ARTISTS GALLERY

With a voice often compared to Joan Baez, Joan has worked to develop her own style and sound. She was influenced by James Taylor and Joni Mitchell.

With the folk revival now taking place, she has found an audience for her haunting melodies and timely lyrics. Singing at prisons, weddings, and venues in the Los Angeles area, her songs and her voice, have found a home. She was a featured singer/songwriter this year on the TV Show Street Music LA.

http://joanenguita.com

Brad Darrington leads eight of his eleven children in this bluegrass/gospel band. Brad plays standup bass, while the children, ages eight to twenty-one years, add two guitars, banjo, mandolin, three fiddles and a Dobro. They all sing too, of course. Since the band formed in 2001, their emphasisi has been on family values and roots music. Their first CD is nearing release later this year.

themultitude@yahoo.com

From Civil War to war protest. Wagon trains to steam trains. Old west to new west. Hobos and hoedowns. Blues to bluegrass. Ragtime and swingtime. Rock n' roll to when the roll is called up yonder. It's all folk, tradional, and classic American music called "Americana".

is a Celtic/World band with a truly unique style. Their distinctive sound delivers a compelling, dynamic performance drawing from traditional Irish and Scottish music combined with folk, rock, jazz and classical elements. Their five members bring a plethora of instruments, experience and talent to their audiences across the West Coast.

http://www.silentplanetmusic.com

is the founder of Song Net, which meets at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Alta Dena. http://www.songnet.org She served as Press Liaison for the Songsalive! EXPO, and Assistant Coordinator for the Call to the Arts EXPO. Linda is currently Events Coordinator for Brett Perkins’ Listening Room series, first Mondays in Monrovia at the Historic Aztec Hotel. Her song “Call Me Crazy” opens the Columbia Tri-Star film "Implicated." Finally, she is seeking film and TV placement for the songs on both her current, and upcoming NEW CD due out in late-fall.

http://lindageleris.com

Photo: Max S. Gerber

Jim has been performing for over 30 years, with a sincere and entertaining message of love and life in today's rapidly changing world. His influences include Lennon-McCartney, James Taylor and Paul Simon among others. Current projects include a CD with organ player John Thomas and another CD with Don Blumenshein, who will be joining Jim at the festival, performing new material on their classical/flamenco guitars.

Russian-born and Los Angeles-based Marina V is an intriguing Adult Alternative singer/pianist/songwriter with an incredible life story. Influenced by the Beatles and Tchaikovsky, Marina's music style has been described as an unusual mix of Tori Amos, Jewel & Paul McCartney, but "with her unique phrasing, breathless, smoky-sweet and compelling vocals, she's got a sound all her own" (Artists Studio Magazine). Marina's music is a magical blend of her angelic voice, hooky melodies, thoughtful lyrics, and fresh chord progressions, which make this new artist truly special.

http://www.MarinaV.com

Bill Howard’s stories range from the silly to the mystical, from fables to epics, and cover the world. He has used story and song as integral teaching tools in his high school and college classrooms. He’s trained storytellers and presented storytelling programs for schools, colleges, and libraries throughout Southern California.

True Thomas the Storyteller (aka Robert Seutter) has been storytelling for many years. He teaches the art, creates events, and has performed in a wide variety of places from campfires to battlefields. His personal storytelling philosophy is that a good storyteller should be able to tell to anyone, anywhere it's physically possible. He believes in the power of stories and that the right story, in the right time and place can change the world.

Bob’s Ye Uncle has performed for several years at the Riverside Dickens Festival, regaling passers by with stories, songs, recitations and other fol-de-rol which might be heard in the streets of 19th Century London.

a honey-voiced lady whose stripped-down, emotive country music is quietly becoming a staple on the LA/Southern California Americana scene

'Finely woven pop songs in a jazz setting'

The origins of sumitra lie somewhere between southern India, New York and Vienna.

In 1998, she teamed up with guitarist Alex Machacek. Her singing and Alex’s playing fused together very well creating a unique sound. They perform mostly original material as well as some of their favourite jazz standards and pop tunes.

Alex Machacek is a world class guitarist and Sumitra an uncommonly soulful singer and songwriter. Always striving to achieve something new, the two fuse together creating their own unique sound – refreshing, moving and inspiring.

