SATURDAY LINEUP:
Brian Setzer & the Nashvillains
Los Amigos Invisibles
The Donnas
Lyrics Born
Sean Hayes
KJ Sawka
Shantytown
Vau de Vire Society
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SUNDAY LINEUP:
James Brown
Dr. John
Leela James
Blind Boys of Alabama
Salvador Santana Band
Matty Nash & Friends
Nino Moschella
Jeff Jolly Band
Vau de Vire Society
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JAMES BROWN:
"the Godfather of Soul" "the hardest working man in show business"
"the sex machine" "Mr. Dynamite" are some of the superlatives that have been
linked to James Brown. But few realize that James Brown is also the "most prolific recording
artist in the English language. That's right, James Brown has released more singles, albums,
compilations, retrospectives, box-sets etc...than just about anybody. Along the way, he's reinvented
more than a few genres (see: "soul") invented a few others (see: "funk") and
dabbled in so many others (see: "blues" "jazz" "rock" "electro
" "disco" "house") that "grandmaster of music" might be the most
accurate description. And then there are the hits, 24 Top 10 albums plus 52 Top 10 singles including
an incredible 15 pop and R&B #1 hits that read like a history of American popular music: from "
Try Me" (1959) to "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (1965) to "Cold Sweat" (1967)
to "Say it Loud (I'm Black & I'm Proud" (1968) to "the Payback" (1974) to
"Living in America" (1986).
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But all of this is in the past. What's most amazing about James Brown as he approaches 73 years
young, is the fact that he still churns out more energy and excitement, than most artists a third
his age. The James Brown show still boasts one of the most cohesive bands on earth ("the Soul
Generals") some of the most soulful backup singers ("the Bittersweets") plus
world-class dancers, solo accompanists and even the world's most famous musical "hype-man"
Danny Ray. In the 21st Century, the James Brown show still manages a massive touring schedule,
including an annual visit to the Bay Area to play a big-ticket night show at a big theatre. That
Mr. Brown will be performing outdoors, in San Francisco's own backyard is a gift; a
once-in-a-lifetime treat; an experience not to be missed.
Artists Web Site: www.godfatherofsoul.com
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BRIAN SETZER & THE NASHVILLAINS:
3-time Grammy-award-winner Brian Setzer is the man credited with single-handedly
resurrecting two forgotten genres of music (rockabilly in the '80's and swing in the '90's),
while scoring with chart-topping hits from the Stray Cats and his 18-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra.
By combining vintage rockabilly with the attitude of modern punk and the polish of postbop jazz,
Setzer staked out his own territory and multiplied his creative options. His first step was to
move from his home in Long Island to England and unleash the Stray Cats, whose ferocious shows
and three Top-Ten singles ("Rock This Town," "Stray Cat Strut," and "Runaway Boys") powered
their first album to the top of the charts.
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When the Cats scattered, Setzer pursued his own projects, with collaborators as diverse as
artist/producer, Phil Ramone, and the Clash's Joe Strummer. Fueled by the smash hit "Jump
Jive An' Wail," the Brian Setzer Orchestra eclipsed the Stray Cats' commercial success, selling millions
of albums worldwide and performing sold-out tours, while cementing Brian as a modern-day music legend.
Along the way, Brian built a reputation as one of the world's most respected guitarists, supervising the
launch of his extremely successful series of Gretsch "Brian Setzer Model" signature guitars. It was only
a matter of time, then, that he'd put distractions aside, head down to Nashville, find the best band in
the world for this kind of music, and pay tribute to the place where rockabilly music began. The
recording of Rockabilly Riot vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records was the birth of Brian Setzer & the
Nashvillains.
Artists Web Site: www.briansetzer.com
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DR. JOHN:
A true icon of New Orleans music, the man born Mac Rebennack began his illustrious
career recording and producing music in the 1950's. In fact, his talent first attracted notice
for his guitar playing, when he worked as a sideman to none other than the seminal figure in New
Orleans funk/boogie/R&B Professor Longhair, as well as other stars like Frankie Ford and Joe Tex.
When his hand was injured in a gun accident, Rebennack shifted his focus solely to piano, and has
grown in the past 4 decades into the most famous heir to Longhair's legacy. His gravelly,
patois-tinged singing is one of those rare voices in music that is unmistakable. You KNOW when
you're listening to Dr. John.
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Along the way, he's blessed us with more than his share of hits, including "Right Place,
Wrong Time" "Such a Night" "Walk on Guilded Splinters" and superlative
version of Longhair's classic "Big Chief". His early 1970's work, produced by the likes
of Phil Spector and Allen Touissaint, and backed by artists like Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, the
Meters and Mike Bloomfield, defined his sound; a greasy gumbo of New Orleans funk, psychedelic
rock, and electric jazz which he simply terms "voodoo music". And while he has touched
on many traditional styles throughout his recording career, the power of Dr. John's voice and vibe
are such that he can even make other legends music his own, as he proved on 2000's "Duke
Elegant". He has gained new respect for his outspoken criticism of the government response to
Hurricane Katrina, and has been a frequent contributor to various benefits aiming to aid his
beloved home. In Katrina's wake, we are honored to pay one of New Orleans favorite sons the respect
he so deserves.
