Wednesday August 22 7:00pm Buddy Mondlock and The Sweet Potatoes – TICKETS
Buddy Mondlock is a great songwriter whose works have been recorded by Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith and Janis Ian, to name a few of my faves. He won’t pin your ears back with his songs — he simply draws you into his world. Where a single snowflake follows the trajectory of a relationship, where you get your pocket picked by a Roman cat, where you might swim over the edge of the world if you’re not careful, and where dreams that don’t come true still count. The Sweet Potatoes are a SoCal country/folk trio with a great vocal blend and finely crafted songs. Laura Hall is best known as the pianist on the hit show “Whose Line is it Anyway”. She came up in the acoustic music scene in Chicago. Kelly Macleod cut her teeth on the road after being discovered by Eddie Van Halen while singing at a local club in Shreveport, Louisiana. Rick Hall grew up on a farm in Illinois and, in addition to his musical skills, is a fine actor and storyteller.
Thursday August 23 7:30pm
Jon Mayer Trio – TICKETS
Jon Mayer grew up in New York City during a fertile time in modern jazz evolution. He played on a John Coltrane recording ‘Like Sonny’ and on a Jackie McLean Prestige cut called `Strange Blues’. He spent time in the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band as well as road assignments with Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughan, and Anita O’Day. His compositions have been cut by Les McAnn, Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra, Nancy Wilson, Gladys Knight, Ernie Watts and Jackie Ryan. He’ll be joined by Roy McCurdy on drums and Will Lyle on bass.
SPECIAL EVENT – Saturday, August 25 5:00pm BRADFEST II – TICKETS
Twanguero and Rose’s Pawn Shop will ignite another magical evening in the Arroyo for the 2nd annual Bradfest (aka Summerfest). Also appearing will be I See Hawks in LA, Abby & the Myth, Pasadena Playboys, and Brad Colerick & The Wreckers. In addition to all the music on 2 stages from 5 to 10pm, there will be a song circle/acoustic jam near the 1st tee. Plenty of fun for the whole family including the par-3 golf course, mini-golf, driving range, and other activities. The Arroyo Seco Grill will be firing up the barbecue, in addition to their regular menu plus craft beer, special wine selections, and full bar.
Wednesday August 29 7:00pm Cynthia Carle and Mitch Grainger – TICKETS
Cynthia Carle is a Wine & Song favorite. In addition to being a fabulous singer-songwriter, she is a screenwriter, actor, director, choreographer, and simply one of the most witty performers you’ll ever encounter. She has two CDs of original gut-busting songs guaranteed to lift your spirits. Mitch Grainger is one of Australia’s most talented and experienced blues and roots musicians. Discovered by Malcolm Young of AC/DC at age 16 and later trained in the Alberts’ production tradition by Harry Vanda, he is known as “blues royalty” in Australian music circles. In 2012, he left his homeland behind and re-located to the US. On arrival Mitch soon found a new home at the now defunct yet legendary Piano Bar on Selma Ave in Hollywood, where he played every week for four years with his then band ‘The Lovers’.
Thursday August 30 7:30pm
South Pas All-Stars – TICKETS
Truly an all-star night featuring Riner Scivally on guitar, Putter Smith on Bass, Dave Tull on Drums, and Jacques Voyemant on Trombone.
Wednesday Sept 5 7:00pm Louise Goffin and The Contraptionists – TICKETS
Louise Goffin was born in Brooklyn into songwriting royalty. The daughter of Carole King and Gerry Goffin, she was raised in Laurel Canyon during the halcyon days of the singer-songwriter explosion into pop culture. Her debut public performance was opening for Jackson Browne at the Troubadour when she was 17 years old. Her first album Kid Blue, produced by Danny Kortchmar, was released on Elektra/Asylum in 1979. Paul Givant and Stephen Andrews are The Contraptionists: a two-man, one-man band — a sonic high-wire act driven by percussive precision, soaring, jangling, thumping instrumentation, and bold melodies fused with harmonies. An industrial folk-rock experiment conceived and crafted in the booming halls of their loft in a former factory in downtown Los Angeles. Givant and Andrews have played together for almost a decade in the delightfully over-caffeinated Americana band, Rose’s Pawn Shop.
