California Bluegrass Reunion: “Coyote Trail”

Peghead Nation instructors play one of John Reischman's original tunes at the 2026 Father's Day Festival in Grass Valley, California.

By: Dan Gabel

September 3, 2026

The California Bluegrass Reunion band is talent-packed with Peghead Nation instructors, including Bill Evans, Chad Manning, Sharon Gilchrist, Mike Witcher, John Reischman, and Jim Nunally (seen on many of Chad’s Western Swing Fiddle lessons playing rhythm guitar). This year, they played the California Bluegrass Association’s annual Father’s Day Festival in Grass Valley, CA, and they’re coming back to the state for their annual tour in November, one of the highlights of the fall music season. In this video from the Father’s Day Festival, the band plays John Reischman’s tune “Coyote Trail,” joined by fiddler Brandon Goodman, who has toured with the band in the past. John recorded this beautiful E-minor piece on his New Time and Old Acoustic album, and he teaches it in his Melodic Mandolin Tunes course on Peghead Nation.

See our Featured Videos section for more performances from the California Bluegrass Reunion over the years!

Learn mandolin with Sharon on Peghead Nation in her courses Beginning Mandolin, Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin, Bluegrass Mandolin Fingerboard Method, Melodic Embellishment, and Creative Mandolin Backup

Learn mandolin with John Reischman in his courses Old-Time Mandolin and Melodic Mandolin Tunes

Learn fiddle with Chad Manning in his Beginning Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddle, Intermediate Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddle, Advanced Bluegrass Fiddle, Western Swing Fiddle, and Theory for Mandolin and Fiddle courses.

Learn banjo with Bill Evans in his Beginning Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Earl Scruggs: A Player’s Guide, Melodic and Single String Banjo, and The Banjo Style of J.D. Crowe courses on Peghead Nation.

Learn dobro with Mike Witcher in his courses Beginning Dobro and Dobro Workshop.