The Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention has roots that go back to 1968, but the modern edition of the event has been running annually each September in the East Bay university town since 2004. The event's mix of concerts with national artists, square dances, band contest, panel discussion and more makes it an important event for old-timey, string band music, as distinct from related music styles such as bluegrass..

The 2008 convention, running September 11-14 at venues around Berkeley, features 88-year-old fiddle master Benton Flippen, ballad singer and storyteller Sheila Kay Adams, Uncle Earl fiddle star Rayna Gellert, local old-timey favorites The Stairwell Sisters, a duo comprised of members from Foghorn String Band, multi-instrumentalist Evo Bluestein and more. Concerts run Thursday and Friday evening at Berkeley folk hangout Freight & Salvage.

The Saturday night square dance at Berkeley nightclub Askenaz features three callers and three great bands. Come early for a clogging lesson from Stairwell Sister Evie Ladin. Another square dance kicks off the proceedings Wednesday night at The Makeout Room in San Francisco.

Free events include instrumental workshops, old-time cabaret, panel discussion and family events. For complete informaton, visit the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention website.