Tenacious, innovative string musicians/dancers, the Evie Ladin Band throws down an unusually entertaining live show with three-part harmony, instrumental chops, and sonic surprises. 

Considered one of the country’s most inviting square dance callers, Evie is a deeply visceral songwriter, a renowned clawhammer banjo player, and is an ace flatfoot clogger. Bass player Keith Terry brings a deep groove to his tonal percussion and is a pioneer in contemporary Body Music. Guitarist Erik Pearson adds just the right spice with tasty solos. Together, the trio delivers soulful, exciting concerts that move audiences to laugh and cry, to feel.

Evie Ladin Band hits the Strawberry Main Stage on Friday, May 22nd. Listen and learn more here!

We’re pleased to welcome Anthony Crawford with Savana Lee to the Strawberry Main Stage on Thursday.

Many of you know Anthony and Savana from their years performing together as Sugarcane Jane. This season, they step forward under a new banner—shining a light on Anthony’s remarkable musical journey, with Savana’s soulful harmonies right beside him.

It’s the same connection, the same spirit… just a new chapter unfolding.

(Some fun Strawberry history: Crawford first appeared at Strawberry Music Festival around 1990 as a festival “tweener,” performing a short acoustic set between main stage artists during the era of John Hartford.)

Anthony Crawford with Savana Lee will open the festival on Thursday, May 21 — don’t miss it! Listen and learn more here.

The official Spring 2026 Strawberry Playlist is here!

No need to sign up, no ads, no skips — just music.

Bill Kirchen’s career has spanned 50+ years, produced well over two dozen albums, and expertly explored almost that many genres. He was a founding father of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, a proto-Americana band active from 1967-76. His diesel-fueled lick drove the rockabilly hit “Hot Rod Lincoln” into the Top 10. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for Country Instrumental of the Year with his chicken-pickin’ composition “Poultry In Motion.”

In addition to being “a versatile guitarist […] a witty, astute songwriter, and a strong vocalist to boot,” Kirchen is “one of the best genre-agnostic, genre-crossing artists of our time, among the first to mash-up rockabilly, country, Western swing, honky-tonk, jump blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, and ‘psychedelic folk-rock.’ —  Jim Hynes, Glide Magazine

Kirchen will appear at the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival with Rick Richards on drums (Joe Walsh, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Gurf Morlix) Jack Saunders on bass (Shake Russell, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sisters Morales, Tom Russell) and Nina Gerber on guitar (Kate Wolf, Greg Brown, Karla Bonoff, Dave Alvin, Laurie Lewis).

Don’t miss Bill Kirchen Band with Nina Gerber on the Main Stage on Sunday, May 24th! Listen and learn more here.

It may be Friday the 13th, but who has time for superstitions with a lineup like this?! The official Spring 2026 Strawberry poster is here!

The poster was designed in collaboration with graphic designer and artist Alan Zimmerman and Strawberry staff.

Get the most out of Strawberry with our All Festival Pass! The All Festival Pass includes a 25% discount (built into the price) on camping tickets of the same type to both Spring and Fall festivals. Please note the All Festival Pass ticket option expires with the start of the Spring Festival. Don’t miss out on this special incentive to make Strawberry your bi-annual routine! 

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Tickets can be ordered online 24/7 here or by calling us at 209.984.8630, M-Th, 10am-3pm.

We would like to extend our belated condolences to family and friends of Dolores Sanchez, a longtime Strawberry volunteer who passed away earlier this year.

Dolores’ volunteer history with Strawberry dates back at least 30 years, split nearly equally between two crews. She spent her Camp Mather years working an overnight shift on Drink Booth Night Patrol before joining Staff Check-In when Strawberry moved to the Nevada County Fairgrounds in 2014. She is described as being reserved, but funny, and is remembered for cracking up her crewmates with the subtlety of her humor and the timing of her hilarious comments. She will be missed at Strawberry, on Staff Check-In, and by those who knew her from Sonora.

A celebration of life will be held for Dolores Sanchez at NOON on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Sonora Moose Lodge in Sonora, CA.

Della Mae is a GRAMMY-nominated all-woman string band featuring founding members Celia Woodsmith (lead vocalist/guitarist) and 2-time Grand National champion fiddle player Kimber Ludiker, along with guitarist Avril Smith, and two-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Vickie Vaughn.

Hailing from across North America, and reared in diverse musical styles, Della Mae is one of the most charismatic and engaging roots bands touring today. Don’t miss their set on the Strawberry Main Stage on Saturday, May 23rd at 9:00 pm. Listen & learn more here!

As a founding member of both the early punk era trio The Nerves and rock band The Plimsouls, Peter Case spent the early years of his career writing and performing timeless teenage rock ‘n’ roll that continues to appeal to fans of each new generation.

After The Plimsouls, Case rediscovered his musical roots on his self-titled solo debut, released in 1986 and produced by T Bone Burnett. As one of the first songwriters of his generation to turn from rock music toward an acoustic sound, Case helped usher in what became known as Americana music. 

“I try to take things I love and use them in a new way,” said Case of his 16th solo album “Doctor Moan.” Released by Sunset Blvd Records in 2023, Case’s piano-based songs are emotionally, sonically, and stylistically rich.

Triple Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Peter Case will join us on the Strawberry Main Stage on Sunday, May 24th. Listen & learn more here!

Please welcome Marley’s Ghost to the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival. The band will take the Main Stage on Thursday, May 21st, for an exciting 40th Anniversary Celebration! Special guests to be announced. 

“Americana” is a brand that’s been bandied about quite liberally in today’s musical environs. And yet, it takes a certain dedication and determination to remain true to its essence. On the other hand, versatility and variation go hand-in-hand, with each depending on the other. In the case of the Western United States based Marley’s Ghost, that eclectic energy has resulted in a broad repertoire that’s defied the ability to tag them to any one particular genre. Their dozen albums to date survey a broad scope of Americana and acoustic music in general, making it all but impossible to confine them to any particular niche.

Marley’s Ghost is composed of singer/multi-instrumentalists Dan Wheetman, Jonathan Wilcox, Mike Phelan, Ed Littlefield Jr., Jerry Fletcher, and Bob Nichol. The band returns to the scene of one of their first shows, closing out the night on Thursday, May 21st, and kicking off their 40th Anniversary Tour. Listen and learn more here!

Tom Rigney is one of the premier Roots music fiddle players on the planet. His band—Tom Rigney and Flambeau—specializes in blazing Cajun two-steps, low-down Blues, funky New Orleans grooves, Boogie Woogie piano, and heartbreakingly beautiful ballads and waltzes. Rigney is joined by Marc Brinitzer (electric guitar), Caroline Dahl (piano), Brent Rampone (drums), and Sam Rocha (bass) as Flambeau.

Don’t miss their Main Stage set on Saturday, May 23rd. Listen and learn more here!