BLUEGRASS GOSPEL NIGHT

St. Marks' United Methodist Church and the San Diego Bluegrass Society present an all gospel concert Sunday November 19th at 7 pm. at St. Mark's at 3502 Clairemont Drive. Admission is free, although donations will be accepted as this is a fundraiser for the church and SDBSÐall bands are donating their services. It looks like we will have 7 great bands, including some new faces as well as some familiar ones. Look for The Virtual Strangers, Second Delivery, The Bluegrass Ramblers, SwissGrass, the Soledad Mountain Band, The Full Deck, and the Gospel According to John. The show includes some classic four part a capella gospel numbers, along with some hard driving, as well as sweet, instrumental backed gospel music. There is a reception with drinks and snacks after the show, so tell your friends and mark your calendar for what looks to be a great night.

SOUND SEMINAR FOR PLAYING MUSICIANS

If you are a playing acoustic musician or a singer, this is for you. SDBS will be presenting a seminar on Saturday, December 9, from noon to 2:45pm at the Hammond Ashley Violin shop located at 5889 Oberlin Drive, suite 106, right off Mira Mesa Blvd., just east of the 805. Admission is free to SDBS members in good standing; $10 to non-SDBS members, or you can join SDBS at the seminar for $20 for the year for the whole family and get in as a member.

The seminar will be conducted by sound experts, including Richard Burkett, who has run sound at many major shows, as well as other SDBS personnel with sound experience. The seminar is targeted at playing band members and is being billed as "everything a playing band member should know about sound to get good stage sound." Topics include discussion and demonstration of different kinds of microphones Ð what works well for vocal, for various instruments, how to place a mic on stage for your instrument, how to "work" the mic, how to do a sound check to get what you want, how to interact with a sound person, what feedback is and how to deal with it, and related information. The first hour is lecture, followed by a question and answer period. The next hour and 45 minutes allows participants hands on experience with the equipment.

This seminar is not targeted for professional sound persons (no lectures about the difference between balanced and unbalanced lines, etc.), although they are welcome, but rather it is aimed at giving practical advice to playing band members by addressing what they need to know to get good sound from a sound person or a sound system if they have to run it themselves. The seminar includes handouts and many useful tips. It is being presented by SDBS free as a service to its members and at a nominal fee of $10 to the local acoustic music community. Space is limited, so sign up early by emailing dworden@adelphia.net or calling Dwight at (858) 481-2609.

REGULAR BLUEGRASS EVENTS

Remember to visit one or more of the following regular bluegrass events around town. You won't regret it!

First Tuesday of the month: North County Bluegrass and Folk Club's bluegrass night at Round Table Pizza, 1161 East Washington in Escondido, including a featured band, jamming, and open mic.

Second Tuesday of the month: SDBS bluegrass night at Fuddruckers in the Grossmont Shopping center features open mic, band sign ups, and jamming.

Third Tuesday of the month: SDBS south county bluegrass night at Fuddruckers on Third in Chula Vista includes open mic, band sign ups, and jamming.

Fourth Tuesday of the month: SDBS's Featured Band Night at Boll Weevil, 7080 Miramar Road, presents a top notch band along with open mic and jamming.

For more info on North County Bluegrass and Folk Club events visit:

www.northcountybluegrass.org. For more info on SDBS events, or to sign up in advance for open mic or a band slot at an SDBS event (sign up on site is allowed as well, time permitting) visit: www.socalbluegrass.org.

Also, be sure to check out Acoustic Music San Diego's web page for their outstanding regular events in the beautiful church at 4650 Mansfield off Adams Avenue. While not all of their events are bluegrass, they do have fairly regular presentations of great bluegrass groups (Byron Berline Band, Bearfoot, John Reischman, Chris Stuart, and others have played there). It's easy to visit their web page and sign up for the email list so you will know what is coming. Surf to: www.acousticmusicsandiego.com. and do what you can to support them when they bring great bluegrass music to town.

And, in case you haven't noticed, be thankful for all the great bluegrass we have here in San Diego. Hope to see you at these events!