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Buskers - Live & Unplugged

Talented line-up for ENGAGE CALISTOGA

As equally diverse as the visual artists, ENGAGE Art Fair will also showcase performances from talented solo singers, songwriters, and musicians from open to close daily.

Street performance or "busking" is the act of performing in public places for gratuities. In many countries the rewards are generally in the form of money but other gratuities such as food, drink or gifts may be given.

Typically, buskers play music or otherwise perform for voluntary donations in the street or in subways. In the case of ENGAGE Art Fair, they'll perform just like street performers...in the aisleways or on a "street" corner within the gallery.

Down Dirty Shake - ENGAGE Preview Party

The Down Dirty Shake is a time travelling band from the lost universe of SOUL. Here to magnetize your hips and excursive your lips. From San Francisco, CA

DJ - Gemma XIX - ENGAGE Preview Party

Gemma XIX will be DJing at the Preview Party at 9pm on Friday, April 6th.

Clark Harding - Music Coordinator

Clark Harding is a drummer, synthesist, audio engineer, and Executive Director of the Napa Music Collective; a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and providing more music experiences for Napa County residents. He loves contributing to Napa Valley events and looks forward to seeing you at the ENGAGE Art Fair!

Buskers

Jeffrey McFarland Johnson

is a unique 21st century musician who is well versed in stringed instruments tuned in both fourths and fifths. His artistry has captivated the interest of other makers to create instruments, bows, amplifiers, effects pedals, and other accessories which he uses to enhance his talent. Jeffrey has written a quartet of geographical method books for the soprano and bass voices of string instruments tuned in fourths (guitar, bass) and fifths (violin, cello). Mr. McFarland-Johnson received his B.M. in cello performance from the Conservatory of Music, University of the Pacific, his M.A. degree in composition at UCSD in La Jolla, CA, and received a scholarship from the Finlandia Foundation to study the cello with Arto Noras (1966 Tchaikovsky Competition winner and protege of Paul Tortelier) at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.

James M Harman

Born in San Francisco, guitarist James M Harman fills out his career with solo to big band gigs in California, Texas, Mexico, Germany, and England, musical director for several musicals, studio recording sessions playing on several albums and the Pokemon TV series and movie soundtracks with diverse artists such as Ed Goldfarb, Karl Derfler, Pete Magadini, and German artist Christoph Pagel. Releasing debut album Wanderlust in 2014 with James M Harman Band, his upcoming album showcases a new band with Grammy winning artist Kevin Hayes (Robert Cray, John Lee Hooker) drumming and co-producing with John Main on bass (Carlene Carter, Doug Sahm, Rick James), and keyboardist Mike Emerson (Tommy Castro, Carlene Carter, and Percy Sledge).

David & Maya Leonard

Maya Leonard and her Dad enjoy playing Old Time fiddle tunes together. Maya has been playing the fiddle for six years, and David accompanies her on the guitar. The duo can often be seen at the Fiddle Jam each month at the Ely Stage Stop History Museum in Kelseyville, CA. This will be their second ENGAGE Performance.

Lara Avery

Lara Avery enjoys writing quirky, oddly personable songs with some good odd chords thrown in; oh, and vocally driven key changes. She is happy to be playing for you! While living in Portland, Lara wrote and performed with Wednesday Trio. More recently she has been experimenting with creating dance music and videos under the moniker egg corn. You can check out her music on Youtube and Bandcamp and follow her on Instagram for updates and randomness.

William Scott Forbes

William Scott Forbes is a performing singer songwriter based out of Laytonville, CA. He is quickly gaining notoriety for his old school but uniquely Northern California brand of original country music. Currently one of the front me in the band "Juke Box Money", a mix of funk, jazz, reggae, rock with a heavy vein of that old country. He has a seemingly universal appeal playing at honky-tonks deep in the Redwoods or tasting rooms in the Napa Valley.

John Paul Michael Todd

John Paul Michael Todd is an instrumental guitarist hailing from Napa CA, originally from Los Angeles. Though his influences are many, his main emulation has been likened to Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Merle Travis, and Jerry Reed. His arrangements of notable classic songs range from the Beatles to Scott Joplin and many surprises in between, come hear what you recognize!

