The Spring 2026 Volunteer Application is live! For more information and the application, please visit our VOLUNTEER page here.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival!
Photo credit: Evan Thompson, Kate Skogen
If you haven’t heard of the cheerfully named supergroup Mr Sun, you’ve certainly heard its proponents, four of the finest musicians on the American roots scene:
Renowned fiddler Darol Anger, Professor Emeritus at Berklee College of Music, who has released many solo albums in addition to his work with David Grisman and Mike Marshall, and founded the Turtle Island Quartet, Psychograss, and Republic of Strings.
Joe K. Walsh, mandolin virtuoso and vocalist who spent four years with the award-winning bluegrass act the Gibson Brothers before becoming solo artist and songwriter and Strings Department Professor at Berklee.
All-around guitar genius Grant Gordy, a former member of Dawg Music guru David Grisman’s band.
The phenomenal Scots bassist Aidan O’Donnell, who has backed harpist Maeve Gilchrist and countless modern Jazz heroes.
Don’t miss this supergroup when they hit the Strawberry Main Stage on Friday, May 22nd. Listen & learn more here!
EDIT: The RV Hook-Up Site Lottery is now closed for 2026. This is an old post, available for posterity.
The RV Hook-up Site Lottery is now open for both Spring & Fall Festivals!
The RV Hook-up Site Lottery opens today and ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, February 3rd. After the submission form closes on Tuesday, February 3rd, sites will be assigned from randomly drawn reservation requests. No need to wait on the phone, and no more stress if you don’t get through to us!
We will contact people via email starting February 4th, and by February 6th, to offer you an available hook-up site OR to notify you of your placement on the waiting list. The Strawberry Office email is info@strawberrymusic.com. (Pro Tip: Check your spam if you don’t see anything from us in your inbox!)
As a reminder, ALL Camping tickets include dry camping with any size or type of tent or vehicle (RV, trailer, car, etc). You must have already purchased or plan to purchase at least ONE 4-Day Camping ticket.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@strawberrymusic.com or (209) 984.8630, M-Th, 10am–3pm.
Thank you!
Deep Thicket Dwellers bring together influences from Alaska to Virginia, weaving Bluegrass, Old-time, Gypsy Jazz, and a hint of John Hartford-inspired creativity into their unique Hillbilly Jazz sound.
Deep Thicket Dwellers is Forrest Allen (fiddle), Tarah Williams (drums), Iggy (guitar), and Scott Brown (upright bass).
This four-piece group takes the stage at the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival on Saturday, May 23rd.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
NOON – 5pm
Mother Lode Fairgrounds
Manzanita Building
220 Southgate Dr. I Sonora, CA 95370
Join us for this free celebration of Charlie Cran presented by Strawberry Music Festival. Donations will be accepted at the event or by mail to P.O. Box 664, Jamestown, CA 95327.
Appetizers & beverages will be served from NOON – 4PM (includes coffee, tea, water, soda, and an open bar with beer, wine, and whiskey).
We’re accepting volunteers for set-up, kitchen, garbage, parking, and tear-down. For more information contact Cecily: marketing@strawberrymusic.com or (209) 984-8630.
What’s more exciting than Friday, you ask? The performers in this round of the Spring 2026 lineup announcements!
Please welcome Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Evie Ladin Band, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Peter Case, and The Real Sarahs to the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival.
Visit our Spring Lineup page to listen and learn more about each performer.
Stay tuned here, through our email list, and on our social media so you won’t miss any announcements. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Tickets can be ordered online 24/7 or by calling us at 209.984.8630 M-Th, 10am-3pm.
Born and raised East of the Los Angeles River, Las Cafeteras are remixing roots music as modern day troubadours. They are a sonic explosion of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats, and powerful rhymes that document stories of a community seeking to ‘build a world where many worlds fit.’
“Their live shows are not just concerts—they are immersive experiences that combine storytelling, humor, dance, and collective healing.” — Pauline Adamek, Arts Beat LA
From Afro-Mexican to Americana, from Soul to Son Jarocho, from Roots to Rock and Hip Hop, Las Cafeteras take folk music to the future.
Please welcome Las Cafeteras to the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival! Don’t miss their Main Stage set on Friday, May 22nd.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
We honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today. His untiring pursuit of equality and justice for all continues to inspire us to work towards a better future where love is the order of the day, not hate.
The Strawberry Office is closed today in honor of the holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 20th at 10:00 am.
Our hearts are heavy upon learning that dear friend and longtime Strawberrian, Steve LaVine, departed this earthly plane yesterday. Steve was an integral part of the Strawberry workforce from the beginning and continued to work in many different capacities over the years.
His claim to fame (one of many) was having been the first person to take the Strawberry stage, as Master of Ceremonies, at our very first festival in 1982. Steve is well known regionally as the long-time MC of the Columbia Fiddle & Bango Contest. He was a local celebrity as a musician, poet-philosopher, reverend, and MC in the Sonora area and beyond. Steve was a word-smith and storyteller, with a vast repertoire of local lore and otherworldly insight.
Steve contributed his gifts to Strawberry as a full and part time employee over many decades , having managed the Strawberry record store in downtown Sonora for many years, coordinating festival supply, and steadfastly serving as a Steve-of-all-trades. He worked many long hours before, after, and often during the festival, setting up, tearing down, and providing support to all areas of production. He responded to his calls on the festival walkie talkie by saying, “How may I help you?” And, help us he did, in so many different ways along this long and winding road, always in a manner that reflected Steve’s unique vision and creative style.
Many of us remember Steve for his music, musings, humble heart, joyful smile, penchant for love and generosity, as well as for the numerous times he came to our aid or helped us out of a jam. We are deeply grateful to have known Steve as a one-of-a-kind, totally uncensored, delightfully quirky, genuine human being, and spinner of yarn and song with a gift for word play and intellectual humor. His absence will leave a huge hole in our community’s heart. Our deepest condolences go out to Steve’s wide circle of family and friends.
We’re still celebrating the New Year, and what better way to keep the celebrations going than Round THREE of the Spring 2026 lineup announcements?!
Please welcome Della Mae, Larry & Joe, Keith Greeninger and Nina Gerber, Sugarcane Jane, and Flatpick Hotel to the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival.
Visit our Spring Lineup page to listen and learn more about each performer.
Stay tuned here, through our email list, and on our social media so you won’t miss any announcements. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Tickets can be ordered online 24/7 or by calling us at 209.984.8630 M-Th, 10am-3pm.
