The simple mention of a Louisiana or Texas roadhouse conjures up images of a crowded dancehall filled wall-to-wall with rabid music fans rocking to a hotter-than-hot band playing a smoldering blend of swampy R&B, jumping blues and heart-wrenching ballads. Pianist/vocalist/songwriter Ball brings that spirit to every concert she plays and every song she records. Her music is mixed with equal parts simmering soul fervor and two-fisted piano pounding. Between her deeply emotive vocals and her incisive, often poignant songwriting, Ball is in a class by herself. Her groove-laden New Orleans R&B and driving Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite of music fans all over the world. The Boston Herald says, “Piano pounding Marcia Ball plays masterful, red hot tracks from the Texas-Louisiana border. Her voice can break your heart with a ballad or break your back with a rocker.” The Austin Chronicle heralds her as “a class act whose soulful, horn-laden swamp pop and murderous honky-tonk make her a stellar example of musical artistry.” She is also a splendid singer, with a husky, sultry vocal attack at once biting and seductive. Like Bonnie Raitt, she moves easily and convincingly between rousing rockers and emotive ballads.”
 

From The Hacienda Bros website: “Dave Gonzalez of the Hacienda Brothers will be touring this summer to celebrate the life of his friend and musical partner Chris Gaffney. The touring will be difficult yet cathartic for Gonzalez. There hasn't been a tour in the past six years, since his days in the Paladins, that Gaffney hasn't been there right by his side. Yet there is no better way to honor the memory of Chris then to go out and play to the audience that loved him so. This will be a chance for all of Chris’ friends and fans to gather and pay tribute to one of the greatest American music performers in the past 20 years. Gonzalez will also be out supporting the release of the last studio album from the Hacienda Brothers titled Arizona Motel. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to helpgaff.com to aid the family of Chris Gaffney.” Opening the show will be SF country band Red Meat, a great band who was also a longtime friend of Gaffney’s. Expect a special guest or two this evening.
 

This evening, Utah’s son Brendan Philips brings his band Fast Rattler to celebrate the music of U. Utah Phillips

“I’ll flag a fast rattler and ride it on down BOYS! They’re runnin’ the bums out of town.” This line taken from Utah’s song “Larimer Street” is where Fast Rattler got its name. Led by Utah’s son, Brendan, Fast Rattler is comprised of a varying cast of musicians from the Olympia, WA - Portland, OR area. The emphasis of the band is to play from Utah’s expansive catalog of songs and they’ve shared the stage with Utah a number of times.

For fans of Utah this evening will be a chance to hear his music and celebrate his work. Only a few times a year will Fast Rattler come together to sing and play these songs and share them with all the folks who have come to love Utah’s songs over the years. Don’t miss this train! Come on out for an evening with Fast Rattler!

Lee Bob Watson will be joining in the celebration on these special evenings, backed by Fast Rattler and some other friends and family
 

For this CD release concert Holdstock and Macleod will be performing with a chorus of shanty singers and musicians from the Bay Area. The chorus sings on Holdstock & Macleod's new CD, "Deepwater Return".

Performers of sea music frequently quote Allan and Dick as sources of the songs they sing. The audience should be prepared to sing along on the choruses!
 

This evening showcase two terrific Americana/folk acts from Northern California-Blame Sally and Corrine West. San Francisco’s Blame Sally are four Bay Area women Renee Harcourt, Monica Pasqual, Jeri Jones, and Pam Delgado, whose talents as musicians, songwriters, and singers is making Blame Sally one of the West Coast’s top acoustic acts. Their most recent cd Severland carves out a strong identity on the indie-pop edges of Americana. Their music, which has been described as emotionally charged, passionate, highly melodic and compelling, has been played on radio stations around the country. Neil Young's Living With War website features the BLAME SALLY music video "If You Tell a Lie" at #2, while San Francisco's KFOG selected tracks from both previous Blame Sally CDs to appear on its 2003 and 2004 compilations alongside tracks by Paul Simon, Spearhead, Jackie Greene, The Waifs, Dar Williams, and more.

"...Blame Sally weaves lush guitars and vivid vocals through touching and introspective songs. Think a sultry post-modern Joni Mitchell meets Indigo Girls. “-DJ Pusspuss, The Spectrum, June 2004

Singer songwriter Corrine West writes emotionally powerful songs accompanied by stellar musicianship, expressive vocals, and songs that pierce to the core and sooth the soul. Throughout, the most dynamic instrument is West's highly emotive voice. At turns subtle and sophisticated, unbridled and passionate, it captures and conveys both the fragility and strength of the human spirit and translates the mysteries of the heart into something tangible.