Amalia 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.
Read MoreWe decided we couldn't wait until next summer to unleash some great music! Bear Music Fest has partnered with the annual Lair Tailgate Party to present two of our favorite BMF Artists— Zack Orion and Caleb Hawley— in a FREE concert on the UC Berkeley Campus Saturday November 4th!
Read MoreTrombonist for Afrolicious discusses the Bear Music Fest on Bay Area Focus.
Read More“There’s always been a push and pull between the rigidity of electronic music and the fluid nature of playing live. It’s been a learning process.”
Read More"I didn't start singing in front of people seriously until i was 24 years old. As a youngster it was my dream to be a singer and musician but I was always too afraid to try, fearing criticism and rejection. I'm now 29, and in the last 5 years i've put together a band and an album i can say i'm pretty proud of!" — Ellisa Sun
Read More"If Afrolicious could live how we wanted, who’s to say we wouldn’t have a dope piece of land where we grow our own food and other things and have a big community that’s more outdoor-oriented. That’d be a beautiful future. We are of the earth, and that’s part of who we as musicians are. "
Read More"Someone once described my vocal sound as Laura Nyro meets Aretha Franklin." — Mari Mack
Read More“The banjo is always refreshing. Every time I pick it up, it just feels like something new and dangerous could happen.”
Read More“I don’t think our setting is ‘Arghh Art! We will conquer art! We’re very serious!’ We’ve definitely got a goofiness to the sound, a lightheartedness.”
Read More“The Make A Band Famous show gave us all these creative challenges; we were driving all over New York playing weird shows, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone in a way that felt creative. Like they gave us a box of toy instruments and we had to play a cover with those, so my bassist had a little Casio keyboard and I had maracas tied to my ankles and we were playing an Alanis Morrisette song at 2 in the morning.” - Chris Ayer
Read More"Because songwriting is such an intimate expression, it was awkward when we were just friends and hadn’t really opened up in that way that’s necessary for writing good songs. Having a romantic involvement allowed us the intimacy to really open up in the songwriting process without fear of judgment…and our songs got much better”
Read More"This festival is an elevated spiritual experience that’s based in a lot of love and relationship. That connects everyone from audience member to volunteer staffer to artist. Everyone there feels that web of compassion; to me that’s the special aspect of Bear Music Festival that I don’t think exists in a lot of environments."
Read More"I know that for a fact music is going to be a part of my life forever, definitely. There’s nothing else that really compares to it, so why would you try to do anything else?”
Read More“It’s a testament to your music if you’re playing in a really loud room and the place just shuts up 30 seconds into a song. And it’s like, ‘Ohhh. I’m doing something right.’”
Read More