Bio: Dafni’s music is an eclectic mix of Americana, country, and jazz with a hint of 1940s flair. Pasadena Weekly music critic Bliss noted that her “snappy syncopation and instrumentation owe obvious debts to Billie Holiday and Madeleine Peyroux, [harking] back to bygone eras with her dreamy soprano and sweetly romantic songs.”
Instrumentation: Lead Vocals, (2) Guitars, Drums, Upright Bass
Number of Musicians: 1-4 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Bill Berry performs his original story-songs about the vagaries of life. His performances are peppered with both humor and a knowing wink towards the inescapable pitfalls of sharing a world with six billion other people. Bill plays guitar in a finger-picking folk style with blues and country influences.
Bio: The Bells present their brand of roots music in two different ways. The first is their "Electrified Roots Rock and Roll show." The second is a "Swamp Opera" for which they use Depression-era costumes, add gospel singers and play traditional acoustic instruments.
Instrumentation: For Electrified Roots Rock and Roll Show: 2 electric guitars, lap steel guitar, bass, drums, harmonica and vocals. For Acoustic "Swamp Opera:" acoustic guitar, dobro, acoustic bass, harmonica, squeeze box, washboard, kazoo, spoons, tambourine, triangle, train whistle, shakers and vocals.
Bio: Border Radio "just might start a new trend," says Music Connection, "with their talent, material and personality." With pace, stellar musicianship and Kelly McCune's assured and soaring vocals, the band moves easily from back porch country to prairie swing, leaving audiences humming their tunes.
Instrumentation: Guitar, dobro, fiddle, upright bass, accordion, mandolin and lead and vocals.
Number of musicians: 3-5 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Christopher Hawley is a singer/songwriter with roots in soul music. His music blends multiple guitar styles with thoughtful lyrics and danceable melodies. The music lends itself to improvisation, and the seasoned players in the Christopher Hawley Rollers find new ways to play the compositions at each performance.
Bio: The Folk Collection sings 60s and 70s era folk tunes familiar to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Baby boomers sing with their kids and grandkids at The Folk Collection's entertaining shows.
Instrumentation: 3 guitars, 12-string guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric bass, bongos and vocals. Players double on instruments.
Number of musicians: 4 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Energizing audiences with the most exciting Americana/Cajun/Zydeco music today, Lisa Haley and the Zydekats play Louisiana French, Celtic, Folk, Jazz and Blues. The Grammy-nominated group was voted "Zydeco Band of the Year" in 2009 by the Bay Area Blues Society. Lisa's family music combines multi-faceted Louisiana French, Irish Celtic, Blues and Jazz genres, the power of which convey our shared human emotion - a cultural journey transforming over time.
Bio: 2003 L.A. Weekly People's Choice Award nominee and 2002 winner for Best Country Artists -- "Do two great groups constitute a, you know, scene? Along with Beachwood Sparks, the Hawks have updated Southern California country rock. Their music, driven by the fine steel guitarist Paul Lacques, is sinewy yet poetic - more nihilistic than decadent, with an urban-desert poetry all its own." - Richard Gehr, Village Voice
Instrumentation: Vocals, guitars, steel guitar, fiddle, dobro, bass and mandolin.
Number of musicians: 2-7 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: The Kid and Nic Show is a five piece band that plays “Classic American Music,” a swingin' blend of jazz, blues, swing, old rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Since its formation in 1997, this husband and wife lead group takes their audiences on a trip across the landscape of American music with a comedic flair.
Bio: Steven Radice and Ukulele Swing serve up swing era standards, pop favorites from left field, and whimsical originals. Steven Radice and his string ensemble combine hot jazz with Tin Pan Island Americana in engaging performances.
Bio: Renaissance celebrates street corner style doo wop and classic R&B from the 50s and 60s performed a cappella or with acoustic guitar accompaniment.
Instrumentation: Vocals, Guitar
Number of Musicians: 4 - 5 Additional Equipment: P.A. System
Bio: Rodger brings the Old West alive as a performer of traditional and contemporary cowboy music and a writer of contemporary songs of the American West. Marvin O'Dell, host of KCSN radio show Around the Campfire, says Rodger, "...has an old-time western flavor ...that takes the listener back in time."
Bio: An engaging and catchy blend of folk, roots, and bluegrass with some undertones of jazz ala Django Rheinhart. Stephanie Bettman is an award winning singer/songwriter/fiddler, and is joined by multi-talented multi-instrumentalist and musical "phenom" Luke Halpin on mandolin, guitar, and vocals.
Bio: Triple Chicken Foot is an Old Time trio playing early American fiddle and banjo tunes and songs. Formed in 2005, the group decided to focus on a more traditional trio sound and have found their voice with foot stomping dance tunes, duets and three part harmony acapella ballads.
Bio: The Tumbling Tumbleweeds are an award winning all-acoustic western music group celebrating the West and the American Cowboy. They perform cowboy and folk songs in the tradition of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and “The Sons of the Pioneers” with both classic and original songs written and performed in three-part “cowboy harmony.” Instrumentation: Vocals, Guitar, Stand-Up Bass, Fiddle
Bio: Vaud and the Villains is a high energy musical act that mixes New Orleans blues, revival music, swing, Dixieland, parlour music, gospel and folk. They play well known and original tunes in a style 1930s.
