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WATER TOWER
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
You can almost feel the sizzle in the air already! On Thursday, April 9th, Water Tower will grace the Otter Opry stage, and this band is literally the talk of the town. At its core, Water Tower is a triumph of unlikely alchemy—three virtuosos from wildly different worlds, colliding to create a sound that defies genre.
Kenny Feinstein, the punk-bluegrass outlaw, wields banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar like weapons, splicing Old Time grit with punk rock fury. Tommy Drinkard—audio engineer, rock frontman, and banjo prodigy—went from student to champion in a year, taking 1st place at the Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Contest before merging his reggae-rock swagger into Water Tower’s DNA. Jesse Blue Eads, the 23-year-old jazz phenom, was a Berklee-awarded bassist hiding a banjo-shredding secret.
But no sonic rebellion is complete without its rhythmic foundation. Taylor Estes (The Bass Lord) is a low-end warlock whose basslines don’t just hold down the groove, they command it. And John Seltzer is the band’s human metronome, a mandolin player whose precision and adaptability flow as naturally as his seltzer-water namesake from breakneck bluegrass to psychedelic jam explosions.
Bound by a love for bluegrass, Old Time, and jam-grass, yet electrified by their divergent influences, Water Tower is a sonic rebellion. This isn’t just a band, it’s a movement! Come see for yourself, and let the sizzle wrap its arms around you. A taco bar dinner before the show ($15 in advance, $20 after April 4th) will add to the magic of the evening. See you there!
7pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; Children under 15 free)
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the performance.
SHELBY MEANS
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Somebody extra special will be taking center stage at Otter Opry on Tuesday, May 12th – none other than Shelby Means herself! Born in Kentucky and raised on Wyoming’s high plains, Means is one of the foremost bassists in bluegrass, with nearly two decades of experience in bluegrass, folk, rock, Americana and country outfits. Together with Joel Timmons on guitar, Jacob Means on mandolin, and George Guthrie on banjo, she’ll be making some mighty fine music right here in Monterey.
Means grew up playing bluegrass with her family, moved to Nashville after college, and has made a life and a living off her singular, self-possessed approach to the upright bass. During her dozen years in Nashville, she performed most notably as a member of the GRAMMY®-nominated all-women bluegrass band Della Mae. She later joined Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway on bass and vocals, earning her first GRAMMY® win for their 2023 album, City of Gold.
Shelby Means is a driving player with a singular stage presence and a magnetic, centered approach to the upright bass. Beyond her work on the instrument, she’s also an accomplished songwriter and a heartfelt vocalist whose voice is rooted in tradition while authentically her own. With her debut solo music, Means invites listeners to experience the same soulful presence and adventurous spirit she has built her career on.
This is a bluegrass experience you won’t want to miss, and you can make it even more special with a ranch chicken dinner before the show ($15 in advance, $20 after May 9th). Online sales will end at 11am the day of the performance.
7pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; Children under 15 free)
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the performance.
CRYING UNCLE
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Legendary mandolinist David Grisman really likes the Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band: “Go and check out Crying Uncle! We dig what they are doing! The future of music is in good hands here!” Widely recognized as one of the most exciting young bands in acoustic music, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band plays a unique mix of bluegrass, Dawg (David Grisman music), jazz, and modern originals. Come check these ground-breaking musicians out on Friday, June 26th, when they bring their amazing talent to the Otter Opry stage at Monterey United Methodist Church!
Brothers Miles (fiddle) and Teo (mandolin) Quale are joined by bassist Andrew Osborn and 2023 National Flat Pick Guitar Champion Ian Ly, all outstanding musicians of the vibrant California bluegrass scene. Beginning in 2016 as a Duo, Miles and Teo formed the bluegrass band in 2017 – and since then, they have continued to make waves in the world of bluegrass and acoustic music. In 2024, the band celebrated its debut at the Grand Ole Opry; and in 2023, it received the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Momentum Band of the Year award. Crying Uncle was also honored to perform for the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame’s induction of its hero, David Grisman.
Patrice O’Neill, Executive Director of the annual Wintergrass Festival in Washington, is impressed with the band on multiple levels: “Sure, they can rip off a blazing solo,” he says. “But they can also explore the depths of melodic and harmonic sophistication with grace and oh, so much intelligence.” Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band is guaranteed to get your toes tapping (or maybe your feet stomping), so don’t miss this show! You can even enjoy dinner before the show ($15 in advance, $20 after June 20th). Online sales will end at 11am the day of the performance.
7pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; Children under 15 free)
Online ticket sales will end at 11am on the day of the performance.
BARKLEY COVE
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Otter Opry *loves* to break new ground in the Monterey bluegrass scene, and here we go again: On Thursday, July 9th at Monterey United Methodist Church, East Coast student band Barkley Cove will be demonstrating in no uncertain terms what “new blood” in our favorite genre is all about.
