Three days, seven venues, world‑class performers and a whole town ready to welcome music lovers for the 2026 Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival
Sutter Creek doesn’t just host a festival — it transforms. For one long summer weekend, August 7–9, the Gold Rush town becomes a living soundtrack of syncopation, stride, boogie‑woogie and early jazz. After 27 years, the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival has become a signature experience in the Mother Lode: intimate, unhurried and steeped in the charm of a place where time seems to loosen its grip.
This is ragtime without velvet ropes. Performers stroll Main Street, chat with fans, and settle in for after‑hours jams that spill out of hotel lobbies and into the warm night air. The festival’s small‑town setting is part of its magic — antique shops, tasting rooms and cafés line the walkable downtown, giving visitors plenty of places to wander between sets. Friendly merchants, relaxed pacing and the hum of piano music drifting from open doors make the weekend feel like a step back into a gentler era.
This year’s roster brings together some of the most respected names in ragtime and early jazz — along with a slate of additional performers who round out a remarkably rich musical weekend.
Richard Dowling, hailed by The New York Times as “an especially impressive fine pianist,” brings his unmatched command of Scott Joplin’s repertoire — the same mastery that led him to perform Joplin’s complete works from memory at Carnegie Hall. His performances are known for their clarity, warmth and emotional depth.
Frederick Hodges, one of the world’s premier concert pianists, returns with his signature blend of classical polish, stride brilliance and silent‑film accompaniment flair. His stage presence and technical command make him a perennial festival favorite.
Paul Orsi adds high‑energy sparkle shaped by decades of performing everywhere from Disneyland’s Coke Corner to ragtime festivals across the country. A three‑time World Championship Old‑Time Piano Playing Contest winner, Orsi blends formal training with the lived wisdom of ragtime legends.
Carl Sonny Leyland brings the blues‑rich, boogie‑woogie side of the tradition — spontaneous, soulful and steeped in early American roots music. His performances are unpredictable in the best way, full of surprises and rhythmic fire.
Jeff Barnhart — pianist, vocalist, arranger and bandleader — adds his internationally acclaimed versatility. Whether performing solo or with his duo Ivory & Gold®, Barnhart delivers classic jazz and ragtime with warmth, humor and impeccable musicianship.
Adding local color is the Amador Clarinet Quartet — Sophia Rechel, Kate Storm, Claire Lillie and Lori McIntyre — whose bright, woodwind‑rich arrangements bring ragtime classics to life in a fresh way. Their roots in Amador County’s music community make them a natural fit for the festival’s hometown spirit.
And this is only part of the lineup — the festival features many more performers, each bringing their own style, history and musical spark.
The festival opens Friday at 4 p.m. and continues through Sunday’s finale concert, with music flowing through seven venues along Main Street. Two special concerts anchor the weekend, and the beloved silent‑movie program returns to the Hotel Sutter with live piano accompaniment.
Late‑night jam sessions, open piano times and impromptu gatherings keep the music going long after the official schedule winds down.
Festival badges, T‑shirts, CDs and information will be available at the table in front of the Auditorium/City Hall. Once you’re set, the town is yours — wine tasting, antique browsing, boutique shopping and plenty of chances to follow the sound of a piano to your next stop.
Full details on venues, lodging and pricing are available at HistoricSutterCreekRagtimeFestival.com. For questions, organizers can be reached at historicsuttercreekragtime@gmail.com or (209) 304‑0835.
