“I worried that my hopes for the fest were simply too high. I’d come to imagine BMF as a transcendent odyssey, complete with incredible music, an awe-inspiring natural setting, and a vibrant community of kindred spirits. That’s a lot to expect from a second-year festival. Hell, I’d gone to Bonnaroo with equally lofty hopes only to end up dehydrated, underwhelmed, and many dollars in the hole. What if Bear Music Fest ended up being a bust, too?
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.”
Read MoreWe've got five more artists to introduce you to this week! Artist Spotlights will be coming soon, but in the meantime browse through the links of these incredible folks you’ll be spending the weekend with in Sept.
Read MoreWhether traveling to gigs on horseback or by tour bus, Americana mavens The Brothers Comatose forge their own path with raucous West Coast renderings of traditional bluegrass, country and rock ‘n’ roll music. The five-piece string band is anything but a traditional acoustic outfit with their fierce musicianship and rowdy live shows reminiscent of stadium rock concerts.
Read MoreEver since the members of San Antonio-forged, Tex-Mex/Pop-Rock outfit The Last Bandoleros can remember, they’ve been surrounded by dynamic and diverse musical influences. From Diego’s early Rock ‘n’ Roll collection to Emilio’s Beatles re-issues and the Tex-Mex music of their father to the Country-Blues of Jerry’s guitar tabs and Derek’s Jangly Brit-Rock records, the sounds around the members of The Last Bandoleros have always had an urgency and emphasis on songs and songwriting.
Read MoreKate Kay Es is an Adelaide born, Brookyln based musician. She was raised by the likes of Whitney Houston, Luther Vandros, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Crosby, Stills Nash and Young. Kate is a jazz pianist, vocalist and saxophonist as well as a songwriter. She has performed with artists such as Joss Stone, Mavis Staples, Ricki Lee Jones, James Morrison, Ghost Face Killah (Wutang Clan), Jamie Foxx, Macklemore among others. Kate has most recently been on tour with Kesha playing keyboards and singing in her band. Kate releases her new EP in 2018.
Read MoreThe T Sisters are a genuine sister group based in the creative hub of Oakland, California. The group is made up of Erika (guitar, vocals), Rachel (guitar, banjo, vocals) and Chloe Tietjen (percussion, vocals). Distinguished by close harmonies, catchy melodies and potent lyricism, the T Sisters’ sound represents a continuum of music: from roots to pop influences, moments of stunning a cappella to swells of groovy indie folk. The sisters' contemporary yet classic sound invites a range of likenesses, from the Pointer Sisters and the Everly Brothers to modern family bands like the Avett Brothers and First Aid Kit. With their soaring sibling harmonies, sassy stage presence, and inventive songwriting, these three sisters embody a fresh and soulful take on folk/Americana.
Read MoreWe will be announcing our 2018 lineup over the next few weeks. We like to give you only a few at a time so you can take a moment to explore in the uniqueness and diversity of music you'll get at this year's festival. As you enjoy this Memorial Day weekend you can also enjoy the anticipation of hanging out this fall in the beautiful Sierra mountains with the amazing folks below.
Read More“We grew up listening to Radiohead and the Beatles and Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd,” says Griffin Sherry, guitarist/singer in The Ghost Of Paul Revere. “Everyone assumed we were a bluegrass band because we were playing these traditional instruments, but we weren’t writing traditional music. We were just writing songs with the instruments we had.” Building on their triumphant appearance at the iconic Newport Folk Festival, Maine’s own Ghost of Paul Revere will bring the call-and-response melodies, sing-along hooks, and densely layered harmonies of their unique brand of “holler folk” west to the California mountains. Bear Music Festival audiences can count on being invited into the band’s essential sense of musical camaraderie, which, in the words of the Boston Globe, "creates the type of foot-stompin’ music for which festivals are made." If you are headed toBottleRock this weekend, check them on out Sat afternoon. Feel free to mention after the show, "see you at Bear Music Fest!"
Read MoreTaking the Cello on a joy ride! Helen Gillet is a both a singer-songwriter and surrealist-archeologist, equally focused on the worlds of synthesized sound and acoustic cello, who’s known for her eclectic palette – which includes avant-garde jazz, French chansons, funk, alternative rock, and the bohemian flair of the Velvet Underground. Though Gillet had already begun to experiment with improvisational music prior to her arrival in New Orleans, she’s since flourished into one of the most unique, talented, and beloved artists in the Crescent City. She’s worked with artists including Arcade Fire, Kid Koala, Cassandra Wilson, Dr. John, and Marianne Faithfull and not surprisingly, is a regular at New Orlean's acclaimed Jazz Fest. With her onstage arsenal she fabricates each song with a true mastery of live looping technology and conjures a different side of New Orleans in the Sierras.
Read MoreAmalia Watty has one of those voices you just don't forget. Whether you hear her on your TV set, drawing raves from Lionel Richie and Katy Perry on “American Idol”, or busking in the New York City subway, her distinctive tone and spellbinding pop-soul style - somewhere between Pharrell Williams and Corrine Bailey Rae - stay with you. Originally from Anguilla in the Caribbean, she's an island girl who didn't swim and a tomboy who loved to climb white cedar trees. She's a wild child who was a good girl and brings this combination of strength and tenderness to her songs. She woke naturally with the rooster's sound, roaming through farmland and forests, singing as she gathered her own lemongrass leaves for bush tea. We know she will fit in perfectly at Bear Music Fest!
Read MoreSonny Step has established himself as a potent force in an eclectic array of musical genres, bringing to bear his skills as a multi-instrumentalist singer- songwriter. Sonny brings musicality and groove to every project including rap and trap efforts and fusion outfits coming out of the Steely Dan and Miles Davis vibes.
Read MorePuckett Family Project has always been known in the San Francisco Bay Area for their fun, festive live shows. They play a mix of high energy, countrified rock / funk and have shared bills with a wide range of bands including Ricky Skaggs, Lettuce, Acoustic Junction, and Tea Leaf Green. Singer Songwriter Tod Puckett’s vocal style often draws comparisons to Jack Johnson and Taj Mahal with original arrangements reminiscent of the Jerry Garcia band. This nine piece sound features lead guitarist, Dave Amato, former ALO drummer Elton Bradmon, and John Trombetta on the masterful horn solos. Back-up vocalists Chrissy Hoffman and Dave Baker weave beautiful harmonies throughout the sets. With Harrison Pollak rocking the keys and Tim Romaine on the groove bass, this is a fun vibe you won’t want to miss. Get your party on. It’s time to boogie.
Read MoreIt began with a tiny violin presented to oldest son James, then 3 ½ years old, a gift from father to son. The father began playing his guitar for the sons; teaching lyrics to popular songs and having them sing their favorite song "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road" by Loudon Wainwright III which they frequently sang at the UC Alumni Camp Lair of the Bear. Terry Family is comprised of father Jim and sons Clark and Graham, all former Music Directors at the Lair. The music is original and comes from the complex experiences of life on the home-front and in the world, delivering personal and societal messages with a wallop. While the roots of American folk music are prevalent in the playing style, the music is fresh and unique, reflective of the family from which the music originates.
Read MoreSpeakeasē, started by Adrienne Wickham-Gobert & Daniel Erik, began on a small stage in a Redwood forest up in Mendocino county. Shortly after kindling their musical spirits, Adrienne and Daniel grew the group into a 5-piece neo-soul, funk ensemble.
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