Eclectic Music Festival Spotlight & Lineup

In the third year, South Pas musicians talk to Patch about what makes the event so special. Plus, they reveal who they are most excited to see perform Saturday.

Mark Hatch of Group 5 (Gold Line Stage, 7 p.m.)

What makes your music unique? All the members are veteran professionals. Several of us have been friends for years and playing together for years. We have trumpet (Hatch), saxaphone (Sam Riney), bass (Charles Frichtel), drums (Joe Corero) but no keyboard. Barry Coates plays the guitar and guitar synthesizer, so it doesn't always sound like a guitar.

What's your favorite thing about the festival? Living in South Pas, I love a chance to show off all things that make it great. There is a small town feel to the festival. It's a chance for citizens of South Pas to realize how many world-class musician live here.

What other musician are you most excited to see? Mark Isham. As a jazz trumpet player, I have followed him for years. He'll be at the main stage; hopefully, I get done in time.

Brad Colerick (Firefly Bistro, 10 p.m.)

What makes your music unique?  I bring a taste of the heartland to SoCal (organically grown, of course).

What's your favorite thing about the festival?  I call it South By South Pas after the great annual gathering in Austin. I've attended that festival for years and this is a smaller, friendlier version of that one.

What other musician are you most excited to see? Kal David. He's the namesake of my son, who is now 10 years old.

Dave Plenn (Firefly Bistro, 8:20 p.m.)

What makes your music unique? Because I'm writing it.

What's your favorite thing about the festival? The word eclectic: You have jazz, singer/songwriters, country, blues.

What other musician are you most excited to see? Mark Hatch and my son, Taylor Plenn.

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Now that you've heard from a few local artists, here's a list of what's to come Saturday evening.

ECLECTIC STAGE: Outdoor near the South Pasadena Music Center & Conservatory, 1509 Mission Street.

5 p.m.    Boyz Skule

Detroit native Brett Farkas and his band have been likened to Spoon, The Black Keys and Bruce Springsteen with a bit of pop-rock Elvis Costello.

6 p.m.    Tera Vas

Persian and Middle Eastern music combined with Flamenco fusion music made popular by groups such as the Gypsy Kings. 

7 p.m.   Kal David and the Real Deal featuring Miss Lauri Bono

Kal evokes the deep blues of South Louisiana when B.B. King, Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker held court. A player’s player, Kal and his group really are the real deal.

8 p.m.    Mark Isham and Hotels Deluxe

Best known for his uniquely innovative sounds and hauntingly beautiful melodies, with scores contributing to many Academy Award winning films, Mark Isham is regarded musically as the inventive, bold master of the written note.

9 p.m.    Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen

Arguably the pioneer of the genre known as “Country Rock,” Chris Hillman has carved a permanent niche in the history of contemporary American music through his work with such notable bands as The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and the Desert Rose Band.

EMERGING ARTISTS STAGE: BurkeTriolo Studio, 538 Mission Street.

5 p.m.   Hazel

Band members Luka Douridas, Angelica Garcia, Lukas Frank and Ivan Pyzow pack a whollop way beyond their years.

6 p.m.   Torches in Trees

A psychedelic outfit that is hypnotizing the Los Angeles scene. You may have heard them live in hot spots around the area or on air at KCRW, KPFK, KXLU and stations across the U.S.

7 p.m.    A House for Lions

Indie folk rock that can make even the coldest heart melt featuring singer, songwriter Daniel Norman,  guitarist Mike Nissen and bassist, keyboardist Eric McCann.

 8 p.m.    Kitten

Just back from a U.S. Tour, Kitten has been featured in the Best of 2010 poll by Project.net. The Sunday School EP was included in the Best EPs of 2010 and Kill The Light was also featured in Favorite Songs.  

GOLD LINE STAGE: Meridian Iron Works Museum, 913 Meridian Ave.

5 p.m.    The Taylor Plenntet

Up-and-coming saxophone improviser, Plenn, brings in a hard-hitting quartet of young lions.

 6 p.m.    Donald Patterson

Bassist Patterson toured for many years with Grammy nominated saxophonist Kirk Whalum and with former Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year, Peter White.

 7 p.m.    Mark Hatch and Group 5

Using the classic 60's jazz quintet format as a starting point, Group 5 moves forward to newer musical genres as well as the most recent instrumental technology. The result is jazz out of the tradition and beyond. 

8 p.m.    Sally Dworsky & Friends

All vocalists extraordinaire, these four singer, songwriters have an amazing medley in mind. The group is comprised of Moira Smiley, Andy Tabb, Jason Mandell and Sally Dworsky. 

9 p.m.    South Pasadena Transit Authority

Chicago covers and beyond featuring a four-piece horn section.

CARNEGIE STAGE: South Pasadena Public Library Carnegie Wing, 1115 El Centro Street.

6 p.m.    David Batt

Improviser on the ivories, a little blues, a little jazz and maybe a classical surprise!

 7 p.m.    Los Angeles Clarinet Choir

Founded in 2005 by its conductor, Margaret Thornhill, the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir has quickly become one of North America's premiere clarinet ensembles.

*Schedule & musicians subject to change without notice.

ART GALERIES & OPEN STUDIOS

SoPas Gallery (1121 Mission Street)

Showing paintings by Herb Hazelton—an animator whose recent work included the Iron Giant. This show looks at the more personal creativity of the talented artist.

(1506 Mission Street)

"Transition" by Regine Verougstraete will be featured. Verougstraete is a Belgian-born former installation artist who exhibited widely throughout Europe in her previous incarnation has been using art as a self-healing tool for most of her creative life

Fremont Gallery (812 Fremont Avenue)

Women Artists Group Exhibition that represent all media: oil, acrylics, pastels, mixed media, sculpture, pottery, glass and ceramics.

BurkeTriolo Studio (538 Mission Street)

Open studio featuring the latest works by artists J.T. Burke and Lorraine Triolo. BurkeTriolo is also the Emerging Artists live music venue.

Art in the Streets – 3D Graffiti (913 Meridian Avenue)

The South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC) presents a hands-on opportunity for all to transform simple cardboard boxes into tall, collaborative, temporary works of art. Fun for all from 5 to 8 p.m. by the Gold Line Stage.

Giant Easels Juried Exhibition (1509 Mission Street)

The South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC) artists have created new works for this selective show. And if you bid on a painting, you too will make a big contribution to the arts in South Pasadena.

FOOD TRUCKS

DosaTruck

Sourdough crepes from South India.

Slammin’ Sliders

Gourmet sliders featuring Imperial Valley Kobe beef, Contessa Shrimp, Petaluma Poultry Farms chicken and Niman Ranch pork products.

Dumpling Station

Mouth watering dumplings.

Auntie’s Fry Bread

Tacos from Fry Bread, a Native American type bread that is handmade and cooked to order. It’s light, fluffy and delicious.