2024 San Rafael PorchFest Musicians

AL-X The Great

AL-X The Great is a 26 year old hip hop artist born in Hong Kong, raised in Japan and Los Angeles, who currently resides in Marin County, California. His love for music stems from lazy days listening to classic rock with his mom and driving around listening to old school hip hop with his dad. By being able to take from multiple genres of music, AL-X seemingly floats between various modern hip hop sounds with relaxing, "beach vibe" tracks such as his EP Sunscreen (Soundcloud), to more modern alternative kinds of rap music like his single Rocketman (feat. Atlas & Lando!). As AL-X continues with his career as an artist is is easy to see how these varying tracks show a merging of modern rap music with its other sub-genres.

Area Agresiva

San Rafael’s Area Agresiva offers a fresh blend of traditional cumbia, Sierreño, and corridos styles. "We are your friends Agresiva Area, we also recognize the old school and all the themes that inspired us to create this movement!! Here we are at your service and to serve you.”

Bananas At Large Youth Stage!

12 pm Susan Z's Happy Lane Cabaret & Open Mic
2:30-3 pm Unfinished Sentence
3-3:30 pm Jade Rose
3:30-4 pm Tropical Vomit
4-5 pm Lunar Mooners

Local music store Bananas at Large presents an afternoon of amazing youth-oriented performances at the Gerstle Park playground, bring your kids down to enjoy sing alongs, karaoke, musicals, and some rocking young bands.

Bandini

Based in Marinwood, San Rafael, Bandini are a three-piece English-influenced, Americana tinged piano/guitar-led-pop band that play highly melodic original songs of love and loss threaded with dark humor. Influenced by Ben Folds, Ed Harcourt, the Cure, Blur, Pulp, Father John Misty and others Bandini have released two full length albums in the last 3 years - 2020’s “Gone To Hell, San Rafael”, which is a love story that unfolds during a zombie apocalypse in Marin County, California; and 2022's “I Was The Leader of A Cult”, a set of songs told through the eyes of a variety of famous and fictional cult leaders and members. Their third album, "Everyone Around Us Is Falling Apart" will be released in the Fall.

Boy in the Bubble

Oakland’s Boy in the Bubble delivers story-driven indie rock anthems in a raw, energetic live show. Fans of John Lennon, the Kinks, Blur and David Bowie won’t be disappointed.

Blue Monday

Blue Monday delivers the finest in swinging jazz entertainment. We reflect the rich heritage of the genre while adding a Bay Area twist. Led by Gerstle Park neighbors Lucinda Otto on vocals and Rob Pascual on tenor sax, Blue Monday also features Susheel on drums, Nush on bass, Steve on the guitar and Jackie on the keys.

Canyon

CANYON is a San Francisco group whose woodshed-birthed sound follows in the tradition of American folk and rock pioneers. From airy acoustic numbers to intense fuzz-driven jams, their organic soundscape pulsates with intensity and dynamics, and never loses respect for the simplicity and power of the song.

Christa Pfeiffer

Classically trained soprano, Christa Pfeiffer will be joined by mezzo-soprano, Laura Wiebe and accompanist, Chip Colvin in classical and musical theater songs, arias and duets. We love PorchFest!

The Crooked Stuff

The Crooked Stuff is a psychedelic discopunk experience like no other! Body-moving and mind-bending, their absurdist energy and dancefloor moving sound will free your funky soul! Cut loose, be free!

Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs!

Danny Click’s album "Life Is A Good Place" spent more than 12 consecutive months on the Country, pop, and Americana radio charts. The first single, “Wait My Turn”, reached #1 on Nashville’s Indie World Country Chart, and the second single, “I Feel Good Today”, topped out at #14 on the NMW national Country chart along side Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift.
He’s built a large and passionate fan base that includes musical greats Carlos Santana and Elvin Bishop, both of whom have joined him on stage for impromptu jams. Think Tom Petty crossed with Wilco, spiced with the southern tradition of Lucinda Williams and John Hiatt. Add to that Click’s searing guitar, reminiscent of Stevie Ray and David Lindley, and you’ve got at least part of the picture.

David Outlaw Band

David Outlaw arrived in Northern California via New Orleans and Memphis. After years of playing with some of the legends of the South and developing his own style, his music has settled in the heart of West Marin County. David Outlaw Band is a true Southern rock psychedelic experience that will keep you spinning.

Deborah Crooks

Bay Area songwriter Deborah Crooks has recorded multiple recordings under her own name and with the band Bay Station. Her music has been described as "what Americana is all about: imaginative, cinematic, informative and entertaining." Her most recent project is the avian-themed folk-opera, Flight Lessons.

El Radio Fantastique

If Anton Lavey, Frank Sinatra
and David Bowie dropped acid in New Orleans and had an orgy withThe Beatles, their unholy
offspring would be
El Radio Fantastique.

The Electricfiers

The Electricfiers is a loud, hard-rockin' family band from Marin County, with Josie (10) on drums, Jonathan (14) on guitar, and their dad Nathan (old) on bass. Their original music pays homage to blues rock legends such as Led Zeppelin, SRV, ZZ Top and Mountain, with epic guitar solos featuring soulful bends and lightning-fast runs, thunderous and driving drums, and basslines that are funky and groovy!

