The host organization, California Bluegrass Association -- in cooperation with BMSCC -- has initiated a program to provide free festival admission (with camping) to Central Coast-area families with children (under 18) who come to the Father's Day Festival for the first time. At last check, five more complimentary sets of tickets are available. This unprecedented offer extends to CBA and BMSCC members and non-members alike.

CBA's 33rd annual Father's Day Festival will run from Thursday, June 11 thru Sunday, June 15, 2008. For festival details, see www.fathersdayfestival.com , or call the below number. If your family has never attended and would like to do so this year, don't hesitate, lest you miss out....send an e-mail to bluegrassmscc@aol.com, or call (805) 349-8397.

Aside from that fabulous offer, note two corrections in the last e-mailer's list of upcoming events. Both concern gigs at Monteleone's Rock, newly opened bluegrass-friendly venue at 1331-A Vendels Circle, behind the Firestone Brewery, in Paso Robles:

Next Saturday, 5/31/08, last year's Parkfield Festival earth-shakers, the Whiskey Chimp septet, will again strut their unique musical talents. Rumor has it that their animated antics will include on-the-spot charbroil grilled-cheese sandwiches for their fans. Show starts at 8:30 PM, cover charge is $4 (not a misprint, it's just four dollars!)-- for more details call (805) 238-0109.

On Wednesday, 7/16/08, renown fiddler Megan Lynch and banjoist Bill Evans will pair up to showcase their exquisite bluegrass talents. Show starts at 8:30 PM, cover charge is $10 --truly a bargain! For more info, call (805) 238-0109.

• This time last year we told you so. And many of you listened....and decided to not miss last week's Parkfield fest. If you ventured out to the 10th annual Mother's Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival at Parkfield, we're betting that you're glad you did so. And that you'll be back next year.

Any comments or suggestions you have about Parkfield will be most welcome. All subjects are fair game. Tell us what you thought of the entertainment, facilities, vendors, stage & sound, ticket prices & processing, campsites, or even the weather. We'll listen, and do what we can to make next year's festival better.

On that point, we've already arranged for Special Consensus to perform next year. This extraordinary Illinois-based band wowed Parkfield audiences in 2007, and has become ever more popular since then. Don't delay in letting us know your preferences to round out the 2009 line-up -- in just a couple months our talent selection committee will begin choosing next year's performers.

Got those post-Parkfield blues? Don't despair, see the below listings of fast-approaching happenings to keep you in tall bluegrass for months to come. Right up front, we'd better issue a Bela Fleck alert, lest banjo fans overlook his 6/29/08 gig.

• For a summary of upcoming bluegrass events click on Central Coast Bluegrass Music Calendar, below.