Audience numbers dropped drastically in July at Mission City Coffee. I hope that can be reversed in August, when we have MICHAEL MCNEVIN and CALAVERAS splitting a bill on Friday 14th and HOUSTON JONES on Saturday 15th. At the end of the month we have JIMMY CHICKENPANTS (Friday 28th).
Jimmy Chickenpants are also playing In our “recession buster” Wed night series at the Ugly Mug in Soquel this Wed 29th July.
At Don Quixotes in Felton we have 3 cosponsored shows in the second half of August.
Details below,
Thanks for supporting live music!
Dick Brundle
FIDDLING CRICKET CONCERTS AT THE MISSION COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY, 2221, The Alameda, Santa Clara, Ca. 95050. Call 831 475 4938, or e- mail return for reservations.
Michael McNevin/Calaveras
singer-songwriter/folk, celtic
Friday 14th August 8pm. $15/$17
Michael McNevin is a veteran of the folk scene, having logged 15 years of concerts across the U.S. from his Bay Area base, and has been a main stager at the Strawberry, Kerrville, and Philadelphia folk festivals.. He has a unique voice, is an accomplished steel string guitarist, and, above all, is known for his vivid brand of storytelling in his lyrics. He is a past winner of the Kerrville New-folk award in Texas, and a 5-time winner of the West Coast Songwriters Association “Song of The Year”. He is currently recording his sixth album. Two of the new tracks are also heard in “Weekend King”, an indie film shot in Niles, where Michael grew up and currently lives. He has a cameo role as a lovesick bartender who sings in the corner between drinks. Michael is also an Etch A Sketch artist of renown, delighting and dumbfounding audiences with his song illustrations on the little red toy, and also having art gallery shows!
Singer-songwriters Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe, along with instrumentalist Dave Decker make up Calaveras. They combine voices and half a dozen instruments into material ranging from the roots of American traditional song forms to explorations of contemporary sounds. Like Michael they have captured the prestigious Kerrville New Folk prize and won West Coast Songwriter's Association Song of the Year honors. Their songs have been recorded by such well known artists as Joan Baez and Cheryl Wheeler. Their new album, Green Girl, is the culmination of nearly 10 years of writing, performing and dreaming since their prior release– songs that are varied but genuine representations of the many roads traveled to get here.
Houston Jones
High Octane Americana
Saturday, August 15th, 8pm, $15/$17
Houston Jones feature the stunning, left handed, upside down, acoustic and electric guitar playing of Glen Houston, the golden tenor of Travis Jones (guitar), the double bass and harmony vocals of Chris Kee, the percussion and harmony vocals of Peter Tucker, and the piano, accordion, and vocals of Henry Salvia.. Though all the band members are resident in the Bay Area, they originate from all over the US and have about 200 years of collective professional music experience! Describing their music as 'high octane Americana', they sizzle through a mix of blues, folk, country, bluegrass, Celtic, gospel and jazz, mixing original material with the best from others. Increasingly they are featuring the songwriting of Chris Kee, as demonstrated in their 5th CD and their 6th in the making.They have been a big hit at every festival they have played, including Telluride and Strawberry, where they were voted “best new discovery” and “best vocalist” ..
“As good as any singing and picking I've heard in my 30 years in the music business” ….Bob Brown, owner rancho Nicasio and manager of Huey Lewis and the News.
Jimmy Chickenpants
Bluegrass, newergrass, jazz and originalgrass
Friday, 28th August, 8pm. $15/$17
Who IS Jimmy Chickenpants? No one really knows, but the band hails from Santa Cruz (mostly) and includes Joni Matthews (guitar and lead vocals), Hide Kawatsure (mandolin), Jim Davies (string bass), Ken Clarkson (banjo and dobro), and Chojo Jacques (fiddle and mandolin). The band puts the 'hick' in 'chicken' with music that combines bluegrass, newergrass, jazzgrass, and originalgrass (otherwise known as “poultry in motion”) together with some folk, blues and a bit of swing. Jimmy's influences apparently include Bill Monroe, Gillian Welch, Bela Fleck, and most significantly, Rocky the Petaluma Free Range Chicken. Jimmy has been touted as one of Santa Cruz's best kept secrets by KPIG radio, but is known to exist by the Northern California Bluegrass Society. The Pants are not on any “No Fly” lists, as far as we know, so please risk coming to see them at this Fiddling Cricket show.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES at THE UGLY MUG CAFE, 4640 Soquel
Dr., Soquel, CA 95073. 831 477 1341. Each Wed. Doors open at 7pm, show at 7.30pm, $7 cover, no reservations.
July 29th. Jimmy Chickenpants (bluegrass)
August 5th. Paula Smith Alder (jazz, folk)
August 12th. Michael Gaither Band (folk, singer-songwriter)
August 19th. Dorian Michael ( acoustic and electric guitar virtuoso)
August 26th. Sherry Austin Band ( singer-songwriter, folk)
COSPONSORED AT DON QUIXOTES, Felton. Call 831 603 2294 for
Tuesday Aug 18th.
Acoustic Guitar Summit (Vicki Gerfan, Tim Sparks, Teja Gerkin). 7.30pm $10
Sunday Aug 23rd
Patti Maxine, (ace steeler guitarist). 7pm. $10
Thursday August 27th.
Shannon Whitworth Trio (that's Shannon from the Biscuit Burners). 7.30pm $10
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