Produced by Alex Machacek, her latest album, ‘indian girl’, was released in Austria in June 2004. The album presents a collection of finely woven pop songs in a jazz setting.

sumitra and Alex recently moved to Los Angeles, California.

www.sumitra-online.com

blends elements of rock, country, and hints of blues and folk in her passionate sharing of her voice and music. In creating her earthy yet soothing songs, Denise incorporates her experiences as an actress, poet, and dancer and musician. She was nominated for best independent female vocalist 2004 by the LA Music Awards. She has two CDs.

http://www.denisevasquez.com

is an accomplished storyteller who has delighted audiences from kindergartners to senior citizens. Her world folktales and personal stories are empowering, educational, and entertaining. Whether telling stories of strong women and girls or tales of wisdom and wonder, her enthusiastic style sweeps listeners into another time and place. According to one reporter, "This talented lady has certainly perfected the art of storytelling. She had us all on the edge of our seats waiting for her words."

http://www.debraolsontolar.com/

Music is our strength, therapy and joy, and it is how we deal with life in L.A. We like to play with words, ideas, melodies, harmonies...just turn everything upside-down and see what comes out, and always--always make lemonade out of the lemons.

Soothing, yet emotive, Et Spera mixes elements of folk and rock in an ‘almost country’ blend of strength, joy and compassion. Cyhndi Mora, Charlie White and Dawn Delassandro put the “play” back in playing music.

James’ exposure to different countries, cultures and communities, his own natural inclinations and his father’s eclectic tastes as a music aficionado have resulted in James’ music being a unique fusion of Blues, Rock, Jazz, Folk, and Adult Contemporary Acoustic with occasional Latin influences. One devoted fan describes him as a blend of “Sting, Santana and Harry Connick, Jr.” Others have compared him to such legendary performers as Clapton, Chet Baker, Kenny Rankin, Kenny Loggins and more.

Born from the seeds of Stephen Stills, Leo Kottke, Dan Fogelberg, and Jackson Browne, James McVay blends his powerhouse guitar chops with lyrics that speak with an honesty and social insight sorely needed in the world today. His life in music spanning 40 years has taken him from the street corners of New York to concert halls and all points in between.

is a singer of songs of the West, singing solo, performing both traditional and contemporary songs, sharing heart-felt ballads as well as honky-tonkin’ country and upbeat western tunes.

http://www.paulhendel.com

Born in New York City and transplanted to California, Scott grew up on a steady diet of folk, rock and international music. Dreaming of being a great rock singer like Lou Gramm or David Bowie, SCOTT played James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen songs like they were his own in many duos and bands, and later inspired by Sting, Seal and Don Henley, he started to write. Later still, he was called by the Reggae music to write from and understand the Rasta perspective.

http://www.songmon.com

Hailing from the desert, foothills and mountains of Southern California, the members of Sunland String Band blend the sound of banjo, guitar, mandolin, Irish bouzouki, dobro and string bass, to render up the sound of American roots music, from Appalachian folk tunes to bluegrass standards and original songs.

http://www.sunlandstringband.com/pages/1/index.htm

are a family band from Santa Clarita. They play a wide variety of music: traditional and contemporary Scottish and Irish tunes, American Folk, Gospel, Contra Dance and Bluegrass.

is a folk/rock/country/blues experiment with Colorado roots. Kim Kopp and Dawnia Carlson are musical storytellers whose intense vocal harmonies flow effortlessly around one another, taking audiences on a winding musical journey. With Vertigo Road’s second release - Oceans, the band has shown continuity and expression in its unique sound and amazing songwriting.

http://www.vertigoroad.com

Wayne sings to cover up the mistakes in his picking, and plays guitar to draw attention away from his singing. He's been getting away with this for about 35 years now, and almost got it figured out. Ragtime blues, work songs and hymns are among his favorites.

http://waynesl.com

have been writing songs for more than two decades. Their collaboration since the 90s has demostrated their creative spirit, finding a beautiful mixture of romanticism and philosophical musings with memorable melodies. Vreeland on guitar and Tedrow on guitar or mandolin presents a fresh sound; their vocal harmonies and intriguing arrangements shine in their self-named CD, Tim Tedrow & Terry Vreeland...and Friends.

http://www.trough.com/Tedrow-Vreeland/

JOAN ENGUITA

With a voice often compared to Joan Baez, Joan has worked to develop her own style and sound. She was influenced by James Taylor and Joni Mitchell.