Mille Grazie, 2010 Entertainers! What a show you all put on. Festival Visitors, check the links below for more information about your favorites
 |
Austin Willacy is a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter who tours internationally as a solo artist and with The House Jacks a cappella rock band. He also directs `Til Dawn, Youth in Arts' teen a cappella group. Austin's music has been featured in television and film productions and he has contributed vocal performances to video games including Guitar Hero and Karaoke Revolution. He’s been in Rolling Stone Magazine and performed with Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Ray Charles, James Brown, Jem, Vienna Teng, Rachael Yamagata and Amos Lee. austinwillacy.com Sunday, 2 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
Banda Italiana di Marin was founded in 2002 by Marshall Johnson and has been conducted since its beginning by Adrian L. Quince. Italian Banda music has been performed throughout Italy in small towns for more than 150 years. Banda is played predominantly senza voce (without voices) with solo lines delivered by instrumentalists. Banda Italiana will be playing inside St. Raphael’s Church. Come rest from the sun and wind and enjoy this beautiful, timeless music. Families with children welcome. The performance will be casual and respectful. Come and go, quietly, as you please. Sunday, 3 pm, St. Raphael’s church |
 |
BAUTISTA plays Latin Rock-Jazz Fusion music. They have been performing for seven years and are going strong around the Bay Area. Although based in San Rafael, the band members are from various areas in the Bay Area and come together to play mostly original music. The Percussive Sound of BAUTISTA is becoming widely known as it appeals to people of all ages. bautistaband.com Saturday, 5 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
Bella Ciao plays retro Italiano swing and pop and today's hottest Italian-American hits in a mambolicious show that has everyone livin' la dolce vita. Bella Ciao’s repertoire includes classics like Tu Vo Fa L’Americano, Mambiambo and Marina as well as the Pasta Song and Blue Italian Skies. And Bella Ciao’s show includes a pizza-dough-tossing contest! The six-piece band with accordion, drums, bass, sax, guitar and mandolin is fronted by the incredible Mimi Ferrari. In 2005, two tracks from Bella Ciao’s CD Legends of the Italian Lounge were placed on the Grammy Nomination Ballot! ladyofspain.com Sunday, 3:30 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
Bronkar Lee is an acclaimed beatboxer, drummer, juggler, musician, actor, funny man, and circus performer extraordinaire who has taken his skills to events, clubs and theaters around the world. His claim to fame is getting hundreds of thousands of Swiss people to beatbox with him! Bronkar’s been a featured act on NBC's America’s Got Talent, was named 'Mr. Comediality' by San Francisco's Comedy Club House and was nominated for 2009 East Bay Express' Best Entertainer of the year. He combines music, charisma, improvisation and energy like no one else--a rhythmic pioneer! bronkarlee.com Saturday, 12 noon, A Street Stage |
 |
From the stankiest sock in the hamper, to the dumbest girl in yo' math class comes THE COSMIC SHENANIGANS! Ricky Mier on mystery cosmic banjo, Will Durkee on galactic bass, “Jetpack” Jackson Hillmer on drums and “Jiggity” Jake Botts, the last of the singing cowboys, on saxophone. The Shenanigans have played concerts, dance parties, and charity events including fundraisers for breast cancer research. myspace.com/cosmicshenanigans Saturday, 3:30 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
From a simple, white house in the woods of North Carolina, Delta Rae brings four unique voices to harmonize over songs born out of the rhythms and scenery of America. Siblings Ian, Eric, and Brittany Holljes, along with long-time friend, Elizabeth Hopkins, perform folk pop in the vein of Fleetwood Mac, the Mamas and the Papas, and Peter, Paul, and Mary, but with a grit and soul all their own. In less than a year, they’ve won the Cayamo 2010 Open Mic, played to packed houses on both coasts and gained attention from industry insiders. Their debut EP was released in April 2010. deltarae.com Sunday, 12:45 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
Desiree Cannon Wattis is both a teenager and an old soul. She writes haunting songs of love and loss along with slam poetry. She can rock some Freddie Mercury or breath new life into "Let It Be". Des is direct, honest, insightful, a natural artist. underagerecords.com Saturday, 12:45 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
The House Jacks are a 5-man a cappella band creating vocal and instrumental textures using only their voices. The Oakland Tribune says they offer “a battery of sounds that make mincemeat of the traditional limits of the human voice”. The House Jacks have performed over 2,500 shows and have shared the stage with L.L. Cool J, James Brown, The Temptations, Crosby Stills and Nash and Ray Charles. Their California radio station jingles have been heard by 1.5 million listeners, and their radio spots for Rick Dees Top 40 have been heard by 50 million listeners around the world. housejacks.com Saturday, 4 pm, 5th Street Stage |
