Playing music from the Aereo-Plain Album, fiddle tunes and more…
April 2, 2026 | By the Far Out Johnnies
San Francisco, CA. (April 2, 2026) – The Far Out Johnnies, a tribute band playing music exclusively from the John Hartford catalog are pleased to announce they will be playing at the California Bluegrass Association’s 2026 Father’s Day Festival June 18-21, 2026 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, CA. The CBA website bills the event as Three Stages of Music, camping amongst the pines, extensive Youth Program, free workshops, free square-dances, food, crafts, beverages, luthier’s pavilion, the best jamming west of the Rockies, and family fun for all. Festival headliners include The Bluegrass Cardinals, Sam Grisman Project, The Po' Ramblin' Boys, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Missy Raines & Allegheny, California Bluegrass Reunion, Bruce Molsky &Darol Anger, The Price Sisters, Caleb &Reeb And The Cali Cutups plus Artist in Residence Scott Gates and The Black Banjo Reclamation Showcase.
The Far Out Johnnies, made up of veterans from many Bay Area bluegrass bands, started by performing John’s and other’s material at local clubs but have grown their set to play music only from John’s compositions and recorded material. Their shows bring loyal Hartford fans from through-out the area and lean heavily into the legendary Aereo-Plain album but also honor his traditions of fiddle-tunes and the more folk oriented material. Band members include Dave Berry (mandolin and vocals), Mark Ignatius (guitar and vocals), Jordan Klein (banjo and vocals), Dave Watson (fiddle and vocals), and Clare Simmons (bass and vocals). Their sure-to-be raucous set on the legendary Vern’s Stage is set for Thursday afternoon at 12:45 but fans should double check the Festival band page for updated schedules for the them and all other acts. Stop by the show, come say Hi and get one of our newly minted stickers.
Several of the band members have played the festival before in various line-ups but it’s worth highlighting our incredible guitarist Mark Ignatius will be playing with two other bands at this years festival including Deep Thicket Dwellers, and with CBA film maker Bria Light in Significant Otter. You can sample some of the Johnnies music at their website or Facebook page including this John Hartford classic, led by banjo player extraordinaire and meg-Hartford fan, Jordan Klein.
About the Far Out Johnnies
The Far Out Johnnies are a San Francisco-based band honoring the legacy of John Hartford. With deep roots in the Bay Area Bluegrass scene, the band members have diverse musical backgrounds, having played with many popular bands. This variety fuels their exploration of Hartford’s eclectic catalog, from the iconic Aereo-Plain album to fiddle tunes and beyond. For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.
About the CBA
The purpose of the California Bluegrass Association is to encourage, foster, and cultivate the preservation, appreciation, understanding, enjoyment, support, and performance of Bluegrass, Old-time, gospel, and traditional instrumental and vocal music of the United States. Learn more at californiabluegrass.org.
Press/General Info
Dave Berry - The Far Out Johnnies - abcdberry AT gmail DOT com - (604) 359-6955