Sebastopol Bluegrass Festival Turns 20 | Ted Kuster on Banjo, Bluegrass & Sonoma County’s Folk Tradition
Ted Kuster
Chair of the California Bluegrass Association, banjo player, and co-producer of the Sebastopol Bluegrass & Folk Music Festival
Explore one of the most beloved Sonoma County events as we preview the Sebastopol Bluegrass & Folk Music Festival — a standout and celebrated music festival in California.
Festival Producer and California Bluegrass Association Chair, Ted Kuster shares the story behind the festival’s 20-year legacy, the banjo traditions that power bluegrass culture, and why Sebastopol has become a hub for folk and acoustic music. Plus, hear Laurie Lewis with “Don’t Get Too Close” and get a preview of this year’s festival lineup.
Episode Preview
Sebastopol’s beloved Bluegrass & Folk Music Festival turns 20, and this episode celebrates the history, community, and music behind one of Sonoma County’s longest-running folk traditions.
Ted Kuster, chair of the California Bluegrass Association, banjo player, and co-producer of the festival, shares how a volunteer-driven event founded by legendary banjo player Mark Hogan became a cornerstone of the region’s music scene.
Ted took over stewardship of the festival two years ago and has continued its tradition of blending traditional bluegrass, folk, old-time music, and adjacent acoustic styles while keeping the event rooted in the unique spirit of Sebastopol.
The festival takes place March 14 at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, featuring world-class performers indoors and the vibrant culture of bluegrass pickers and jam sessions on the lawn, plus workshops and an old time stompin’ square dance.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
• The story behind the Sebastopol Bluegrass & Folk Music Festival
• How legendary banjo player Mark Hogan founded the festival
• Ted Kuster’s journey into banjo and bluegrass music
• Why Sebastopol and Sonoma County have such strong folk music traditions
• The culture of bluegrass pickers and jam sessions
• The 20th anniversary festival lineup
• The connection between Northern California folk music and Kate Wolf’s legacy
• How the festival is helping nurture the next generation of musicians
2026 Festival Details
Sebastopol Bluegrass & Folk Music Festival
📍 Sebastopol Community Cultural Center (near The Barlow)
📅 March 14
🎶 Indoor concerts + outdoor picking sessions
👨👩👧 Family-friendly community event
The festival features five bands performing indoors, outdoor jam sessions with local pickers, and a closing community square dance.
Featured Artists
This year’s lineup celebrates the diversity of acoustic music traditions and includes:
Laurie Lewis & Nina Gerber – headlining duo performance
The Evie Ladin Band
Monroe Crossing
Five Mile Mountain Road
Jesse Appelman’s West Coast Stringband Project
The Manning School of Music Showcase
Son Jarocho Cross Border Super Group
Music featured in this episode: 🎶 Laurie Lewis — “Don’t Get Too Close”
About Ted Kuster
Ted Kuster is the chair of the California Bluegrass Association, a banjo player, and co-producer of the Sebastopol Bluegrass & Folk Music Festival. He continues the festival’s mission of celebrating traditional bluegrass while welcoming new audiences and musical influences and teaching the next generation of Bluegrass musicians.
If You Enjoyed This Episode
Follow the podcast and share it with someone who loves bluegrass, folk music, live music in Sonoma County, or Sebastopol community events.
Crack One Open 🍺
Cooperage Brewing’s “Crispy Crusher” from Santa Rosa is the beer featured in this episode’s Crack One Open segment.
After talking with Ted and hearing the tunes coming to the Sebastopol Bluegrass & Folk Music Festival, it felt like the perfect time to open something crisp. Cooperage, known for bold hop-forward beers, takes a different turn here with a light, dry pale ale brewed with pilsner malt and a touch of corn.
It’s grassy, refreshing, and perfectly suited for upbeat bluegrass and a little Sonoma County sunshine — a crispy crusher indeed.