Artists Web Site: www.drjohn.org
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BLIND BOYS of ALABAMA:
Today the Blind Boys are America's most famous and beloved gospel group,
a household name among music fans of all stripes. And yet, only 20 years ago, the group was hardly
known outside of gospel circles. The group once known as "the Five Blind Boys of Alabama"
met at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in the 1930's when they were all actually
boys. And yet it wasn't until 1948 that they began recording, taking on the more simple
"Blind Boys of Alabama" moniker in 1950 after the death of one founding member. And
though they recorded many gospel hits, and inspired a generation of gospel, blues and soul artists,
it wasn't until their 1983 Obie-Award winning Broadway show "Gospel at Colonus" that
they burst into the national music spotlight.
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Since then it's been a joyous journey for these incomparable gospel artists. They have achieved
worldwide acclaim and earned FOUR Grammy Awards while reaching a new generation of listeners
performing with artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel and Lou Reed. What stands out about a Blind
Boys performance today is the excitement, the energy, the joy they emit among fans of all ages.
With the first-rate R&B grooves of rhythm section Ricky McKinnie (drums), Joey Williams (guitar)
and Tracy Pierce (bass) and the incomparable harmonies of vocalists Clarence Fountain,
Jimmy Carter, and Bill Bowers (who joined the group when George Scott passed away two years ago), a Blind Boys performance is pure musical deliverance. We are
honored not only to welcome them to the inaugural Festival of the Golden Gate, but even more
so to have them singing on a Sunday afternoon.
Artists Web Site: www.blindboys.com
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THE DONNAS:
The Bay Area has watched the four ladies known as the Donnas,
vocalist Brett Anderson, guitarist Allison Robertson, bassist Maya Ford, and
drummer Torry Castellano grow up literally right before their eyes. And
though their music may urge one to live fast and die young, there's no doubt
Donna A, Donna R. Donna F. and Donna C. have grown up fast. The band that
signed their first record deal while still in High School in Palo Alto has
released an amazing 6 full-length albums in the past 8 years. In that time
they've evolved from party-punk to 70's glam-metal to psychedelic stadium
rock. Their recorded music has become more thoughtful, more intricate and
more advanced. And yet, when they take the stage, they still bring the same
explosive riot grrll energy that we have come to know and love from these
Bay Area's hometown heroes. Its that infectious energy that we're counting
on as they play the Festival of the Golden Gate on August 19.
Artists Web Site: www.theadonnas.com
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LYRICS BORN:
Tom Shimura is a walking, talking, singing, dancing, and hitmaking representation of
all that's right about Bay Area music. A local microphone prodigy, Lyrics Born began his career
while at UC Davis, collaborating with fellow (then) students DJ Shadow, Blackalicious, and
Lateef to found Solesides Records and then Quannum, as a vehicle for their unique take on
conscious urban music. And while Shadow and Blackalicious met with critical and commercial
success relatively quickly, it would take Shimura a bit more time, both to finish his debut
album (7 years in the making) and garner even local radio play. And strangely enough, it was
the love of local modern rock station, Live 105, and their adoption of the single
"Callin' Out" that broke this urban beat aficionado into the national spotlight.
And while Callin Out made a star of Lyrics Born, it was the album "Later that Day"
and a brilliant remix follow-up "Same &*%#%, Different Day" that have exposed the
fact that Shimura's production skills are as well-honed as his lyrical delivery. And like
the rest of the artists at the Festival of the Golden Gate, Lyrics Born absolutely kills 'em
when he's on-stage, his raspy staccato offset by the sweet singing of his wife/backup
singer/label-mate Joyo Velarde. We are proud to present a true local musical hero to the
inaugural FoggFest.
Artists Web Site: www.lyricsborn.com
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LEELA JAMES:
Leela James is a new force in urban soul music, bursting upon the world of R&B
and neo-soul with her 2005 debut "A Change is Gonna Come" (Warner). Produced with
the help of luminaries like Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, Chucky Thompson, James Poyser, the
album has thrust James into the national spotlight and drawn comparisons not only to neo-soul
contemporaries like Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, but to divas for whom, a first name is enough
to identify them: Aretha, Chaka, Dionne, Carla Thomas. And though it's easy to judge artists
by their influences or peers, Leela James has built a massive following completely on her own;
touring relentlessly and astounding her audiences with her voice, her music, her grace. And
while many of her contemporaries have embraced minimal production and tomorrow's beats, James'
music sounds like an extremely talented church band. Sacred music with secular themes: that
there is the very definition of soul music. We are proud to present this beacon of modern
soul on a day when so many of her heroes will share the stage.
