The West Side Theatre is hosting their third show in the popular Central California Bluegrass Series Friday with performances from the Central Valley Boys and Red Dog Ash.

The Central Valley Boys say they use their music to pay homage to some of the Bluegrass greats, like Vern Williams, Ray Park and the Stanley Brothers. The band says it wouldn’t be one of their typical shows if it didn’t feature some of Williams’ hits like "Bald Knob Arkansas" and "Oh Susannah!" in his traditional style.

The band is led by singer and guitarist Yoseff Tucker, who hails from Caruthers. He was twice named Guitar Player of the Year by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. In 2010, he shared the title of Male Vocalist of the Year.

San Jose native Victor Skidanenko is the youngest member of the band, but brings plenty of talent to his banjo playing and harmonies. He previously performed with Rock Ridge and Jenny Lynn and her Real Gone Daddies.

The band’s vocals are rounded out by baritone John Cogdill, who also supplies the band with the mandolin sounds synonymous with Bluegrass music.  In the past Cogdill played with The Dalton Mountain Gang, Red Level and Groundspeed.

Dave Gooding is the bands bass player and handles all the hosting duties by keeping the audience entertained with stories and humor in between songs. Gooding is originally from Bakersfield and has previously performed with Donner Mountain, Borderline, and Pacific Ocean Bluegrass.

A Bluegrass band isn’t complete without a fiddle player and the Central Valley Boys found theirs in Peter Hicks, who over the years has earned a reputation as one of the finest fiddle players in the region. He has played with Bean Creek, and the Courthouse Ramblers.

Opening up the show will be hosts Red Dog Ash. The band writes many of their own songs, and draws inspiration from the people, landscape and quirks that make the Central Valley unique. They also replicate the sound of traditional Bluegrass by choreographing their playing around a single microphone.

The bluegrass series will feature a new bluegrass artist each month through May.

Tickets for the show are $12 general admission and $15 reserved. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Friday.

For tickets visit www.westsidetheatre.org, info@westsidetheatre.org or call 862-4490.