Vallecito, CA…It’s a concatenation of some of the most brilliant Acoustic String Music stars, all of whom are excellent at standing out while blending. If they don’t want you to notice them, you won’t… but when the Chips are Down, the Pizza is Delivered with rockets and sirens. Much like fondue; a great hot thick compost of taste, tying the room together but leading boldly from the center of the table. And they will play Bluegrass with force, subtlety, and lovely touches of humor and grace. Three of the most influential of the West Coast branch of Acoustic Music players – and well-know to Twisted Folk audiences – fiddler Darol Anger, guitarist-multi-instrumental virtuoso John Jorgenson, and 5-string banjoist Keith Little, together for the first time, join two highly beloved musicians: bassist/mandolinist Sharon Gilchrist and mandolinist Joe K. Walsh.

Advance tickets are only $35 and can be purchased right here online. Concertgoers will be admitted starting at about 6:30pm – please carpool! – the show starts at about 7:30pm. Admission is $10 for children under 12. All proceeds from children’s ticket sales will be donated to support music education in Calaveras County.

Tickets will be $40 at the door. Please order now!

Dinner will be available for purchase for $15 (check back later for the menu, we will post it as soon as we decide what it is!) The dinner, Delicious Twisted Oak Wines, popcorn & soft drinks will be available for purchase. Please do not bring other alcoholic beverages. Our license does not permit it.

Seating is “festival style”, first come first served – but all locations are good! Bring your own low back “beach” chairs for up-front seating. Click here for everything you might like to know about our concert venue.

Please note: Advance ticket sales end at 4pm on the day of the event – or when sold out. After that time tickets – if available – will be available at the winery after 6:30pm. In any case, all ticket sales are final and there are no refunds.

Darol Anger is of course the legendary fiddler and co-instigator of The David Grisman Quintet, the Turtle Island String Quartet and Windham Hill’s flagship, The Montreux Band. He played Bluegrass in the early 70’s in the San Jose and Santa Cruz area before touring internationally, and is part of the 2nd wave of pickers to come up in Northern California’s Bluegrass Scene, and studied with Byron Berline and Richard Greene.

Guitarist John Jorgenson’s even-more-stellar ride began in Southern California, working with the original Southern California crew of Newgrass artists, the Desert Rose Band, featuring Chris Hillman. His subsequent collaborations with Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Dylan and many others have turned out rather well. Not to be content with Bluegrass and shedding Rock guitar (the Hellecasters), John has become “the US Ambassador of Gypsy Jazz” , and honors the legacy of Django by touring his unique brand of Gypsy Jazz internationally with the John Jorgenson Quintet.

Born in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California, banjo master Keith Little was first introduced to string band music by his father, and quickly mastered the guitar, 5-string banjo, mandolin, and fiddle. As a youngster, Keith worked with NorCal bluegrass legends Vern Williams & Ray Park. Throughout a forty plus year performing career, Keith has been a key member of Vern Williams Band, Rose Maddox, The Grant Street String Band, High Country, the Country Gentlemen, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Lonesome Standard Time, Peter Rowan, and the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience.

That’s right – she IS from Texas! Sharon Gilchrist is equally formidable on mandolin and acoustic bass, and is now one of the most sought-after musicians in Northern California. Her work with Mary & Mars, Uncle Earl, The Republic Of Strings, Laurie Lewis, Scott Law, and on Darol’s recent Bluegrass instrumental recording “E-and’a” makes her an essential ingredient for the Fondue.

Boston-based mandolinist Joe K. Walsh is known for his exceptional tone and melodic gift. His collaborations with acoustic music luminaries including Danny Barnes, Scott Nygaard, folk star Jonathan Edwards, and pop/grass darlings Joy Kills Sorrow have taken him all over the world. He’s played with John Scofield, Bela Fleck and Emmylou Harris, and performed everywhere from festivals to laundromats to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. After award-winning years as mandolinist with the Gibson Brothers, Joe currently splits his time between Mr Sun (with Grant Gordy & Anger), and his own band.

How about some videos? This first one features Darol Anger with Joe K. Walsh on mandolin and singing a little ditty.