 |
Lara Johnston has been performing since she was very small, joining her father’s band, the Doobie Brothers, on stage when she was only two. With a powerful voice shaped by the influence of divas like Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Beyonce, Lara has opened for Willie Nelson, Tower of Power, Huey Lewis and Journey, and shared the stage with Michael McDonald, Bonnie Raitt and Neil Patrick Harris. She was featured in the MTV competition Rock the Cradle and on E! True Hollywood Story. Lara returns to the Festival for her third year in a row with a fiery, funky set that is not to be missed. larajohnston.com Saturday, 2 pm, 5th Street Stage |
 |
Rock doesn't get any better than La Ventana (“The Window”). The Bay Area-based band mixes American Roots Music, Rock, R&B and Alternative, with a 9 member line-up that boosts the group's power without any musician overshadowing another. La Ventana 2010 features American Idol Semi-Finalist Ashley Mendez, along with the return of Founding LV Original, Johnny De La Cruz on Lead Guitar. La Ventana has opened for Santana, Malo, Tierra, War, Joe Bataan, Greg Rollie and Marc Anthony and was voted the Hottest Latin Rock Band in the Bay Area by the "Voices of Latin Rock" and Senior SF Chronicle Music Critic Joel Selvin. myspace.com/laventanaband Sunday, 5 pm, 5th Street Stage |
 |
Lido Cantarutti will once again be joining us on Sunday for our Thank You Ceremony and the announcement of the third Pamela Levine Arts Education Leadership Award. The son of Italian parents, Lido was raised in the Bay Area. He and his wife, Mary Brent, are long time residents of San Rafael. Lido is in his thirty-fourth year as the driving force behind Marin County's Italian Film Festival. The Italian government has twice honored him for his tireless contributions to Italian Cultural activities. |
 |
Miguel Martinez is the director of Corazón Sur, a jazz, Cuban and Mexican Son fusion group, and co-director of Balamcoatl, a collaborative project diffusing the rich music and dance traditions of the indigenous people of México. With degrees in Music Education and Transversal Flute, Miguel uses his training in Kodaly and Orff, to take children and adults on a magical journey through the music of Latin America. Miguel works for Youth in Arts as a Mentor Artist in Marin schools. He is the featured composer and performer on C’mon Everybody!, Youth in Arts 2009 children’s album.Saturday, 10 am, A Street Stage |
 |
Marin School of the Arts Jazz Band I, directed by Mark Peabody, is one of the 5 top high school jazz bands in California. This year’s highlights include placing 2nd out of 65 schools at the Folsom Jazz Festival and a Command Performance at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival. Pianist Jordy Carrington was named best high school pianist in Santa Cruz for the second year in a row. Jill Ryan, was chosen as most outstanding among 800 saxophonists at the Reno Jazz Festival. The group has developed a reputation for tackling difficult music that focuses on avant-garde styles. marinschoolofthearts.com Sunday, 1 pm, 5th Street Stage |
 |
Marin School of the Arts Jazz Choir, directed by Jenny Bent, has won several prestigious awards this year including 3rd place at the Folsom Jazz festival, a Command Performance at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival and 3rd Place at the Reno Jazz Festival. Several students have won outstanding soloist awards at festivals including Jill Ryan, Jae Pickman-Thoon, Jimmy Kraft, Drew Corey, Jordy Carrington and Carly Bond. The group is one of the top Jazz Choirs in Northern California. marinschoolofthearts.com Sunday, 12 noon, 5th Street Stage |
|
Marin School of the Arts Jazz Combo I features an all-awards-winning ensemble of Jill Ryan on Sax, Jordy Carrington on Piano, Casey Karr on Bass and Will Jack on Drums. The group performs a variety of originals and arrangements created by the band members. They have won many prestigious awards including placing 2nd overall at the Folsom Jazz Festival out of 26 schools, “Unanimous Superior” score at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival and 2nd overall in the Advanced Combo division at the Reno Jazz Festival. marinschoolofthearts.com Sunday, 12:30 pm, 5th Street Stage |
 |
Maestro Netzahualcoyotl and the students of Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl bring the colorful dances of Mexico to the streets of San Rafael. Maestro Netzahualcoyotl has danced in some of the most prestigious folklorico groups in México, and has been instructing students of all ages in Marin County since 1996. This talented group of youth performs in theaters and community events throughout the Bay Area. Saturday, 11:20 am, A Street Stage |
 |
