Ali McGuirk has made a career of captivating audiences with her powerful, buttery voice and heartfelt songwriting. Her CD “Slow Burn” was named on multiple year-end lists, including Boston rock critic Steve Morse’s Top Ten Albums of 2017, and contributed to Ali’s current total of seven Boston Music Award nominations and her 2018 New England Music Award nomination for R&B Act of the Year. Morse called her “A soul singer who evokes comparisons to Amy Winehouse but rocks even harder.” California singer-songwriter Raspin Stuwart was born and raised in Chicago, surrounded by the influences of blues and jazz music greats as well as the popularity of the singer-songwriter music genre of the 70s. Raspin’s emotional, striking lyrics shine bright against a melodic background. Noted critic Paul Zollo calls Stuwart “a tremendously soulful singer and songwriter (and) a force ‘of nature’ who is ‘in the business of show stopping.”
Thursday Sep 19 7:00pm
Greg Porée Group – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Greg Porée grew up in a multi-cultural environment in Los Angeles and his career in music reflects his upbringing. He has worked with a diverse group of musicians ranging from Ray Charles and Herbie Hancock to Diana Ross, Sting, and Phoebe Snow. His influences also cover a great chasm from Bach to the Beatles, and from Villa-Lobos to Motown. He was lead guitarist on the hit BBC show ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for eight years, and can be heard on landmark albums by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Stanley Turrentine, Randy Crawford, Albert King, Ahmad Jamal, Benny Golson, Donald Byrd, and James Blunt. He produced groundbreaking solo albums in association with Sting for world music master Vinx, and was musical director for Sonny and Cher, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Joan Baez. He will be joined by Chris Woods on violin, Isaias Elpes on bass, and Joey Heredia on drums, along with a violinist to be announced soon.
Wednesday Sep 25 7:00pm
Rosa Pullman; The HawtThorns – TICKETS ($17/$12)
You may recall Rosa Pullman as half of The Lovers with Mitch Grainger. She is a compelling solo artist as well. Her latest calling card is From the Halo to the Boulevard — an album recorded at two studios in vastly different places — Winham, Maine (The Halo) and Los Angeles (Boulevard Recording). The release is her offering in these times of great change when truth is in high demand. She serves it up with a rawness and vulnerability that is refreshing and deep, and at times playful and light. The HawtThorns are husband and wife duo KP (aka Kirsten Proffit, formerly of Calico) and guitar slinger Johnny Hawthorn. Their sun-kissed songwriting, fiery electric guitar, and lush vocal harmonies evoke the California coastline as much as the Bible-belt countryside. The connection between them was immediate, and the two spent their first date playing songs together. It was not long before they were writing beautiful, melodic music that makes room for KP’s voice and Johnny’s guitar.
Thursday Sep 26 7:00pm
Adam Miller/Mason Stoops – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Premier Guitar Magazine says “it takes an impossibly gifted player to improvise independent melodies, harmonies, and bass lines all at the same time – while maintaining an impeccable groove. Australia’s Adam Miller is one such rare phenomenon.” With a completely unique approach to the guitar, Adam’s music is groovy and approachable, while maintaining a melodic sophistication that only comes from years of cross genre hopping. His tendency to include complex rhythms, dissonant haunting phrases, combined with breathtaking riffs and melodies are his signature. His jazz influenced style with finger-picking mastery creates an improvisation filled live performance that is beautifully unpredictable. He’ll be joined by an equally amazing guitarist, Mason Stoops, plus Justin Glasco on drums, and Joel Gottschlak on bass.
Wednesday Oct 2 7:00pm Ten Year Anniversary of Wine & Song
Jackie Bristow with Mark Punch; Mare Wakefield & Nomad – TICKETS ($20/$15)
At once heartfelt and sophisticated, Jackie Bristow combines subtle yet beautiful melodies and hooks that hypnotize the listener. Born in New Zealand then transplanted to Australia and now the United States, Jackie tours constantly along with her duo partner — guitar wizard, Mark Punch. Mark has had a long career playing with most of Australia’s major singers of the last 35 years. 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. We’ll also have a special guest set from another Kerrville alum, Claudia Nygaard.
Thursday Oct 3 7:00pm
Todd Hunter Quartet – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Wednesday Oct 9 7:00pm
Bill Scorzari; MMCM – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Thursday Oct 10 7:00pm
Jon Mayer Trio – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Thursday Oct 17 7:00pm Mojacar Flamenco – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Led by guitarist and composer Stephen Dick, flamenco jazz trio Mojacar Flamenco offers a unique blend of flamenco and Latin Jazz. Mojacar was formed in 1996 after Stephen and his partner, dancer and percussionist Katerina Tomás, spent creative time at an artist’s retreat in southern Spain. Since then, the group has toured the U.S. and Canada with Concrete Blonde, performed in concert across the Southwest, released two CDs and received awards from the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the Center For Creative Innovation. Stephen and Katerina have also each received L.A. Treasures Awards in recognition of their work teaching flamenco. Multi-instrumental percussionist Johnny Sandoval joined the group in 2004. Johnny has performed and recorded with a wide array of artists including Arturo Sandoval, Chuchito Valdez, Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner, and Smokey Robinson. In June 2020, Mojácar will premiere Toque Jondo, an evening of flamenco dance theater, at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood.
Wednesday Oct 23 7:00pm
Eleni Mandell, Tony Gilkyson – TICKETS ($17/$12)
Eleni Mandell was raised in that “other” valley to the west. A big fan of L.A. punkers X and beatnik revivalist Tom Waits, who inspired her to learn the guitar and start writing songs. Before long she fell under the mentorship of Chuck E. Weiss, an associate of Waits and subject of Rickie Lee Jones’ “Chuck E’s in Love.” In 1998, she released, Wishbone, which spurred comparisons to Waits for its gritty atmosphere and to PJ Harvey for its dramatic vocal style. In 2003, our other featured artist, Tony Gilkyson, produced her acclaimed album, Country for True Lovers for which he enlisted some of L.A.’s top country-rock session players. Tony is a South Pas native son. His father, Terry Gilkyson, was a composer for Disney and a prominent folksinger. He put Tony to work in the studio at an early age. A guitarist with X for ten years, he has also played and recorded with Lone Justice, Dave Alvin, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and K.D. Lang among others.