Evening Hawks

The Evening Hawks are an acoustic blend of Alabama grit and California cool, delivering the emotive depth of folk, the raw energy of rock and the narrative richness of country. Their dynamic three-part harmonies weave a compelling resonance into their songs, crafting a unique Americana sound.

Georgia West

Georgia West, a country-americana-garage rock band, is currently based out of Northern California. Growing up with the sounds of Northern California psychedelic folk scene and taking that sound and ethos to the South, Midwest, and East Coast through the 90s, the writers of Georgia West learned to create songs that transition from country to pop to rock with original melodies that you won’t soon forget.

Go By Ocean

“Can I Communicate With the Unknown?” is the new album from Go By Ocean, moniker of Northern California based singer/songwriter/producer Ryan McCaffrey. Co-produced alongside Tim Bluhm (The Mother Hips) and David Glasebrook, the album features contributions from a wide cast of characters, ranging from the tight knit community of Phil Lesh’s much loved Terrapin Crossroads to the wider West Coast indie-rock scene, including members of The Mother Hips, Sugar Candy Mountain, ALO, Tea Leaf Green, and more.

Great Highway

Over 5 albums & 12 years, Great Highway has evolved into an eclectic, high-energy dance-rock outfit most frequently billed as “indietronica.” Their sometimes sorrowful, often hopeful, earworm songs feature a blend of electric harp, alto saxophone, drums, and synth textures. Fronted by vocalists Holly Kulm and Jason Hunter, the band dares to form and reform a unique and innovative sound. "Great Highway take you on a free-wheeling musical journey that embraces the fullness of the human experience, from the dazzling light of joy and connection, to the dark and somber twists life can bring." - Remi X, StarCrash. instagram.com/greathighway.

Güero

Hailing from Sacramento, CA, Güero's sound is a melodic mix of punctual bass and keyboards, pulsating drums, and woodsy guitars, with beautiful, reverb-laden vocals coalesced into striking pop songs and ballads. Their music has an openness that is a result of lengthy jamming and experimentation driven between each other’s emanating energy and rhythm.

Jacob Benning Trio

As an American “Skynyrd Zeppelin” band/artist in the San Francisco North Bay, Jacob Benning wields sweet soulful vocal harmonies to pack a “fullness” into the simplicity of a 3-piece band by way of 3-piece harmonies. Inspired by early rock & roll bred from American roots music, this guitar-driven trio evokes nostalgia and danceability with the most iconic music from a variety of generations. Creating a delicious blend of rock, pop, and country covers mixed with original music, this band lands perfectly with the widest of audiences.

Jenerator

Jenerator's signature sound is one part lively Americana, one part gritty blues, and one part searing rock-n-roll. Brought to life by a variety of Northern California’s top talent, Jenerator’s sound is continuously evolving; live performances leave plenty of room for the rich combination of stellar instrumentalists to shine alongside bandleader Jen Rund's compelling, smoky vocals and deep bass grooves. Original songs bring characters and the Western landscape to life with stories about the open road, the weirdness of being alive, and the joy of making music, interspersed with pointed, yet hopeful, social commentary. Rounding out live shows are favorite picks from venerated artists such as Tom Waits, Muddy Waters, Railroad Earth, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and more, creating an uplifting and supremely danceable experience.

Jon Lawton

Jon Lawton is a singer/songwriter in the classic style of John Prine, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Robert Johnson and Woody Guthrie. He sings songs about people, love (lost and found), life, and death. 6&12-string guitar, National steel, and banjo make for a very traditional
sound. From Oakland CA.

Jon Mitguard, Dana Rath and Maryann Nardo

A unique pairing of original music exploring the range of the pedal steel and the mandolin family of instruments. Jon and Dana interpret each other’s songs as well as covers. They call it “alt country funk grass”.
Jon Mitguard - pedal steel, guitar, harmonica, vocals. Currently with Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs, and various other bands.
Dana Rath-Mandolin, octave mandolin, guitar, and vocals: Was a co-founder of the Grammy nominated Modern Mandolin Quartet Maryann Nardo and Jon Mitguard have been singing harmony together for many years.

Julie Dillon

Julie Dillon is a musician based in the bay area. Her solo album, “It is Late”, is a collection of “Gritty waltzes, whispered stories, sassy rock songs. Hooks that feel like deja vu. Vocals that melt even the most jaded listener”. Each song feels like a personal story or intimate conversation, drawing listeners into tales of everyday life. Julie has an unassuming yet commanding stage presence that exudes absolute joy.

Kyle Alden

Singer/songwriter, producer and folk musician Kyle Alden has appeared on stages throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, New York and Ireland. Kyle draws material from the American, Irish and British folk traditions, original folk-music settings of poetry as well as writing original songs. He is recognized for his award-winning songs based on the poems of Irish poet W.B. Yeats. Kyle supported Irish music legend Paul Brady on his last West coast tour, playing the Napa Opera House and Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage. Recognized for his Irish traditional guitar accompaniment, Kyle has played on stage with top fiddlers Maeve Donnelly, Tommy Peoples, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Liz Carroll, and piper Paddy Keenan, among others.

www.kylealdenmusic.com