Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe
Beattie & Blythe
beatman@sbcglobal.net
“Singer/songwriters Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe combine folk, jazz, blues, and country into an incredible mix that is both fresh and timeless. They have performed for over two decades as a duo and as the core of the new-folk group Calaveras (www.calaverassongs.com).
Their songs have captured the Kerrville New Folk prize, grand prize in the West Coast Songwriters International song contest, the Napa Valley Emerging Songwriter award, West Coast Songwriter’s Association Song of the Year honors and have appeared in TV shows and movies. They have released three albums, and Victoria has released a solo album.
Their live show is a mix of Victoria’s soaring, ethereal vocals and hauntingly beautiful fiddle on pure folk ballads and sultry jazz-fusion torch songs and Greg’s energetic and insightful musical treatment of birth, death and everything in between.
BLIND LEMON PLEDGE – ACOUSTIC MUSIC FOR THE SOUL
James Byfield.
blindlemon@sbcglobal.net
A steaming bowl of Delta and Chicago blues, a dash of New Orleans, a hint of country, and a teaspoon of rock, all flavored with a unique songwriting sensibility, create the tasty gumbo that is the music of Blind Lemon Pledge, the Bay Area’s premier acoustic blues band. This San Francisco based duo plays a unique combination of blues classics and Americana, re-imagined rock/pop standards and critically acclaimed originals. Although usually a quintet, Blind Lemon Pledge has stripped down to the essential duo of guitar and bass for this ECFFF performance. Riding on the crest of their internationally acclaimed #1 album “Goin. Home”, eponymous band leader Blind Lemon Pledge brings you skillfully crafted songs in a wide variety of Blues/Americana based styles.
Hali Hammer & Friends
halih@yahoo.com
Hali Hammer is an award winning singer-songwriter and social activist who has sung and played for peace and political causes for over four decades. She is a founding member of Occupella, plays bass and sings with Jump-In (which performs “”folk & oldies – don’t say it too fast) performs with The ReSisters, sang for many years with Freedom Song Network and can be found on many You Tube videos.
Hali’s original songs range from those about love and family to commentary about what’s going on in the world. In the darkest of times, her optimism shines through. Her latest CD, Eclectic Circus, shows Hali’s versatility. A new one is in the works.
She is accompanied by Randy Berge on lead guitar and Paul Herzoff on harmonica who will also be playing some of their original songs.
Sylvia Herold
John Hollywood
John Hollywood writes folk songs in the tradition of John Prine, Guy Clark, and Phil Ochs with a fresh, millennial perspective. Originally from Houston, John has spent the last twelve years kicking around California and getting kicked back. His direct, unflinching lyrics give voice to the collective dread and disillusionment of a generation taking up society’s dystopian mantle. In this performance, John will debut political folk songs written during the pandemic addressing society’s failure to respond to global warming.
https://johnhollywood.com
Hophead
Jenny Kerr
San Francisco native and Oxford dropout, multi-instrumentalist (finger-style and slide guitar, claw hammer banjo, harmonica, piano), as well as a poetic and passionate songwriter, Jenny Kerr is known for foot-stomping live shows and powerful, authentic voice. She delivers a seasoned yet spirited sound with forays into swamp rock, straight-up soul, backwater honky tonk, and old-time blues and finely-hewn ballads.
She has performed both locally and internationally. The title track from her most recent release, “Head of Fire” was produced by legendary multi-platinum Grammy winner Bill Bottrell (Madonna, Sheryl Crowe, Michael Jackson, Tom Petty).”
www.jennykerr.com
Mark and Cindy Lemaire
David Maloney
Jill McAnally & Kevin McConnell
Midnight Kitchen
East Bay area band Midnight Kitchen has been serving up a mix of Chicago, New Orleans, and West Coast Blues and R&B, with sides of jazz and rock since 2014 . Featuring Jeanne Schuman‘s sultry vocals, Tim Ports’ penetrating guitar lines, Barbara Miercke’s evocative violin, and drummer Olivia Ports and bassist Rich Nosek holding down the groove, Midnight Kitchen will provide you the blues you can use to nourish your soul and elevate your spirit … because we could all use some of that.
Too Many Cooks
Too Many Cooks is a nearly-legendary assemblage of pop-music-oriented members of the Bay Area folk music community. Gathering together on a monthly basis for more than a decade now to share sing-alongs and pot-luck dinners, the Cooks have gathered more than their share of curiosity in the larger folk music community… therefore, this video: it’s just some friends getting together to share the music & the camaraderie, folks! Membership in Too Many Cooks has varied from time to time — and at this point in time, with the virus and all, some are more willing to attend a get-together and others are more cautious. For the purposes of this El Cerrito Folk Festival virtual gathering, Cooksters Scott Clark, Paul King, Jeannine Menger, and Bryan Uhlenbrock will be your chefs-in-residence…,along with a few other selected guests. Bon appetite!