Author: Dave Berry

Gary Vessel is a renowned California Central Valley builder of all things violin and mandolin. He's been at it for over forty years, and started as a teenager building violins. He attended the Violin Making School of America, and while

Brooklyn born, San Francisco-based Jody Stecher is an old-time, bluegrass, traditional music artist like no other. He plays mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and guitar and has a long list of credentials, not the least of which is playing mandolin and singing

Oakland based Evie Ladin has a long list of music credentials, including banjo player, singer, songwriter, percussive-dancer, choreographer, square-dance caller, and educator. Though firmly entrenched in old-time styles, her music extends into African and Celtic styles. She was a 2020

This is an update of a previous interview for the California Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Breakdown where I had the opportunity to chat with Karen Celia Heil, the versatile, passionate (and very busy) San Francisco-based American old-time fiddler and guitarist. Hello Karen,

Bill Knopf is a prolific banjo virtuoso, former UCLA drum major, and music instructor from the LA area who has been playing since before most readers were born. He was active in the early '60s playing in his own bands

Fourth-generation, award winning fiddler/multi-instrumentalist Johnny Campbell is a tried-and-true bluegrass traditionalist. Originally from Nashville, he has made his way to and from California several times while playing with San Francisco’s Windy Hill. He and his wife, Whitney Campbell, hold down

Recent California Bluegrass Association Lifetime Member and Laurie Lewis right hand man, Tom Rozum, discusses his album, playing with Laurie, personal challenges, life in the California music scene, and much more. Playing multiple instruments, Tom is the perfect complement to Laurie's

While looking for biographical info on Southern California mandolin player Nina Weisman, I ran across this from the Family Fiddle Camp, where she’s an instructor, and figured I could do no better than this. “Nina Weisman is a fixture in the

Outgoing CBA President Darby Brandli and new President Theresa Behr Gooding It was good catching up recently with incoming CBA President Theresa Behr Gooding, and getting a status of what’s going on. Hi Theresa, how are you and your family doing, and how

Mike Marshall needs no introduction to bluegrass fans. In addition to his jaw-dropping virtuosity and collaborations with Darol Anger, David Grisman, and many more, he is an avid teacher as his many students on ArtistWorks will attest. Recently, to do