California Bluegrass Reunion: “King of California”

Peghead Nation instructors play a Dave Alvin song at the Freight in Berkeley, California.

By: Dan Gabel

December 18, 2025

The California Bluegrass Reunion band is 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), and their annual tour of California is one of the highlights of the fall music season. This year, their musical theme was songwriters who have roots in California, either because they lived here or are/were in bands that are important to the rich fabric of music in the state, including Kate Wolf, Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, David Grisman, and others.

In this video, the band plays the Dave Alvin song “King of California” in Berkeley, California, at The Freight. It’s a fun take on the song, which plays out a scene of optimism and heartbreak during the California gold rush. Catch the California Bluegrass Reunion band if you can!

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.