An actor and theater improviser for many years (Film: 28 Days; TV: Mad Men; Improv: War Babies), Susan Krebs’ passion has always been music, performing at venues such as Vitellos, LACMA, Blue Whale — as well as theaters and living rooms with her jazz salon, ThemeScene, which spawned her most recent recording project “Simple Gifts.” Tom Rizzo has played with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Maynard Ferguson, Brian Wilson and Natalie Cole among others. He was the guitarist for the Tonight Show Band and was in Don Severinsen’s jazz group, Xebron. As a composer, he has written for commercials, film and Television including for “In Living Color”, where he and Ken Wild first worked together. Bassist Ken Wild was a founding member of popular jazz fusion band, Seawind. He is an active studio musician, working in TV and film, and on many recordings, including Clare Fischer Big Band, Harvey Mason and Tierney Sutton. He has also performed live with Dianne Reeves, Terence Blanchard, James Moody, Herb Ellis, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Natalie Cole’s touring band and Dave Weckl.
Wednesday Sept 12 7:00pm Iain Matthews and Whitherward – TICKETS
Iain Matthews is an English singer-songwriter and founding member and vocalist of Fairport Convention. His contributions to their first three albums helped change the voice of British folk music. He moved on to create Matthews’ Southern Comfort, exploring his interest in American music. They had a No 1 hit in the UK with a cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’. Former Nashville singer-songwriters Ashley Norton and Edward Williams tired of the trench warfare that typifies the music industry and opted to keep things simple — an acoustic duo with meaningful music. They formed the indie-folk duo Whitherward in 2010 and relocated to Denver a few years later. Troubadours in the truest sense, they jump into their Subaru and drive wherever the wind, or the next booking, takes them.
SPECIAL NEW ORLEANS NIGHT
Thursday Sept 13 7:00pm – TICKETS
The NOLA Jam Session with Herlin Riley, Chris Severin, Darrell Lavigne, Terrence Taplin, Nayo Jones, Aaron Fletcher and Casme’
All-Star lineup featuring some of New Orleans’ top musicians. Bring your beads!
Wednesday Sept 19 7:00pm Mare Wakefield & Nomad and Michael McNevin – TICKETS
Tireless troubadours Mare Wakefield & Nomad are currently based in Nashville when they aren’t on a long stretch of road somewhere. Listeners of their music roam through Arizona deserts, Oklahoma oil fields and Amsterdam canals. Journeys go inward too, exploring hope, heartbreak and barroom brawls. Story and song are woven together by Mare’s intimate delivery and Nomad’s exquisite piano and accordion. They are two-time finalists at the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition. Singer-songwriter and aspiring golf pro Michael McNevin will guest host this show. He began his career in the subways and streets of Greenwich Village. Now a veteran of the folk scene, Michael has played concerts all across the U.S. including main stage appearances at Strawberry, Kerrville, High Sierra, and Philadelphia music festivals.
Thursday Sept 20 7:30pm Mark Towns & Braziliance – TICKETS
Mark Towns & Braziliance is an exciting mix of Spanish, Brazilian, and Caribbean musical textures, combining the virtuosity of flamenco-influenced guitar with seductively exotic Latin rhythms. The sounds will take you on a musical journey conjuring images of hot summer days, panoramic sunsets, and cool moonlit nights. Mark will be joined by Cedric Leonardi (formerly with the Gipsy Kings) on drums and Ross Schodek on bass, with a very special guest appearance by Brazilian vocalist Diana Purim (daughter of legendary jazz vocalist Flora Purim).
Thursday Sept 27 7:30pm Louie Cruz Beltran & his Latin Jazz Band – TICKETS
Louie Cruz Beltran is a charismatic entertainer, singer and master percussionist. His musical career was crafted upon the soulful sounds of his ethnic American background and flavored with contemporary R&B, Jazz, and Salsa as well as the Great American Songbook. Early in his career, Louie performed with great artists such as Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Francisco Aguabella, and Jorge Claudio. Recently he has performed with legends Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Poncho Sanchez and many other renowned artists. Louie will be joined by Carlos Vivas on keyboard, JD Perez, drums on drums, Andrew Ford on bass, and Justin Janer on sax and flute.
Wednesday October 10 7:00pm SPECIAL FAR-West edition – TICKETS
Rachel Laven, Jennings & Keller, Five Letter Word + more
On the eve of the FAR-West Folk Alliance conference in Woodland Hills October 11 – 13, we’ve gathered some of the top talent on their way to the event. Texas troubadour Rachel Laven, Florida duo Jennings & Keller, Oregon songstress Clara Baker fronts a new trio called Five Letter Word + special guest performances. Gonna be a great night. Come celebrate the beginning of our tenth year of Wine & Song! The Arroyo Seco Grill has food, wine, and full bar. Or bring your own bottle for a $10 corkage fee. 9 holes of par-3 golf for anyone who cares to join in before the show. Meet at 5pm on the first tee.
