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The Joe Sharino Band
Blue House
Midlife Vices
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Sizzling rhythm and blues, groovy dance tunes, soul fusion funk, classic rock ‘n roll, cool jazz, acoustic pop, and Celtic folk music … ten sensational bands turn the downtown streets of Menlo Park into the Bay Area’s hottest entertainment venue for a weekend during Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, Menlo Park’s popular festival of the arts, July 19-20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue. You can’t beat the price ... it’s FREE!
This year, the Bay Area’s legendary Joe Sharino Band will headline the event with a not-to-be-missed After-Hours Concert Saturday, July 19, from 5:30 pm to 8 pm on the Fremont Park Stage. This world-class band has been playing to sell-out crowds for decades and can guarantee a high-energy, fun-filled show of favorite tunes that will get everyone from grungy teens to grandmas rocking out in the streets. They play literally hundreds of classics spanning the decades, from Elvis Presley to OutKast and Lynyrd Skynyrd to La Bamba, all with an honest enthusiasm and infectious energy that captures the crowd.
Saturday’s opening band Blue House has developed a huge fan base with their engaging, pop-inflected fusion of acoustic, rock, folk and blues. Musician/songwriters Marlies de Veer and Amy Beasley, Blue House's creative nucleus, have been collaborating since high school, and it shows in the easy, intuitive way their vocal harmonies complement each other and dovetail into a unified sound reminiscent of groups like the Indigo Girls. Blue House has shared the bill with a variety of performers ranging from Phish to k.d. lang. The musicians weave their multi-instrumental talents into a wardrobe of relaxed, mid-tempo tunes that has earned them a devoted following in the Bay Area and beyond.
For Classic Rock at it's finest, be sure to check out MidLife Vices. A collaboration of veteran musicians performing songs ranging from the Beatles to the Gin Blossoms, MidLife Vices has been entertaining crowds at local bars, private events, and fairs in the Bay Area since the Spring of 2001. With four strong vocalists and over 100 years of professional experience among the band, MidLife Vices brings powerful harmonies and a tight, driving band sound to the stage for each performance. Recent appearances include live radio performances on KFOX in San Jose and gigs at Shoreline for the 2005 Kihncert and headlining with Greg Kihn at the 2006 Troopfest on the USS Hornet.
Catwalk
The Groove Kings
Aryeh Frankfurter
Dreamroad
Heartstrings Music
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The Groove Mercenaries are a powerful 4-piece band covering a broad range of cover music including rock, funk, and rhythm and blues. These seasoned players have shared the stage with legends like Bo Diddley, REO Speedwagon, Willie Nelson, Spyro Gyra, and Tony Bennett, to name a few. Santa Cruz’s unique quintet Catwalk laces solid jazz with their own eclectic fusion of styles. The gritty performances wielded by sax-man Doug Rowan, guitarist Joe Menichetti, drummer Sid Thompson, bassist Scott McKenna and keyboardist Jay Jackson beautifully incorporate elements of jazz, blues, funk, fusion, rock, Latin, Celtic and more into their original compositions. All highly regarded and seasoned Bay Area musicians, the members of Catwalk present a well-rounded blend of fine skills, strong tunes and arrangements, as well as a good sense of humor.
The Groove Kings are the masters of get down, funky town, smooth groove party music. They play all the favorites, like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On,” and Santana’s “Smooth” just to name a few. Each member of the Groove Kings is an accomplished showman and musician, hailing from legendary Bay Area bands such as Daddy-O, the Heartbeats and NiteCry. From their soaring multi-part harmonies, virtuoso instrumental performances and taut arrangements, the Groove Kings never fail to satisfy their audience wherever they play. Making their Bay Area debut, Southern California sensation The New Buzz promises to pull in the crowd with their electrifying, high style performance. These guys play all the timeless pop, soul, R&B and funk songs of our time, featuring groups like Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, Joe Cocker, Elvis Presley, and many more. The ripping guitar, masterful vocals, and tight horn section will get everyone in the audience, young and old, on their feet and having fun.
Talented street musicians will also be enchanting the crowds at this year’s festival. Renowned harper Aryeh Frankfurter has been called a “gem among the San Francisco music scene.” His arrangements of classic Celtic folk songs are deeply emotive and masterfully played and have captivated his audience at every performance. Enjoy the original compositions of classical and soft jazz from Dreamroad, a San Mateo duo made up of a flutist, keyboardist, and hammered dulcimer player. Al Fabrizio of Heartstrings Music still recalls his childhood in Italy and the heartwarming melodies his father used to play on the old mandolin. Now he is recreating those melodies himself with his “tremolo” style on the Neopolitan mandolin, accompanied by his partner Hugo Wainzinger on the guitar.
