimenting this alt-country / bluegrass mellange.

Somebody told me that the Strawberry Music Festival is basically 4,000 ex-hippies and their grandchildren. I could see that. There sure were a lot of Stetsons in the crowd that weekend too though, so I felt right at home. If you like music, camping, swimming, good food, open jams, workshops and warm friendly people, this is the festival for you. I feel very fortunate to have seen and heard so many great steel players (I didn't even mention the dobro and resonator folks, not for lack of interest, but because it's my bed time). I also got to hook up with some members of the forum. I hope this event helps bring the SG and PSG more attention (purely selfish reasons - I want to get out and play).

That's my report from Northern California. See yah!

Jeff Evans · From: Cowtown and The Bill Cox Outfit

Scott: Welcome, and thanks for that fine, thorough review.

Looks like y'all have some tall, tall trees (conifers) there. Very nice.

Dave Ristrim · From: Whites Creek, TN

Scott, while still living in CA, I got to play the Strawberry MusicFest with a Bluegrass band (playing banjo).
It is one of the coolest music festivals with an eclectic mix of bands. Plus, a wonderful setting in a beautiful part of CA. Makes me a little homesick just talking about it. I also played the first "World Music Fest" somewhere in CA. I don't know if that one made it to a yearly event, but it was amazing as well.
Funny thing, last night, I was talking about Strawberry Fest to a singer here in Nashville. Go figure.

Chuck Huffman · Posted 15 Sep 2009 7:54 am

Scott,
Thanks for the info, I sure miss the festival. I lived there for nine years and looked forward to the festival every year. I will say there are a lot of cowboys that attend the festival too. It's a great time to be had if you love music no matter who ya are.
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Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

Nice post, Scott. I was a more than a little disapointed not to see you at any of the Camp Crud jams. They're crowded sometimes, I know. But there's always room for one more. Maybe next year.
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Pete Grant · From: Auburn, CA, USA

Strawberry is my favorite festival to attend or play. More fun when you're playing, of course. There were more steel players this time than ever. You missed mentioning Carlos, the steel player from Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll Boys, who played all kinds of styles with the command of someone who has been playing for decades.

I only got to experience the last third of the festival. I agreed to show the Time Jumpers how to get to Camp Mather. I met them Saturday at the Sacramento airport, and, after a stop for grub, took off for the Sierras. The band had two vans, but Paul rode with me and we filled each other in on what we'd been doing for the last 30 years since we'd seen each other. We talked music and steel guitar for the three and a half hour trip. What fun. I could do that every week.

Backstage, I played Paul something I'd been working on for some time in order to stretch what I can do on the 8-string dobro: his solo for "Walk of Life" from the live Dire Straits album/video. It's pretty insane on the PSG, and not having any pedals doesn't seem to make it any easier. Anyway, Paul got a kick out of it.

Paul played great with the Time Jumpers. He plays effortlessly things that I don't even know where or how to begin the effort.

Scott Shewbridge · From: Bay Area, N. California

Ed, I was dissappointed too. I actually didn't end up playing much while at the festival. I've had a miserably hard year and I spent most of my free time (nights and afternoons) sleeping! 12 hours on Thursday night alone. I will spend more time with you and your crew at the next one - for sure. I hear the Belleville Outfit jam at your camp was one of the highlights of the festival. Thanks for turning me on to this great event.

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

Don Burnham of the Lost Weekend Band came by the next night. You really missed out. Very Happy

But I know what you mean. When I got home on Monday, I fell into bed. And I didn't get up until time for work the next morning. I still haven't completely recovered. What a party!!
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