On October 9^th, we lost one of the good ones. Dave Poarch—friend, bandmate, fellow jammer, fine musician, kind human—passed away from cancer. His passing left a large hole. We knew it was coming. He had received the bad news that the cancer was back almost a year ago now; but somehow, we were all in a bit of denial…

At the Fall Board meeting on October 8, 2026 the OBA board reviewed a draft strategic plan for 2027, and before we finalize it, we want to hear from you!

In addition to bringing free music performances to rural Oregon, the 2026 Artist in Residence Program built relationships, encouraged resident participation, and fostered a renewed sense of energy around music in communities where resources are limited.

Ryan Hanson shares: “One of my favorite memories from the whole residency was our trip to Condon, where we brought over a dozen stringed instruments to give to kids who signed up for our workshop, courtesy of the Shaniko Music Sanctuary.”

We set up our home base in the main hall of the schoolhouse where we could rehearse and record the tunes we’d been waiting to cut. Having the time and space to give them our all was incredible and we are proud of the production we got out of it. The energy of the building as well as the creaks and groans added to the feel of the songs so much and for that we are incredibly grateful. 

When I got the chance to be an artist in residence in the historic town of Shaniko, OR, my mind began to race with ideas of potential projects. I was thrilled for the chance to work on things I’d been dreaming of for a long time. In my day-to-day life, it’s often hard to find time for those “dream” projects. The chance to spend eight days in a tiny town, with lots of space and time to work on those dreams, felt like winning the lottery.

Since the Jamboree began, Shaniko Music Sanctuary has raised over $10,000 for local music programs, bringing several free music performances to local communities and providing new instruments to music classes. The festival also helps expand access to instruments outside the classroom.

I first met Steve Waller in 1964 where we were both attending Oregon State University.  My first day on campus I heard him down the hall in my dormitory playing the guitar and introduced myself.  He was fingerpicking a four string Martin tenor guitar that he had tuned in fifths instead of the standard tuning for that instrument. -Mike Eisler

At festivals, jams, and campgrounds across Oregon, it's easy to focus on the musicians on stage. But some of the most important moments in bluegrass happen away from the spotlight—when an experienced player takes time to encourage a young musician, invites them into a jam circle, or spends some time picking together after a show. Ten-year-old Juniper from Myrtle Creek is a perfect example of why these moments matter.

The EOCenes had its origins at Eastern Oregon College, (now Eastern Oregon University) as all were members of the EOC Ambassadors from 1969 to 1971, which was a college-sponsored musical group that performed concerts around the Northwest, primarily at high school assemblies, as part of a recruiting program for the college.

If you are near Cascade Locks on the first Monday of the month, stop into Thunder Island, grab a pint, tune your instrument, and join the circle! “The jams are well-attended, and the quality of the musicians is very high.”

Jessilyn’s goals as a songwriter are to foremost to develop a body of original work that reflects both her roots in traditional acoustic music and her evolving voice as a contemporary artist. Tony’s musical journey has been shaped by detours, community, and a steady pull toward storytelling. Bonnie grew up as one of 8 children, born to unconventional church musicians. Music was a part of her life for as long as she can remember.

After much deliberation, your 2026 Oregon Bluegrass Band Championship Winners are~

The Filthy Skillets (Portland, OR)

Runners Up: Tuesday String Band (Monmouth, OR) & Skillethead (Bend, OR)

Semi-Finalists: Bootleg Jam (McMinnville, OR), Sweet Fern (Portland, OR) and Belltower (Eugene, OR).

Jacob Jolliff, bluegrass mandolin virtuoso from rural Yamhill County, is visiting home on Friday, June 5th to perform at the shiny new LaJoie Theatre nestled in the Chehalem Cultural Center, a beautifully restored 1934 school building turned non-profit center for the arts in the historic town of Newberg, Oregon.

Pam Brown has never met an opportunity to help that she hasn’t embraced.  She is packing her life with ways to reach out: building community, performing essential duties in her small town, promoting music and music education and leading the Oregon Bluegrass Association.

A small high desert town with a population of about 30 is preparing to host a bluegrass festival that organizers say could help reshape how rural communities approach economic revival.

The Oregon Bluegrass Association is proud to announce the launch of its new Rural Oregon Artist in Residence program—an initiative designed to bring live music, education, and creative exchange to rural communities that don’t often find themselves on traditional touring routes…

If bluegrass wasn’t born in a barn, it had to be close by. Five years ago after dilly-dallying for years, I worked up the courage to host a jam at the old home place, in Newberg on the edge of town.

In fall of 2025, the OBA Board engaged in a focused strategic process, defining clear short- and long-term priorities and conducting a candid assessment of our strengths and opportunities for growth.

“I really, deeply love this place [southern Oregon] and the land here and I just feel very connected to it.  You know, the forests and the rivers that have informed some of my songwriting and the music that I love.”