Ryan Rushworth

Ryan Rushworth is a singer/songwriter based out of Northern California.
Throughout the years Ryan’s versatile songwriting has jumped across multiple genres including indie, pop, folk, Americana and hip hop. Packaged together with an acoustic guitar, dynamic vocals, and raw lyricism, Ryan creates a performance that captures the heart and leaves you tapping your feet.

KOY

KOY (Kenji O'sullivan Yoshida) started playing music in the great white north and wandered around until he made it back home to Napa. Since coming home, KOY has been writing original music that inspires a love of the craft in him. His musical influences are Ed Sheeran, Passenger, James Bay and Hozier.
@wanderingkoy

Shawn Hartshorn

Shawn Hartshorn weaves a mellifluous blend of heartfelt tunes to create a truly memorable experience. All original songs have feels of R&B, Americana, Country/Western, Reggae and island Vibes, Fold, and beyond. Shawn sings in English and his native tongue of Chamorran creating a comforting and unforgettable experience for any lucky listener.

Patti Martin

Patti Martin has been singing her original songs since out of the womb. She has played with numerous local bands and in local venues in the Valley over the last fifteen years. In the last three years she has been sharing her originals in West Coast Songwriter venues and has won twice for Best Song and three times for Best Performance. Her originals are best described as “Steel String Diaries”. Her style is uniquely her own. Her vision/motto has always been “If there’s a will, there’s a way”. Her newest band, “Tight Lines” will be playing Napa Porchfest in July.

Zak Fennie

Zak Fennie is a performing singer-songwriter and resident busker based out of the Napa Valley. At 24 years old, he has over a decade's worth of experience singing and performing in a professional environment and has won several awards for his songwriting. Zak is influenced by a wide range of musicians including Dashboard Confessional, Elliot Smith, The Police, The Killers, Johnny Cash, and Death Cab For Cutie.

Joshua James Jackson

Joshua James Jackson is the singing- songwriting force behind rising California band Sharkmouth, whose funky jazz punk is familiar to audiences up and down the west coast. Jackson’s songwriting is innovative, bringing an ear for jazz harmony and a reverence for tradition to the folk singer medium. He’ll make you think, laugh, clap and dance.

Serf & James

From college musicals and open mics, to BottleRock, Blue Note, and the Napa Valley Film Festival, Serf and James grew up playing music together in Napa. With a live set that covers everything from The Beatles, to Maroon 5, they've grown a following amongst the locals for

Owen D. Ridings

I'm influenced greatly by artists like Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams, and Bon Iver, but can't help but hold a very special place in my heart for the great soul singers such as Luther Vandross, Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, and so many more. Much of my gigging days has been spent playing with a six piece rock band The Hot Dark, based in Sierra Foothills town of Murphys, CA but now I find myself more focused on creating my own songs that are much more blues and folk based.

Moss

After being in multiple regionally well known bands over the years, Brandon Kerrigan introduces his new shimmering garage fantasy project to the world, Moss. Based in California's Bay area, Fusing 90's Indie Rock with early 2000's psychedelic pop, Moss creates a dewey and gooey atmosphere that will leave you wondering where the heck you are.

Joe Shoemaker

Joe Shoemaker is an electronic musician from Lawrence, Kansas. He now resides in Napa, where he works as a music therapist and produces electronic music that focuses on playful textural soudscapes. His music blends natural and synthesized sounds together to create harmonious textures that satisfy the senses.

Dennis Van Keuren

I started playing guitar when I was 16 with my Brother Neal. I moved from SoCal in ‘91 and began playing with the VK Loungers. We have performed at Napa Porchfest for the last 6 years and Napa Live for 2. I also play out solo or with other invited musician friends who join me.

Moonlight Daydream

Moonlight Daydream is Jon and Pete. Jon sings and plays guitar and trombone. Pete sings and plays banjo and guitar. Lots of harmonies and many gears to shift into and out of. They fear no request, and often carry an iPad for instant live karaoke action.

John Todd

John Paul Michael Todd is an instrumental guitarist hailing from Napa CA, originally from Los Angeles. Though his influences are many, his main emulation has been likened to Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Merle Travis, and Jerry Reed. His arrangements of notable classic songs range from the Beatles to Scott Joplinand many surprises in between, come hear what you recognize!