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.”

From Steve Waller’s perspective, the Oregon Bluegrass Association was fundamentally about communication—responding to what was on the minds of the people who were trying to build a bluegrass community

In Memoriam: Greg Matthews
Lost River Bluegrass Festival (Merrill)

Greg Matthews, a founding organizer of the Lost River Bluegrass Festival, passed away last week. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the many musicians, volunteers, and community members whose lives he touched through music.

The three-day festival, held every September, draws more than 600 visitors from across five states for a weekend of foot-stomping performances, camping, and community. But beyond the music, the Jamboree serves a deeper purpose: supporting the next generation of musicians in Central Oregon.