Artists Web Site: www.leelajames.com
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LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES:
What's a Venezuelan disco band doing hanging around the United States?
Playing barnburner concerts, building a rabid following, and cutting groundbreaking albums,
that's what! The "Invisible Friends" built a following in Caracas by playing
abandoned warehouses and bringing live music back to the underground. In 1997 they moved
to New York and were signed by David Byrne's prestigious Luaka Bop label for two superb
forays into eclectic Latin dance music. In 2004 they joined forces with famed electronica
producers Masters at Work to take their sound even further into the future. By updating
traditional styles in a live context, they exemplify a world-music movement that's taking
the sounds of the rural village to the global village; much like Femi Kuti has for Afrobeat,
Rachid Taha for Arabic, and Kinky for Mexican. But its still their infectious energy and superb
live cohesion that have built them a coast to coast following. Their concerts are sweaty, sexy,
juicy, get-downs full of enthralled female admirers and their acquiescent boyfriends. So we
invite you to catch the fever, but make sure you bring something cold to drink, and of course,
your dancing shoes.
Artists Web Site: www.amigosinvisibles.com
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SEAN HAYES:
Much like the man himself, Sean Hayes musical sensibilities defy easy
categorization. Just because there's a banjo feature din a track, don't expect it to
sound Appalachian and definitely don't expect the tuba to have anything to do with
Sousa and his severely metered marches. With his new album "Big Black Hole and
the Little Baby Star" the North Carolina-bred and San Francisco-rooted artist
continues to embrace the multifarious, channeling Billy Holliday in her melancholy
moments or hitting the pavement with broken-hearted wild-eyed friends who take
strength in numbers. With subject matter that ranges from Polka-dot panties to innocent
death row inmates, it's best to keep an ear cocked to sort out Hayes' lyrics.
A masterful songwriter and fingerpicker, the singer plays guitar, mandolin, and banjo.
We welcome one of the Bay Area's most exciting new voices to open (main stage) and close
(showcase) the first-ever day at the festival of the Golden Gate.
Artists Web Site: www.seanhayesmusic.com
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SALVADOR SANTANA BAND:
Keyboardist and composer Salvador Santana's vibrant music mixes
hip-hop, jazz, rock, Latin and other world idioms into a uniquely individual and totally
contemporary style. He likes to call the richly textured grooves he creates with the
Salvador Santana Band, "a new blend, a sound reinvented." Salvador Santana's
artistic chops are also, of course, colored by‹and a continuation of‹his family's awesome
legacy. Salvador's maternal grandfather was African-American blues pioneer, tenor and
guitar legend Saunders King, his paternal grandfather is celebrated violinist and
mariachi bandleader Jose Santana, and his father is 10X GRAMMY®-winning Rock and Roll
Hall of Famer Carlos Santana. Salvador's lyrics and inspired spoken word poetry reflect
the gift for writing he shares with his mother, Deborah Santana, whose first book, the
memoir Space Between The Stars, was published in 2005. The audio book version of the
title features music that Salvador and Carlos composed together; previously, they
collaborated on composing the GRAMMY-winning track "El Farol" from the smash
1999 Santana album Supernatural. "I always dreamt of being a musician," says
Salvador, who experimented with guitar, but found his calling on piano and keyboards.
"I'm honored to be a part of what my family has created, and to carry the torch a
few laps around the course myself."
Artists Web Site: www.salvadorsantanaband.com
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VAU DE VIRE SOCIETY:
Spawned from the depths of San Francisco's thriving Dance and
Circus sub-cultures, the Vau de Vire Society, since summer '04, has ravaged and
titillated the live entertainment scene causing jaws to drop in awe and admiration
around the Bay and beyond. This Avante-Cabaret community consists of classically-trained
dancers, some of the nations most acclaimed Acrobats, Aerial Artists, Contortionists
and side-show acts, an array of Fire-Performers, a handful of Thespians and the most
enticing go-go's. The group has been cross-pollinating genres by collaborating with
an eclectic variety of renowned Musicians and Dj's in creating original stage shows
for the non-pretentious. Collaborators have included the San Francisco Symphony,
Dresden Dolls, Alkaline Trio, Angelo Moore (Fishbone), The Mutaytor, Loop!Station,
String Cheese Incident, Kid Beyond, Rosin Coven, DJ Zeph, Mc Azeem and many others.
We welcome their creativity, wildness and delicious sense of humor to the inaugural
Festival of the Godlen Gate; expect the unexpected.