Barkley Cove is a folk/bluegrass band known for its rich harmonies, with Jillian Dolan (guitar, vocals), Silas Gross (guitar, banjo, vocals), Yusuf Miller (mandolin, bass, vocals), and Robert Myers (bass) creating a sound that blends folk, rock, country, and bluegrass with imaginative songwriting. A quick search on the internet turns up praise and excitement for the group – like, “These youngsters are killing it!”
Robert explains the remarkable group dynamics of the band: “We love playing with each other because we write all our songs collectively and have a strong personal connection to one another, which makes each performance like playing music with friends while also connecting with each other and the audience on a deeply emotional level. Our goal is to take the listener on a journey that evokes the indescribable collective relationship that music forms between listeners.
Barkley Cove has never set foot in California, and some of them have never even been to the American West. They are excited to visit and learn more about the people and culture of the area, while also forming a connection with a part of the country that is known for innovative music and stunning nature. Let’s welcome them with open arms and see if we can “grass them up” a little bit more when they come to see us. And, how about some dinner before the show? Dinner at 5pm ($15 before July 4th, $20 after that).
7pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; Children under 15 free)
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the performance.
CHARLIE TORCH
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
You honestly will not believe this lineup: Charlie Torch brings together siblings Jasper Manning on mandolin and Jayna Manning on guitar, with their father, Chad Manning (an alum of Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands, the David Grisman Sextet, and the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience) on fiddle, Tyler Stegall on banjo, Mike Witcher on dobro, and 2-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Mark Schatz on (yep) bass. That’s a mighty long sentence, but the point is you don’t want to miss Charlie and his band when they hit the Otter Opry stage on Saturday, August 29th. Period.
Charlie Torch represents a compelling blend of musical heritage and fresh talent in the bluegrass tradition. The band unites two generations of musicians, creating a sound that honors traditional roots while carving its own distinctive path through bluegrass, country, and mountain music. Check out this writeup from one of their earliest performances: “Charlie Torch walks the line between angelic harmonies and gutbucket truth, playing at the crossroads where even angels sing the blues. The band draws its listeners in close, engaging with the old music straight from the heart.”
Charlie Torch’s music draws deeply from traditional roots, offering a grounded sound shaped by decades of collective experience but unpretentious in delivery. The band blends elements of bluegrass, country, and mountain music into an honest, well-crafted expression that respects the past while quietly forging its own path forward. And you don’t even have to drive at night to catch this incredible performance. See you there!
3pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; Children under 15 free)
Online ticket sales will end at 9am on the day of the performance.
NEWBERRY & VERCH
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Growing up, Joe Newberry and April Verch absorbed traditions of home and hearth – in his Missouri Ozarks and her Ottawa Valley of Canada. Although they are on the road much of the year, the two musicians are fond of saying that they are rarely homesick, because their music means they always have a bit of home with them wherever they go. And they’re bringing that taste of home to Monterey on Friday, October 30th, when they will grace the Otter Opry stage at Monterey United Methodist Church.
Joe Newberry comes from a family of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a boy and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. April Verch grew up listening to her dad’s country band play for dances in the Ottawa Valley. She started step dancing at age three and fiddling at age six. In a Newberry & Verch show, delighted audiences see first-hand the roots of their music, their love of performing, and their strong musical connection. Original songs join timeless classics. Stories warm the heart, and give audiences a chance to understand where the music comes from. Lively fiddle and banjo numbers combine with traditional dance steps to illustrate happy times when people made their own fun.
Whether it is the power of two voices lifted in harmony, or the sound of traditional tunes calling people to get up and move, these two masters of tradition put on an unforgettable show. And, when their feet kick up the dust in perfect rhythm and those two voices become one, Joe Newberry and April Verch make folks remember why this music existed in the first place. This will be one for the history books, so get your tickets early. And gosh, why not make the occasion even more special with dinner ($15 in advance, $20 after October 24th) before the show? Online ticket sales will end at 11am the day of the performance.
7pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; Children under 15 free)
Online ticket sales will end at 11am on the day of the performance.
SHOWMAN & COOLE WITH OTTER OPRY
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Do you like – or actually *love* – fiddle and clawhammer banjo? Well, Otter Opry has just the show for you, as Showman & Coole brings their special brand of down-home music to Monterey on Friday, February 12th.
Through twenty years and a couple of thousand shows together in bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys and The Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Showman and Chris Coole have developed a deep and instinctual musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space that is somewhere on the outskirts of old-time, bluegrass, and folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely.
Showman & Coole have performed across North America and Europe at festivals such as Merlefest, Rockygrass, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mariposa, Wintergrass, Gooikroots, and The John Hartford Memorial Festival. In 2022, the duo released two albums; “Afield” a collection of old-time fiddle tunes, and “Much Further Out than Inevitable – A Tribute to Some Music of John Hartford.” Join us for dinner before the show to make the evening even more special ($15 in advance, $20 after February 6th).
3pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; Children under 15 free)
Online ticket sales will end at 11am on the day of the performance.
Otter Opry at Monterey United Methodist Church
1 Soledad Drive, Monterey, California 93940, United States