DRAFT - THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS
Berkeley Old Time Music
SPRING SITUATION
Celebrating Women's History Month
Featuring Stairwell Sisters Reunion
Saturday March 7, 2026
1pm to 5 pm:
Old time Open House - FREE
Berkeley Public Library (Central)
2090 Kittridge St. Berkeley
ADDITIONAL OLDTIME MUSIC THIS WEEKEND
Schedule subject to change (Revised February 7, 2026)
(Mystery Room 2nd Floor)
1:00pm-1:30pm
Sophia Sparks & Jayna Manning Bluegrass
1:45pm-2:15pm
Suzy Thompson - Women in the Blues
2:30pm-3:00pm
Leah Wollenberg & Jeremy Reinhard
3:15pm-3:45pm
Zele - Balkan
4:00pm-5:00pm
Stairwell Sisters Reunion
1:00pm TBA
2:00pm Old Time Jam - Corn Likkers
2:00pm Teen Jam - first floor teen room
3:00pm Irish Session - Leah Wollenberg
1:00pm Duo Pizzicato and friends
Resistance & Rhythm: Songs of Women's Struggle
2:00pm Fiddle workshop - Karen Celia Heil
3:00pm Song Circle - Katelyn Kimmons
4:00pm Banjo workshop Christine Willhoyte -
CONCERTS IN THE MYSTERY ROOM (2nd Floor):
1:00 pm Sophia Sparks and Jayna Manning
Sophia Sparks (mandolin) and Jayna Manning (guitar) are bluegrass musicians from Richmond, California. Collectively they’ve played in different separate bands such as Sweet Sally and Charlie Torch, and are both heavily involved and present in the younger California bluegrass scene. They are passionate musicians who love playing together whenever they get a chance, blending instrumentals, harmonies, and more.
1:45 pm Suzy Thompson - Women in the Blues
Suzy Thompson has been a mainstay of the Bay Area’s roots music scene for over 50 years, as a founding member of many bands (Any Old Time, California Cajun Orchestra, Todalo Shakers, Thompsonia, etc), in duos with resonator guitar goddess Del Rey and husband Eric Thompson, and as a side musician with Maria Muldaur, jug band master Jim Kweskin, many Cajun musicians including Michael Doucet, Jimmy Breaux and Cedric Watson. Her 2025 solo release, “Suzy Sings Siebel” reached #3 on the national Folk Radio chart.
“Women in the Blues” is a tribute to the legendary blueswomen who have inspired Suzy, such as Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie, Ma Rainey, Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas.
2:30 pm Leah Wollenberg & Jeremy Reinhard
BOTMC 2025 Stringband Contest winners Leah Wollenberg (fiddle, vocals) and Jeremy Reinhard (banjo, guitar, vocals) return to the BOTMC. Drawing from their backgrounds in bluegrass, traditional Irish music, and a shared love of old time, Leah and Jeremy create a string band sound that weaves together these musical threads while maintaining respect for their distinct natures. Join them after their set for a trad Irish session!
3:15 pm Zele (Kitka's Women's Community Chorus)
ZELE, Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble’s East Bay community chorus, is now in its 22nd season. This vibrant women’s choir sings folk tunes and choral pieces from Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus regions. The music is steeped in the richness and diversity of women’s ancient a cappella singing traditions bursting with odd rhythms and dissonant harmonies. Its vocalists revel in the joy and transformative powers of group singing and community song sharing.
https://www.kitka.org/zele-community-chorus
4:00pm The Stairwell Sisters Reunion!
13 years together, 13 apart! Yes, originally formed in the resonance of a stairwell, the Sisters were a formidable “all-gal old-time teardown” from 2000-2013, in San Francisco and well beyond. From appearing on A Prairie Home Companion in the sold out San Francisco Opera House, to two tours of Scotland, including Celtic Connections Festival, to Lincoln Center in NYC, Solstice in Nome, Alaska, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, these “stand up for yourself and face the world kind of women” recorded three albums and many miles. Evie Ladin, Lisa Berman, Stephanie Prausnitz. Martha Hawthorne, and Susy Pomon are career women, artists, activists and mamas. Since amicably disbanding in 2013, the gals feel proud of what they did and how far their music took them. Evie went on to continue performing, teaching and touring music and dance, recording many albums of original and traditional music, and creating in the International Body Music scene. Lisa got married, is raising her teen, doing photography & design, playing with the Crooked Jades, and supporting peace & equality in this crazy, beautiful world. Susy has been riding her bike on the coastal trail with her beloved, cooking farm box freestyle dinners for her family and friends, caring for elders, and designing science and art experiences for Bay Area and beyond. Martha is keeping her sanity in a crazy world by protesting in the streets, wearing a keffiyeh and learning to play the fiddle. Stephanie continues to pursue truth and beauty every day. They’re all excited to revisit their repertoire.
from left to right -
SUSY POMON: guitar, tiple, harmonica
STEPHANIE PRAUSNITZ : fiddle, cello
EVIE LADIN : banjo, clogging
LISA BERMAN : dobro, slide, banjo, guitar
MARTHA HAWTHORNE : bass, guitar
All of the Sisters sing.
https://www.stairwellsisters.com
First Floor Common Area
1pm-2pm - TBA
2pm-3pm - Old Time Jam
led by the Corn Likkers
3pm-4pm - Irish session
led by Leah Wollenberg
First Floor Teen Room
2pm-3pm - Teen Jam
led by Clio, Helen & Mira
Fifth Floor (Music & Arts Department)
1pm-2pm - Duo Pizzicato and friends - Resistance & Rhythm: Songs of Women's Struggle
Duo Pizzicato and friends will lead songs in Yiddish, Italian, and Spanish. The Loud Ladies will preview a simple line dance to “All You Fascists Bound to Lose.” We are Monica Berini on tamborella (Aswat orchestra), Irene Herrmann on mandolin (classical and old time fiddle, cello), Martha Hawthorne on guitar (Stairwell Sisters, Knuckle Knockers), and Kathe Burick (dance and yoga instructor). All genders encouraged to participate!
2pm-3pm - Karen Celia Heil - Fiddle workshop: Women Fiddlers
We will do a quick roundup of notable women fiddlers of the past and listen to a couple of recordings. Then we will get into a tune or two as played by Emma Lee Dickerson.
3pm-4pm - Katelyn Kimmons (of Undone in Sorrow) - Singing Circle
Story Songs & the Stories Behind Them - An opportunity to sing your favorite story songs and tell us about their meaning to you.
4pm-5pm - Christine Wilhoyte - Banjo workshop
3 finger banjo troubleshoot: Are you a 3 finger or bluegrass banjo player longing to enjoy the deep grooves and bubbling joy of an old time jam, but you don’t know where to start? Are you unsure how to play the melody and keep the groove? Do you jam already but have trouble finding your place, or not sure what to play? Are you a clawhammer player who is 3-finger-curious? Do you just want to have a nerdy discussion about music? In this workshop, we’ll talk about simple ways that bluegrass players might adapt their playing to fit better into an old-time context. Come with questions, tunes, or any other concern holding you back!
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Bruce Molsky is in town the same weekend! He is performing at the Hillside Club 2286 Cedar Street Berkeley on Friday March 6. More info and tickets here.