Artists Web Site: www.vaudeviresociety.com
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MATTY NASH & FRIENDS:
Spewing forth from the creative cauldron of the Burning man Festival,
the Mutaytor has lit a fire throughout the United States in 2005. The massive tribal
electronica ensemble forged by Nash and co-conspirators like John Avila (Oingo Boingo),
and Steve Reid (Supertramp/Miles Davis) has turned the corner in 2006, playing massive
festivals like 10,000 Lakes, Street Scene, Wakarusa, and even appearing at Madison Square
Garden with Mickey Hart Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo at the Jammy Awards. For this
inaugural Festival of the Golden Gate, Nash has assembled a crack stripped-down team of
Mutants for a special festival-closing set in the Hillside Stage. Beware the billing, as
Matty Nash has a LOT of talented friends!
Artists Web Site: www.mutaytor.com
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Singer/songwriter Angelina Moysov while growing up in Russia was influenced by her mother who loved Russian Folk and Gypsy music, as well as her brother’s collection of British and American music and the underground Russian punk and New Wave that helped Russian youth through hard times. Angelina came to America in 1993 and soon met guitarist Tom Ayres, who was immediately drawn to her strong melodies, lyrics and unusual songwriting style. Their first self produced LP, “City of Love” was nominated for the best debut album at the California Music Awards in 2002. The word of mouth buzz caused by their live shows earned them a 2001 SF Weekly Award for Best Pop Band, and led them to share bills with Cake, BRMC, Jonathan Richman, and many others. Their song "City of Love" appears in the 2005 film and soundtrack for "Bewitched". Their full length major label debut record "Notes from the Underworld" will be released by Columbia Records in 2006, which is already getting airplay on radio stations such as KCRW. Persephone’s Bees have earned a reputation of not only being a strong live act, but one with a vast catalog of original songs due to Angelina Moysov’s prolific songwriting. While winning over audiences with their live shows, they also caught the attention of producer Eric Valentine who had over 40 original songs to choose from in recording their latest album. Eric found the music so engaging that he ended up playing drums for the sessions. When asked what her influences are, rather than listing favorite records, Angelina replied “Some books, films, smells, colors, interaction with people and my observations of the human condition.”
Artists Web Site: www.kidbeyond.com
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K.J. SAWKA:
Seeing Kevin Sawka on the drums is the only way to believe the hype. He can
play the most complex of jungle, drum'n'bass and breakbeats utilizing no loops and no
extended samples -only his two hands and two feet. Whereas some artists claim to be
performing live drum'n'bass, live electronica, etc., it's more often than not a drummer
playing alongside pre-programmed beats if there's a drummer at all; Sawka, however, can
perform each and every 808 bass kick, snare slap, and compressed highhat tick himself,
in real-time. Seattle native will be making a very rare Bay Area appearance on the
Hillside Stage on Saturday afternoon. Don't miss it.
Artists Web Site: www.kjsawka.com
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NINO MOSCHELLA:
A Bay Area rising star, Nino Moschella produced one of the finest new
albums of 2005 in his home, with a four track. With just a bass player accompanying him,
Mosechella, seems to conjure rough-hewn funk seemingly from thin air. Creating back-porch
beats combined with modern effects and the voice of an unmistakably old soul, Moschella
has made major progress of late, signing with uber nu-funk label Ubiquity, and seems to
be on the verge of a breakthrough. If you catch his Sunday set on the "Hillside Stage"
you can say you "saw him back whenŠ"
Artists Web Site: www.ubiquityrecords.com
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THE JEFF JOLLY BAND:
From Brooklyn NY, Jeff arrived in San Francisco in 1994 creating The Jeff Jolly Band and released his first CD entitled “The Runner”. The CD received airplay at KFOG Radio in San Francisco and in Northern California. It got rave reviews from such national trade magazines as Album Network and Relix Magazine. Since then, Jeff Jolly has released two more CD’s: “Raw Material” and “Jeff Jolly Live”, the latter being recorded in Paris, France at a ten-night packed house. He is now in the studio producing a new Acoustic CD due for release in 2007! From California to New York to Europe, Jeff has opened for George Thorogood, Little Feat, David Crosby, Edgar Winter, Elvin Bishop, Bad Company, and many others. The band ranges from solo acoustic to 4 to ten players depending on the venue. They have played for ten to 5000 people who have enjoyed Jeff’s style and the unmistakable influences of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Hendrix, just to name a few. Good time rock and roll for a good time festival.
Artist Website: http://www.jeffjollyband.com
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SHANTYTOWN:
Hailing from San Francisco, delivering a unique blend of
roots-rock-meets-Louisiana-swampland boogie. Fronted by blues harp / vocalist Teague Kernan,
this combo combines a down-and-dirty French Quarter jam session with Stevie Ray Vaughan-styled
dirty blues sensibility to produce the most original San Francisco sound this side of New Orleans.
Artist Website: http://www.shantytownmusic.com
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© Copyright 2006 All rights reserved.
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