Music along the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway
For music lovers, Ebbetts Pass offers everything from classical to rock, from national headliners to local bands. The leading venues include Ironstone Vineyards' summer concert series and the annual Bear Valley Music Festival.
But it's hard to beat the relaxed fun of Cedar Center's Concert Series offered every summer in Arnold and the Hill Top Concert Series at Brice Station, both featuring a variety of local bands.
Enjoyable music is found elsewhere along Highway 4, including a summer concert series at Cameo Plaza in Arnold, Music in the Parks featuring concerts all over Calaveras County, and the annual Concert in the Park at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
Bear Valley Music Festival
July 21 - August 6, 2023
The Bear Valley Music Festival is held every summer in a capacious tent in Bear Valley. Begun in 1968 by orchestra conductor John Gosling, the Bear Valley Music Festival has grown to be the premier music event in the central Sierra and has been featured on NBC's Today Show. In 1984 the Sacramento Symphony's Maestro Carter Nice took over as conductor and conducted more than 200 performances. He was followed by Michael Morgan, Music Director and Conductor of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. In 2022 Alexander Mickelthwate was selected as the new music director. He has been the Music Director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.
Music ranges from orchestra, opera, and chamber music to Broadway show tunes. Some programs, such as the Teddy Bear Picnic or Disney Concert, are specially designed for children. Guest artists have included names such as Dave Mason, Olga Kern, Jose Feliciano, Gogi Grant, Roseanne Cash, and Glen Campbell. The festival draws more than 5,000 people over the course of two weeks into their free-span tent.
2023 Bear Valley Music Festival
- July 21 - The English Beat
- July 22 - Steel 'n' Chicago
- July 23 - Deja Vu
- July 26 - Laurence Hobgood Trio
- July 27 - Live & Let Die
- July 28 - The Wild West, classical
- July 29 - Story Tellers, classical
- July 30 - Mountain Matinee, classical
- August 2 - Candlelight Chamber Night, classical
- August 3 - Romantic Bear Valley, classical
- August 4 - Blockbuster Classical
- August 5 - Gala - Get Your Spy On!
- August 6 - Oktoberfest in August
Start times vary, so check the website for times: Bear Valley Music Festival
Hill Top Concert Series - 2023
Brice Station Vineyards
Brice Station is located on Highway 4, four miles east of Murphys. 7:00 PM
June 17 - Poor Man's Whiskey
June 24 - Cantamos
July 1 - David Winter Carpenters
July 8 - Rose's Pawn Shop
July 15 - Patrice Pike Band
July 22 - Jimbo Scott & Yestrdays Biscuits
August 8 - 12 - Shakespeare's Henry IV
August 26 - Grover Anderson & the Lampoliers
Sept 2 - Sam Chase & the Untraditional
Sept. 16 - Water Tower
The Cameo Plaza Presents 2023 Summer Concert Series
Arnold, California
This summer the Cameo Plaza in Arnold brings talented musicians to their scenic mountain community for a free outdoor concert series.
2023 Schedule
- May 27 - Flashback
- June 10 - Jet Set
- June 17 - Hijinx
- July 1 - Fabulous Off Brothers
- July 15 - Leilani & the Distractions
- July 29 - Blow Backs
- August 12 - Snarky Cats
- August 26 - Cool Beans
- September 2 - Capybara Coalition
- September 16 - Stray Dogs
Sponsored by Cameo Plaza
Music in the Parks - 2023 TBA
Calaveras County Arts Council presents Music in the Parks. All concerts are from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. A family-friendly venue with no tickets needed.
See Calaveras County Arts Council for a complete listing of concerts.
- June 15 - Those Windburn Brothers, Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial Park, Valley Springs
- June 22 - Cantamos, Brice Station, Murphys
- June 29 - Black Irish Band, Utica Park, Angels Camp
- July 6 - Grover Anderson and the Lampoliers, Sutter Tree Park, Mokelumne Hill
- July 13 - The Burn Permit, Mountain Ranch Community Park
- July 20 - Calaveras Community Band, San Andreas Town Hall
- July 27 - Frozen Radicals, West Point Community Garden
- August 3 - Sky King, Murphys Community Park
- August 10 - Kool Shifters, The Square at Copper Valley, Copperopolis
- August 17 - The Blow Backs, Rail Road Flat Community Park
Concert in the Park
Calaveras Big Trees Sate Park - 2023
Dogwood Festival
May 13, 2023
Carriage ride, music, light lunch, wine tasting, and more. A fund raiser for Calaveras Big Trees Association.
11:00 AM
Tickets: Adults $60, Children under 13 $30
Dogwood Festival
Ironstone Vineyards Concert Series
2023
The Ironstone Vineyards present an annual concert series of headline performers at their amphitheater at the winery complex one mile south of Murphys off Six Mile Road. More expensive packages are available. Low beach chairs and blankets are allowed into the General Admission section.
2022 Concert Series
July 13, 2023 - Slightly Stoopid with Pepper, Common Kings, and Fortunate Youth
July 22, 2023 Hank Williams Jr.
August 5, 2023 - Midland & Chris Isaak
September 16, 2023 - Rick Springfield, The Hooters, John Waite, and Tommy Tutone
Ironstone Vineyards Concert Series