The Vasona Vibrations Concert Series
Vasona Lake County Park
5-7pm, Every Saturday, June Thru July, 2015
For the thirteenth consecutive year, Santa Clara County Parks and South Bay Folks team up to bring you free, family-friendly concerts in support of Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Vasona Vibrations Concert series is always free.
Food and cash donations for the
Second Harvest Food Bank
will be accepted at each concert.
Located in a pleasant outdoor
setting overlooking Vasona Lake and Los Gatos Creek, the Vasona Vibrations Concert Series features
local artists performing a wide variety of acoustic
genres including Americana, blues, zydeco, Dixieland,
jazz, big band, roots music, traditional and contemporary folk, and more.
Join us in the park this summer for Vasona Vibrations 2015.
Vasona Vibrations 2015 Performance Schedule
5-7pm Every Saturday in June and July
All performances held on the lawn near the Ranger Office,
just down the hill from the pedestrian entrance at University Ave and Pepper Tree Lane.
![[Photo: Blue House]](BlueHouse-700w.jpeg "Blue House (Click to enlarge photo.)")
June 6th
Blue House
» acoustic-based rock, folk, and R&B
Blue House combines the talents of three singer/songwriters and longtime friends, Marlies de Veer, Amy Beasley and Brian Loud, who enjoy mixing a rocker's attitude with a folkier acoustic sound, highlighted by their close-knit harmonies. The group performs throughout the bay area and beyond at festivals, nightclubs, coffee houses, house concerts and concert halls playing their own original music blended with a sometimes mind-boggling eclectic mix of songs written by others. They are joined by their good friend, Mark Shawver on percussion/drums.
Marlies de Veer: vocals & acoustic guitar,
Amy Beasley: vocals, bass guitar, & foot percussion,
Brian Loud: vocals & acoustic guitar,
Mark Shawver: a very big cajon drum
![[Photo: Celtic Heart]](cropped-Celtic_Heart.jpg "Celtic Heart (Click to enlarge photo.)")
June 13th
Celtic Heart
» contemporary and traditional Irish/American folk
Celtic Heart performs a hybrid of traditional and contemporary Irish and American folk music. They combine and move skillfully between ancient melodies and cutting edge original songs, fiery instrumentals and pristine four part vocals, serious composition and engaging humor, all presented with a warm, approachable and friendly stage presence.
Celtic Heart has just recently released their new CD "Home Away From Home" recorded live at the Woodshed , available at all concerts, and on their website: www.celticheartband.com.
Celtic Heart consists of Paddy Drumm from Belfast Ireland on lead vocal and guitar, his wife Sheila on vocals, tin whistle, and bodhran (Irish drum), world class fiddler Jerry MacMillan, and veteran singer/songwriter Steve Kritzer on mandolin, banjo, guitar and vocals.
![[Photo: Calaveras]](Calaveras.jpg "Calaveras (Click to enlarge.)")
June 20th
Calaveras
» high-energy, original acoustic roots music spanning from American traditional song forms to explorations of contemporary sounds
Singer-songwriters Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe, along with instrumentalists Dave Decker, Sam Bevan and Mark Holzinger, combine voices and a half dozen acoustic instruments into original songs that are both fresh and timeless--from the roots of American traditional song forms to explorations of contemporary sounds. Their songs and performances have captured the prestigious Kerrville New Folk prize, grand prize in the West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artists, the Napa Valley Emerging Songwriter Award, West Coast Songwriters Association Song of the Year honors, and have appeared in TV shows and movies. Their songs have been recorded by other artists and on numerous compilations with such well known artists as Joan Baez, Cheryl Wheeler and Livingston Taylor.
Their live show is a mix of Victoria's soaring, ethereal vocals and hauntingly beautiful fiddle, Greg's energetic and insightful musical treatment of birth, death and everything in between, Dave's constantly creative acoustic lead-guitar commentary, Sam Bevan's virtuosic bass, and Mark Holzinger's blistering electric lead-guitar. The band will be promoting Victoria's recently released debut solo album, Silver Flyer. "Absolutely amazing voice, pitch strong and with a wonderful delivery"-Niklas Hansson, Talent Scout, Universal Music
![[Photo: Andre Thierry]](Andre_Thierry_2015.png "Andre Thierry (Click to enlarge photo.)")