One-Eyed Rhyno is the pride of Sacramento, California, and recent winner of the Jammies. Featuring guitarist and vocalist James Hunter, drummer and vocalist Elaine Hunter, and bassist Andrew Daniels, the group evokes the best of Led Zepplin and Stevie Ray Vaughn. James' original songs combine smart, thoughtful lyrics with sizzling riffs and driving rhythms, and the blues are never far away. underagerecords.com Saturday, 1:10 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
Petty Theft is the ultimate tribute to one of America’s most enduring rock n’ roll legends. If you love great songs and rock n’ roll music, you can’t help but be a huge fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Comprised of five professional Bay Area musicians, Petty Theft delivers Petty’s songs true to the originals and in the spirit of his legendary bands’ live shows, performing everything from revered classics to current hits. Since the band’s inception in 2005, Petty Theft has brought its electrifying live show to clubs, private parties, and large festival stages throughout the Bay Area and beyond. pettytheftrocks.com Sunday, 3 pm, 5th Street Stage |
 |
The Ray Simpson Big Band is a perennial Italian Street Painting Festival favorite. The 18-piece band plays the music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s—from swing to jazz. These local musicians have performed professionally for years. You’ll hear arrangements created by the late Ray Simpson, along with favorites from Count Basie, Les Brown, Jimmy Lunceford, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, and Glenn Miller. Polish up your swing dancing shoes! Saturday, 11 am, 5th Street Stage |
 |
Meet Rozzi Crane, a city girl with soul, born and raised in San Francisco. Rozzi’s voice is sweet and smoky, offering up catchy melodies and relatable lyrics with a sultry, retro-pop sound. Recently, four of her original songs were licensed for Lifetime Movie Network’s Sins of a Mother. Rozzi has opened for The Steve Miller Band and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. She has been recognized by The New York Post, The San Francisco Bay Guardian, USC’s Alumni Magazine and Green AM Radio. Now living in L.A., Rozzi attends USC’s Thornton School of Music.rozzicrane.com Sunday, 5 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
Saxopoly too! under the direction of Marcia Miget, is a select instrumental ensemble of Miraflores Academié. Saxopoly has participated in the Festival for eleven years. The group’s original members, all who have made careers in music, include Robby Marshall, Jeff Derby, Lou Wiskes, J.J. Byars and Alex Baky. Saxopoly performs the music of American Jazz composers like Monk, Niehaus and Parker. The music showcases the award-winning talents of Miraflores Academié senior Eric Wilkinson , junior Zephan McIntyre-Bader, senior Colin DiGrazia and freshman Michael Blasky. miracademie.org Saturday, 2:15 pm, A Street Stage |
 |
The highly acclaimed San Rafael High School Advanced Jazz Band has earned superior marks and rave reviews at festivals this year. Wearing their traditional red jackets, the versatile SRHS Jazz Band performs a broad selection from Big Band to Post Bop with a little Funk and Latin. The San Rafael High School music program provides instruction and performance opportunities for more than 200 students, including Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Orchestra, Steel Pans, Wind Ensemble, Guitar, and Chorus. Students perform in festivals, concerts and community events. Saturday, 5:30 pm, 5th Street Stage |
 |
Youth in Arts `Til Dawn uses a contemporary song list to make a cappella accessible to audiences of all ages, `Til Dawn is widely recognized for exposing young audiences to the art of a cappella and embodying the power, passion and capability of youth. `Til Dawn has won numerous awards ranging from the 2005 California State Championship in High School A Cappella to a 2009 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for Best High School solo on their CD Crescendo. Get your copy at the Festival! youthinarts.org Saturday, 12:45 pm, 5th Street Stage AND Sunday, 11:30 A Street Stage |
 |
Due Zighi Baci or Two Gypsy Kisses perform Italian and French Café and Salon music throughout the Bay Area. Tenor Michael Van Why specializes in 19th century French mélodie, Italian/Neapolitan canzone and German art song. He holds a B.A. in music from SSU where he studied Vocal Performance. Accordionist Sheri Mignano has spent her lifetime playing and loving this music and holds a B.M. in Music History/Literature from SFSU as well as an M.A. in humanities. You can learn more about this unique duo at eurocafemusic.com. |
 |
Zack Pitt-Smith began his musical journey on a drum set at age 6, later studying saxophone at Eastman School of Music and Berklee College of Music, and graduating in Ethnomusicology from Brown. He has taught for 15 years in Bay Area schools, studios, community centers, and prisons, sharing a passion for collective exploration and creative pursuit of sound. Zack finds inspiration in improvisational forms like jazz and traditional Brazilian music. He performs with Grupo Falso Baiano and has shared the stage with Jovino Santos, Harvey Wainapel, Marcos Silva, Gene Harris, Slide Hampton & James Williams. Saturday, 10:40 am, A Street Stage |
