MUSIC STAGES + SCHEDULE

The California Cowboys, Lovefool, Bump City and Caravanserai Headline Smashing Entertainment

The Smashing Pumpkins wish they could be here, but, in keeping with its big reputation, three stages of sensational entertainment for all ages will transform Half Moon Bay into the Bay’s entertainment hotspot for a weekend during the city’s monster Pumpkinpalooza—the Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 13-14. (Complete schedule below.)

California Cowboys Bump City The Cocktail Monkeys Lovefool Extra Large Caravanserai Top Secret Kaye Bohler The Bay Area Heat HeartStrings Music Kaweh

Jim Stevens Willie G Rockin' Down the Hiway Emerson Bob Culbertson Jeffrey Michael Sardine Family Circus

Main Stage/IDES Grounds

With his rich, mellow baritone and fluid acoustic guitar playing, folk singer Jim Stevens has been a Pumpkin Festival favorite for more than 20 years. Stevens plays a range of popular covers as well as original tunes, several inspired by pumpkins and the city of Half Moon Bay.

R.W. Smith and The California Cowboys deliver a powerful sound, with the clear punch of tight three-part harmonies and foot stompin’ country flair. These guys can knock out Top 40 crowd pleasers with a technical mastery that rivals the original recordings, but the audience favorites are usually among their generous set of original tunes.

Bump City is a 10-piece power horn band, playing a tribute to legendary Tower Of Power. In two short years, Bump City has established itself at fairs, festivals, casinos and clubs up and down the West Coast, while developing a strong legion of fans. With a female vocalist in the group, also expect to hear a couple of tunes first recorded by the great Lydia Pense of Cold Blood. All the hits from Tower Of Power are played live, with the blessings of the original group's members, including Mic Gillette, who sometimes sits in with the band.

A show business veteran of more than forty years, Willie G, hailing from Hallsville Texas, is a compelling vocalist focusing on soul, rhythm and blues, and jazz. He delivers his unique brand of high energy at each power-packed performance. With a stage act appealing to all ages, Willie G is also hard at work behind the scenes as a producer and singer-songwriter.

Swing into the scene with Bay Area’s favorite dance band, The Cocktail Monkeys. These seasoned musicians bring more than exciting music and perfect vocal harmony; they bring fun, camaraderie and professionalism to every show. Covering the best of decades from the 60’s through current favorites, their songs range from rock and pop to funk and disco. With an alluring and powerful stage presence that invites audience participation, this band is guaranteed to have everyone dancing up a storm.

Lovefool is the Bay Area's newest and brightest 80's, 90's, and more cover band. Renowned for incorporating seasoned and professional musicians and featuring young, fresh and exiting singers, this band delivers a brew of material from the last three decades that is the soundtrack of your youth. Fun, good times, a high-energy show and the best possible music from the 80's and 90's are what LoveFool brings to the party.

Forget the stresses of the week with a healthy dose of Extra Large. This six-piece mix of funk, blues, reggae riffs, Latin beat and essence of jazz is guaranteed to rejuvenate, and their uplifting lyrics of love and optimism fulfill the human spirit. Calling themselves “fiesta facilitators,” their motto is “We dare you not to dance.” Willing to take the dare?

Caravanserai performs music to satisfy Santana fans young and old, from the 1969 hit Evil Ways to monster smash hit Smooth. Painstaking care has been taken in the recreation of early and new music performed by this band of journeymen from the San Francisco Bay Area. All the instrumentation used by Santana over the years is there: guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, timbales, and congas. In some cases the exact kind of instruments are used, right down to the Paul Reed Smith guitars used by band leader Leo Herrera. A real treat for any Santana fan.

In a new twist, the Bay Area's legendary classic rock station, KFOX 98.5 FM/102.1 FM, hosts the Classic Rock Stage on Sunday. One of the station's popular deejays-Greg Kihn, Tim Jeffreys, Big Rick Stuart or Laurie Roberts-will make a surprise guest appearance to host the stage. The lineup for Sunday's KFOX Classic Rock Stage will knock your socks off with The Cocktail Monkeys, Lovefool, Extra Large and Caravanserai on the bill.

Ritz Carlton South Stage at the Gazebo

Top Secret is a high-energy dance band that packs the dance floor song after song. With a popular repertoire that consists of songs from the 50's to the current Top 40, their focus is to keep people partying all night long.

Get ready for the ultimate musical road trip with Rockin’ Down the Hiway, a band that embodies the Great American Road Trip and our country’s fascination with cars, hot rods, trucks, highways, back roads and travel. The set includes the Eagles’ “Life in the Fast Lane,” the Beatles’ “Drive My Car,” “Truckin” by the Grateful Dead and, of course, the namesake Doobie Brothers classic “Rockin’ down the Highway.”

Years of live performance and passionate study of rhythm and blues and jazz have produced an incomparable world-class performer in Kaye Bohler. This bandleader, singer, and songwriter always delivers a riveting show filled with grooving originals, swinging blues, funky soul, and danceable R&B favorites. Whether Kaye brings her 4-piece rhythm section or 10-piece big band of veteran musicians, her high impact shows never disappoints.

Your favorite "sizzling-hot" cover band, The Bay Area Heat, is here to heat up the dance floor. Headed by the late Bo Diddley's former guitarist, the group is made up of six energetic and talented musicians/performers. Music lovers have described The Heat as one of the most enjoyable, versatile and entertaining bands in the local scene. They cover a wide array of genres, from thumping disco, groovin' funk and rock and roll, to classic standards and romantic ballads. The Heat has it all, and what they've got is HOT!

Street Performers

Self-taught musician Emerson is a San Francisco gem. Solid keyboard playing and a voice somewhere between Sam Cook and David Bowie gives Emerson’s special blend of soft jazz, blues and funk its unique sound, what some have called “Moody Blues with heart and soul.”

Bob Culbertson is one of the original pioneers of the Chapman Stick, a guitar-like stringed instrument designed to be tapped, not strummed or plucked, and delivers a pure and exhilarating listening experience to his audience with this unique instrument.

Heartstrings Music is a delightful instrumental experience featuring Al Fabrizio on mandolin and Hugo Wainzinger on guitar. From exuberant tarantellas to poignant ballads, their music is a celebration of life and romance.

Kaweh’s upbeat, original tunes combine world music, jazz, and Nuevo flamenco, adding a touch of Latin, Brazilian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influence.

Award winning composer, new age pianist and recording artist Jeffrey Michael has performed for millions of people and has also composed original music scores for many film and TV projects. His melodies are inspiring, powerful, and enchanting, creating musical portraits in minds of his listeners.

Making their Pumpkin Festival debut, The Sardine Family Circus brings unbelievable circus tricks and hilarious comedy together for an all-ages show that critics have called "The best in San Francisco". They'll be performing at the south end of Kitty Fernandez Park at the corner of Main and Spruce Streets.