June 27th
Andre Thierry
» alternative Creole sounds
Grammy-nominated Andre Thierry is a phenomenal talent who has been capturing the attention of musicians and music lovers from an early age. Born in Richmond, California into a family deeply rooted in Louisiana French-Creole history, Thierry is among the best of both the West Coast and the Gulf Coast musicians playing what he calls alternative Creole music today.
Andre is a virtuoso on all the accordion types, single row, double row, triple row and piano key. He effortlessly plays each instrument to deliver everything from a traditional Creole waltz to a hard driving blues that is his own sound. The San Francisco Bay Area, which is home to some of the best blues musicians in the world, presented Andre Thierry with the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame award for "Best Zydeco Group" in 2008 and 2012.
Andre Thierryon Accordion,
Cj Phillipson Rubboard,
Jahon Prideon Bass,
Milo Horstmanon Guitar, and
Julius Johnsonon Drums.
![[Photo: 10th Avenue Band]](10thAveBand-700w.JPG "10th Avenue Band (Click to enlarge photo.)")
July 4th
10th Avenue Band
» Dixieland, swing
Often Combining Big Band, Swing, Dixieland, and specializing in both concert and swing dance performances, this dynamic six-piece group has ignited audiences worldwide for 30 years, and has been a perennial favorite at Vasona Vibrations.
With innovative arrangements that give new life to classic Jazz and Dixie standards, the 10th Avenue Band's high energy performances from Europe to Australia, from Russia to China and all points in between always leave them rocking!
Join the thousands all over the world who have become lifelong friends and fans!
Ed Zimbrick: trombone & vocals,
Lewis Keizer: trumpet & vocals,
Preston Brahm: piano
Mickey McPhillips: string bass,
Olaf Schiappacasse: drums, and
Jason Bellenkes: Reeds.
![[Photo: Jessica Johnson]](JessicaJohnson2015.png "Jessica Johnson (Click to enlarge.)")
July 11th
Jessica Johnson
» soul, R&B, and jazz
Vocalist, Jessica Johnson, has had a love of music for as long as she can remember. As an adolescent, Jessica started singing the national anthem for the SJ Sharks, which parlayed into singing the anthem for every notable professional sports organization on the West Coast. She has been featured several times at the San Jose Jazz Festival, and today she is featured at countless venues up and down the West Coast.
Jessica has been busy writing heart felt songs and performing around the Bay Area in hopes to spread love, peace, and inspiration through her music. She is currently recording the first of 4 EPs, which will be released later this year.
![[Photo: The DTs]](The_Dts2.png "The DTs (Click to enlarge photo.)")
July 18th
The DTs
» eclectic power folk, Americana, and then some
The DTs are songwriters Dave Allender (guitar and vocals) and Tom Gewecke (guitar, ukulele, saxophone, and vocals). Joining Dave and Tom G. are Lynne Bartholomew (accordion and vocals) and Tom Yacoe (bass).
Playing an interesting blend of originals and sometimes obscure covers, they describe their music as eclectic power folk, Americana, and then some - an acoustic blend of vocals and instruments.
![[Photo: Bean Creek]](BeanCreek-640w.jpg "Bean Creek (Click to enlarge photo.)")
July 25th
Bean Creek
» heart-felt, award-winning, traditional bluegrass at its best
Bean Creek plays straight-ahead, traditional-style bluegrass. This band was voted Best Band last year by the Northern California Bluegrass Society and also captured Best Vocalist, Best Banjo Player, and Best Mandolin Player. Vocal harmonies and fine pickin' places Bean Creek in the top echelon of the California traditional bluegrass scene.
Billy Pitrone: guitar and vocals,
Sarah Eblen: bassand vocals,
Rob Horgan: banjo, and
Peter Hicks: mandolin, fiddle and vocals.
Directions: How to Get Here from There
Maps and specific driving instructions are available from Google Maps, Yahoo, and MapQuest.
All performances are held on the lawn near the Ranger's Office, just down the hill from the pedestrian entrance at University Ave and Pepper Tree Lane. You may use the interactive map (left) to find the exact location of the Vasona Vibrations stage within the park (switch to the satellite view and zoom in on the map marker), or you may download the park map (pdf) to locate the Ranger Office within the park..
(Please note that all Santa Clara County parks have a $6 fee to park within the park. There is free parking along University Ave.)
