Berkeley Old Time Music Convention

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Berkeley Old Time Music Convention

A festival of old time music - performances, square dances, workshops, stuff for kids, film, and the illustrious stringband contest.

06/15/2026

Following the Kick Off Square Dance Party Weds Sept 16 at Ashkenaz, Thurs Sept 17 concert, jams & workshops at La Peña and Starry Plough, and Sept 18 jams, workshops, and concert at the Freight:

SATURDAY DAY at the BOTMC has a TON of special events throughout the Berkeley Central Library, Downtown Berkeley - all FREE

10:15 Family Concert featuring the Canote Twins

10:30 Black Old Time Musicians Panel, moderated by Darcy Ford-James

Noon-3:00 STRINGBAND CONTEST! Registration opens Sept 1.

2:00 Alice Gerrard Book Reading from her recently released memoir Custom Made Woman: A Life in Traditional Music

PLUS two hosted jams, one for kids & teens, one for everyone else!

Enjoy Old Time Music all over the Berkeley Public Library all day!

Greg Canote Jere Canote Darcy Ford Alice Gerrard Downtown Berkeley Association Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship Oakland Public Conservatory

06/01/2026

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention September 16-20, 2026
3rd ARTIST REVEAL

FRIDAY Sept 18 the BIG SHOW at the FREIGHT
Downtown Berkeley

ALICE GERRARD
w/ Reed Stutz & Suzy Thompson

JUSTIN ROBINSON
Original Carolina Chocolate Drop
w/ Aaron Cooper

FORTY DROP FEW
From Portland, early stringband music.

PLUS hosted JAMS and WORKSHOPS

05/21/2026

BOTMC 2026
Save the Dates! September 16-20 2026

THURSDAY September 17 features workshops, jams & concert at…
La Peña Cultural Center!

TWO hosted jams: 4pm @ Starry Plough next door / 5:30 @ La Peña

ONE Big Concert FEATURING:

The new cohort of the Black Banjo Fiddle Fellowship:
Samaria Marley, Shanice Richards, Sam Wilkins, Genell Zuciya

Brandon Godman Stringband

Joseph Decosimo & Stephanie Coleman

.j.wilks

📣 The BOTMC is in need of a Volunteer Coordinator, Photographers and Videographers for the festival. Compensated. Please email [email protected] if interested.

03/27/2026

BOTMC 2026
Save the Dates! September 16-20 2026

First Artist Reveal!

Kicking off the festival with an Opening Square Dance Party
WEDS SEPT 16 2026 7pm-10pm
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center
1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley

Special Guests:

Canote Brothers (Seattle)
Forty Drop Few (Portland)

Round Robin Callers: sign up to come

Forty Drop Few:
Canote Brothers:
Ashkenaz:

03/06/2026

Berkeley Old Time Music
SPRING SITUATION
Saturday March 7, 2026
1pm to 5 pm

Old Time Open House - FREE
Berkeley Public Library (Central)
2090 Kittridge St. Berkeley

CONCERTS
(Mystery Room 2nd Floor)

1:00pm-1:30pm
Sophia Sparks & Jayna Manning Bluegrass

1:45pm-2:15pm
Suzy Thompson - Women in the Blues

2:30pm-3:00pm
Leah Wollenberg & Jeremy Reinhard

3:15pm-3:45pm
Zele - Balkan

4:00pm-5:00pm
Stairwell Sisters Reunion

JAMS (First floor)

1:00pm Old Time Jam - Corn Likkers

2:00pm Song Circle - Katelyn Kimmons
2:00pm Teen Jam - first floor teen room

3:00pm Irish Session - Leah Wollenberg

4:00pm Open Jam

WORKSHOPS (Fifth floor)

1:00pm Duo Pizzicato and friends
Resistance & Rhythm: Songs of Women’s Struggle

2:00pm Fiddle workshop - Karen Celia Heil

3:00pm Banjo workshop Christine Willhoyte

4:00pm Open Jam

03/02/2026

This Saturday! It’s the Berkeley Old Time Music
SPRING SITUATION 🌱🌼

Saturday March 7, 2026
1pm to 5 pm:
Old Time Open House - FREE
Berkeley Public Library (Central)
2090 Kittridge St. Berkeley

CONCERTS
WORKSHOPS
JAM SESSIONS

Scroll for details ➡️

.mando

Address

Berkeley, CA
94701–94710, 94712, 94720

Website

http://www.berkeleyoldtimemusic.org/

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