Wisconsin native Jesse Cobb was a founding member of The Infamous Stringdusters, a Nashville-based powerhouse group. He received a Grammy nomination in 2010 for his original song Magic #9. He has also recorded on a Grammy-winning project with Jim Lauderdale in 2008, and has won three International Bluegrass Music Awards for Song of The Year, Album of The Year and Emerging Artist of The Year.

Border Ride also includes Virginia-born Jeff Ellis, a talented, world-champion bassist. Over the years Jeff has played with several notable bands, including David Parmley and Continental Divide, as well as Marty Raybon and Full Circle. Miriam Sonstenes, on the fiddle, was trained in classical violin and is well-versed in both Old Time and Bluegrass. She discovered fiddle music while completing a classical music degree at the University of Victoria. She has spent the last ten years performing, touring, teaching and composing music steeped in folk traditions, with her band The Sweet Lowdown.

Also included in this wonderful group is banjoist Mike Kraft, a mainstay on the Vancouver Island bluegrass scene with a vast knowledge of a variety of styles. His showmanship, humour and enthusiasm for performing make him a real crowd favourite. Rounding out this amazing band is singer Garrett Tompson, who grew up in rural B.C. but now makes his home in the Victoria area. His parents introduced him to an array of music styles but it was bluegrass music that ultimately made the biggest impact on him. He provides rich lead baritone vocals and a strong rhythm guitar.

Ok VBA members, shine up yer shoes and get ready to howl. Time to start preparing for the Saturday night shindig at the Sooke Festival!

This should be a fun evening and will get your feet moving to the rhythm of Bluegrass and Old Time music. Please let Victoria Pang or Tim Storm know if you are interested so that we can anticipate numbers attending. Please note the location.

The Kathy Kallick Band visits Victoria one again to play music from Foxhounds, the 2016 #1 album on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Bluegrass charts and in the National Bluegrass Survey (Bluegrass Unlimited charts) 2016 Top 10. Also featuring music from IBMA's 2015 Momentum Award winner (Instrumentalist Of the Year) Annie Staninec's first solo album, favorites from two earlier KKB hit albums Time and Between the Hollow & the High-Rise, classics from the Good Ol' Persons, gems from the bluegrass/old time/country music repertoire, and more than a few surprises. Plus NEW STUFF!

Kathy has won a Grammy and two IBMA Awards for her part on True Life Blues: The Songs Of Bill Monroe, received a Lifetime Membership from the California Bluegrass Association, co-founded the internationally-acclaimed band Good Ol' Persons, performed and recorded with the Frank Wakefield Band, appeared on three high-profile Rounder collections of bluegrass songs by women, wrote and recorded award-winning music for children and families, toured throughout North America / Europe / Japan, had five title tracks and albums each spend a year in the upper echelon of the national bluegrass charts, and collaborated with the country's top acoustic musicians - including her mighty current band: Annie Staninec (fiddle), Tom Bekeny (mandolin), Greg Booth (dobro, banjo), and Cary Black (acoustic bass)

"Kathy's working with the finest group she's ever assembled. Fare Thee Well is delivered with a beautifully restrained ache by Kallick, further enhanced by a tender, tear-stained dobro solo from Greg Booth that emerges right out of the shadow of Clinch Mountain, and on Long Time Travelin', Kallick's and Staninec's dour voices are positively haunting, a mood elevated to greater affect by the latter's spare clawhammer banjo and ominous fiddle cries. These and other songs make Time an unforgettable document; they seep into your consciousness slowly but inexorably, and you find yourself cueing up the album again and again. Each time you do, you learn a little more, and you're richer for the experience."
     - David McGee, Deep Roots

Led by one of the music's extraordinary composers and vocalists, the Kathy Kallick Band has nearly as much fun as the audience when performing. The material is compelling, the tone ranges from humorous to bittersweet to soulful, the instrumental playing is electric, the vocals luminous, the presentation inclusive. As was once said about another California band: They're not just the best at what they do; they're the only ones who do what they do.

"This is a top-notch band led by a woman with the warmest, richest voice in our music today."
     - Katy Daley, WAMU's Bluegrass Country

The AGM is your opportunity to get involved, to give us input on what type of activities you would like to see the VBA organize, and to make suggestions on how to improve on anything we are doing at the present time.

We also elect our Board for the next year. If you are interested in becoming a board member, please email nomination@victoriabluegrass.ca

If any member has "Other Business" they wish to raise at the AGM, please submit it in writing to any current board member, or email Victoria Pang.

Only paid up 2018/2019 members can voice an opinion and vote at the meeting. Everyone gets cake too !

The meeting will be followed by a band scramble, so don't forget to bring your instruments.