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Doors 6:30pmOpen Stage Jam: 7–8pm
House Band: 8–9pm
Open Stage Jam: 9–11pm
Join us for the Fourth Installment/Christmas Edition of the Berkeley Bluegrass Barn Jam at Ashkenaz on December 30th, hosted by Spencer Krenz!
This week we are joined by Water Tower!
Water Tower is a Los Angeles-based bluegrass, old-time, and punk rock band that was founded in 2005 by multi-instrumentalist & vocalist Kenny Feinstein. Formerly known as The Water Tower Bucket Boys, the name was changed to Water Tower in 2012.
While their lineup has evolved over time, Water Tower has maintained an ongoing reputation as a force to be reckoned with, with a viral social media presence & a growing horde of loyal fans known as "The Owls." Water Tower is fueled by their masterful song-crafting, a fiercely DIY approach, and a genre-bending sonic identity that fuses bluegrass/old-time revivalism with a distinctly punk rock edge. Their influences range from Bill Monroe & Foghorn Stringband to bands like Rancid & Black Flag.
The band's current lineup consists of Kenny Feinstein (lead vocals, guitar, fiddle), Tommy Drinkard (vocals, banjo, guitar), Jesse Blue Eads (vocals, banjo), Taylor Estes (vocals, bass), and John Seltzer (backing vocals, mandolin).
Their debut album as Water Tower, 'Fly Around' was released in 2020. It was co-produced by Don Bolles (The Germs, 45 Grave) & Ariel Pink and features guests including Willie Watson (Old Crow Medicine Show) & Ron Reyes (Black Flag). The band has released several singles ("Take Me Back", "Lose Everything") & bootleg albums ('For the Owls,' 'Live From Los Angeles') since then, with a second studio album due to come out next year.
In 2025 Water Tower performed at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Vans Warped Tour (DC & Long Beach). Most recently they finished a tour supporting & backing up Nick Hexum (311).
Whether they’re lighting up a festival stage, busking on a street corner, or bringing the house down at a private event, Water Tower delivers a performance that’s equal parts raw energy, technical brilliance, and unbridled passion. Their music is a call to arms for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, a celebration of the wild, untamed spirit that lives in all of us.
So, if you’re ready to experience a band that’s rewriting the rules of bluegrass and punk, look no further than Water Tower.
We also encourage informal jamming throughout the venue — in the green room, outside, and in every nook and cranny from about 7–11pm.
Tickets:
This is a FREE, community-oriented event, with no registration required. To help support this event, we’ll have a suggested donation jar and Venmo at the door: $10–30 sliding scale, or whatever you’re able to give. There will also be a separate tip jar for the musicians.
Ashkenaz is all ages, all the time. Kids and minors are always welcome. Those 12 or under are admitted FREE (unless otherwise noted).
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA, United States, California 94702
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