California Bluegrass Reunion

About this event

California Bluegrass Reunion (Bill Evans, Jim Nunally, Sharon Gilchrist, Chad

Manning, Mike Witcher & Max Schwartz) 2026 tour bio.

The California Bluegrass Reunion is an annual celebration of California’s rich

bluegrass tradition, featuring an extraordinary lineup of musicians with deep California

roots who have all made significant contributions to the genre. This year’s concert

brings together some of the finest talents in bluegrass, including Bill Evans (banjo), Jim

Nunally (guitar), Chad Manning (fiddle), Sharon Gilchrist (bass), Mike Witcher

(dobro), Nell Robinson (vocals) and Max Schwartz (bass). These musicians have

performed together in various combinations for decades and for this year’s tour, the

Reunion returns to a focus on their own original compositions along with paying tribute

to California songwriters and tunesmiths.

Bill Evans has been involved with bluegrass music and the world of the banjo as a

player, teacher, composer, writer and historian for over forty-five years. He is a recipient

of the coveted Steve Martin Banjo Prize, is a member of the American Banjo Museum’s

Hall of Fame and the author of “Banjo for Dummies.” He occupies a unique niche in the

banjo world: celebrated worldwide for his traditional as well as progressive bluegrass

banjo styles as well as his innovative original compositions, he also enjoys a reputation

as an outstanding instructor. In over twenty-seven years as a California-based

performer, he has performed with David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Alan Munde, Jody

Stecher, Eric & Suzy Thompson, David Bromberg, Tony Trischka, and Kathy Kallick

among many others. He hosts six instructional courses for Peghead Nation. For more,

visit billevansbanjo.com.

San Francisco Bay Area native Jim Nunally is a musician, composer, record producer

and teacher – all in addition to being one of the finest guitar players in the world. His

third-generation traditional music roots began in Arkansas with this guitar-playing

grandfather who taught Jim’s father who in turn taught Jim. This pedigree contributes to

his unmistakably traditional sound. For the last several years, Jim has co-led the Nell &

Jim Band with Nell Robinson, performing a unique mix of original Americana sounds

based around their outstanding duet singing and Jim’s arranging. Jim has performed

with the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, and

Keith Little as well as leading the path-breaking California band Due West. For more

info, visit jimnunally.com.

Chad Manning is a San Francisco Bay Are fiddler who has played with the David

Grisman Quintet & Bluegrass Experience and Laurie Lewis. Over the years, he has

shared the stage with J. D. Crowe, Curly Seckler, Alan Munde, and Tony Trischka,

contributing his fiddle work to a wide variety of projects. Together with his wife

Catherine, Chad runs Manning Music in Berkeley, California. The school serves over

250 students. Chad also teaches online courses from Peghead Nation. Chad’s current

band, Charlie Torch, brings his family into his music. With his son Jasper on mandolin,

daughter Jayna on guitar and vocals, and long-time friends Tyler Stegall and Mark

Schatz, the group creates music that reflects their shared history and love for bluegrass

and country traditions. For more info, visit chadmanning.com.

Sharon Gilchrist has long made her home in the American acoustic music scene. You

may have seen her playing mandolin or upright bass, singing a traditional ballad, or

performing an original piece on a concert or festival stage anywhere in North America.

She has performed with the Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Quartet, Scott Nygaard and

John Reischman, Darol Anger, Laurie Lewis, Scott Law and others. She earned a

degree in Mandolin Performance from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and

has taught mandolin for 15 years both privately and online at Peghead Nation and at

some of the nation's finest music camps. Sharon currently resides in Nashville, TN after

living for almost a decade in California. Learn more at sharongilchristmusic.com.

Resonator guitarist Mike Witcher has toured and recorded with the likes of Dolly

Parton, Dwight Yoakam, Peter Rowan, Bette Midler, The Gibson Brothers, Sara

Watkins, and Laurie Lewis. Known for his gorgeous tone and tasteful playing, Mike is

also one of the most sought-after educators in the world of slide guitar. Learn more at

https://www.mikewitcher.com .

Vocalist Nell Robinson has been described as a “modern day Patsy Cline” and “one of the

freshest voices in roots music.” Her side-projects, from the poignancy of Soldier Stories to the

whimsy of The Henriettas, further attest to the breadth and ambition of the youthful musical

passions she reclaimed mid-life. Robinson’s release “The Rose of No-Man’s Land” became a

PBS Special with its own episode in the Music Gone Public series. The album, produced by

Joe Henry, featured Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Kris Kristofferson, John Doe and Maxine Hong

Kingston. “ Nell was featured on A Prairie Home Companion and has performed in major

festivals with Jim Nunally and friends, bringing her original music and fresh take on

traditional music.

Bassist Max Schwartz is still in his twenties but he is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist

and educator now based in Alhambra, California. Equally at home in the bluegrass and

jazz worlds, he performs on banjo, bass, and guitar, and has toured across the U. S.

supporting acclaimed bluegrass artists including Laurie Lewis and John Reischman. In

the jazz sphere, he has shared the stage with Melissa Aldana, Terri Lyne Carrington,

Ravi Coltrane, Dave Koz, Hubert Laws and the GRAMMY Jazz Combo. Learn more at

https://www.maxschwartzmusic.com .

California Bluegrass Reunion Video Links