Modesto Unplugged and ModestoView present: ‘MUSIC AT THE GMC’
Songs & stories with performers from around the globe

Doors at 7:00, concert at 7:30 - $15 general admission / kids 12 and under free

Limited seating: RSVP at 209-543-5306 or modestounplugged@yahoo.com

The Flock is a new project featuring all original music by Teddy Raven for chamber/jazz ensemble and Eastern-European Women's Choir. Join us as we celebrate the release of our debut album, and perform for the first time in the Bay Area with an all-star cast of musicians.

Featuring:
Teddy Raven- tenor sax and kaval
Max Miller-Loran- trumpet
Steven Lugerner- bass clarinet and alto sax
Misha Khalikulov- cello
Parker Grant- piano
Adam Lowdermilk- upright bass
Hamir Atwal- drums

Vocal work by the True Life Trio 
Briget Boyle- soprano
Leslie Bonnett- alto
Juliana Graffagna- alto

All ages
$15 general admission, $10 for students. 
CD's will be available for purchase! 

Original artwork by Calvin Lai

The music of The Flock was created while Teddy was the 2016 recipient of the Make Jazz Fellowship in Santa Monica, sponsored by the 18th Street Arts Center and the Herb Alpert Foundation. During a three month composition intensive, Teddy was able to bring his years long dream to life of composing for a small Bulgarian Women's choir and chamber ensemble, and was fortunate to collaborate with world-renowned singer Tzvetanka Verimezova and her UCLA Bulgarian women's choir to bring the music to fruition. 

From Teddy:
Bay Area family!! It would mean so much to me to see you at this concert! This is the first time that I'm presenting a show exclusively of music that I've composed, and I'm so excited and humbled to share it with this community. A lot of time and energy has been put into this album, and I can't wait to put it out into the world and see what happens. 

The Community Music Center is San Francisco's oldest music school, and I am honored to be on faculty there. They also happen to have one the best sounding halls for acoustic music in the bay, as well as one of the best Steinway grand pianos around, so you're in for a treat. 

See you on May 21st!

DETAILS:

Vocal Embroidery: Ornamental Techniques from Bulgaria and Georgia is an intermediate to advanced workshop focused on various melismatic vocal techniques used in repertoire from Bulgaria and eastern Georgia. Singers will be presented with a variety of different songs and exercises that seek to develop greater vocal agility and expression, and a deeper intimacy with one’s individual vocal apparatus. Familiarity with Bulgarian and Georgian music is a plus, but not mandatory. We ask that interested participants have strong, adept singing voices; be able to maintain pitch and learn by ear.

The cost of the workshop is $30 to $50 sliding scale. Enrollment is limited; early registration is encouraged.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2948209

Tickets are $15 / $10 Students. Ashkenaz is always all ages!
Doors open at 7:00, show begins at 7:30

Temple of Light Georgian Community Choir is an Oakland-based volunteer mixed vocal arts project dedicated to the performance of traditional polyphonic music and ritual song from the Republic of Georgia, the Caucasus, and Lazona. Designated by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity, Georgian polyphony stands among some of the oldest and most beautiful song repertoires in the world. Sung in three distinct and overlapping parts, Georgian music necessitates singing with others. The individual parts do not stand alone. In a time of divisive political upheaval, the need for wonder, fierce love, and transcendent beauty is vital in creating a world that deeply sees one another and responds to that seeing with celebration, joy, and empathy. Temple of Light’s core mission is to be a light in dark places, igniting the best in our humanity through Georgian song.

Temple of Light Georgian Community Choir is led by Kristine Barrett and members are: Julia Beauchamp, Hannah Blair, Briget Boyle, Emily Butler, Julia Dashe, Zain Dossani, Sarah Estes-Smith, Megan Frasheski, Michael French, Irma Gogiashvili, David Graff, Jenn Harper, Sandy Hollister, Krista Keim, Rachel MacFarlane, Jason Patten, Tom Purtill, Medjula Rose, Jennifer Saito, Jenya Schneider, Mark Shipley, Agnes Szelag, Ana Tevzadze, Laura Turiano, and Elise Youssoufian

Kristine Barrett is a trans-media artist, composer, and vocalist specializing in traditional music and ritual song from the Republic of Georgia, the Caucasus, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Ireland, and the Americas. A storyteller at heart, Barrett’s work explores the narratives of human consciousness as developed and articulated through song, dance, art, language, map-making, scientific exploration, and literature. After completing a double BFA in Art History and Photography/New Media from the Kansas City Art Institute, Kristine went on to study composition with Tony Conrad at SUNY Buffalo and the legendary Fred Frith at Mills College, where she received a MFA in Electronic Music Composition and Recording Media in 2006. Barrett’s work has been performed and exhibited in galleries and media festivals throughout North America and Europe. In addition to her solo work, she currently performs with the acclaimed KITKA Women’s Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, Cantadora Sephardia with David Robert Johnson, and is the Artistic Director of the Temple of Light Georgian Community Choir An avid hiker, bibliophile, lover of ancient literature and art; Kristine loves being in the non-human world and wooden boats. She currently resides on a houseboat with a myriad of plants, shrines, animals, and her husband in Sausalito, California.

Sayat Nvaq Ensemble is a San Francisco Bay Area group that delves into the rich traditions of Eastern Armenian music. The group draws its inspiration equally from the two main pillars of Armenian secular music: the classical, troubadour poet traditions of the Ashougs and Gousans such as Sayat Nova, Ashot, Djivani, & Sheram; as well as the popular, regional village music found throughout the countryside. The ensemble invites audiences, both old and new, to share their deep appreciation of this unique and evocative musical tradition.
Ensemble members are Shea A.J. Comfort – duduk, shvi and ploul; Leslie Bonnett – voice and violin; Briget Boyle - harmonium and voice; Haig Kassabian – dhol; and Khatchadour Khatchadourian – voice, and duduk.

Thursday, May 11, 2017, 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm)

A Fundraising Evening to Support Syrian Humanitarian Aid with Irene Sazer and Guests

$25 adv / $29 door

Purchase tickets online

Sayat Nvaq Ensemble is a San Francisco Bay Area group that delves into the rich traditions of Eastern Armenian music. The group draws its inspiration equally from the two main pillars of Armenian secular music: the classical, troubadour poet traditions of the Ashougs and Gousans such as Sayat Nova, Ashot, Djivani, & Sheram; as well as the popular, regional village music found throughout the countryside. The ensemble invites audiences, both old and new, to share their deep appreciation of this unique and evocative musical tradition.

Ensemble members are Shea A.J. Comfort – duduk, shvi and ploul; Leslie Bonnett – voice and violin; Briget Boyle - harmonium and voice; Haig Kassabian – dhol; and Khatchadour Khatchadourian – voice, and duduk.

Michael Bang, Briget Boyle, and Iron Henry are playing at The Octopus Literary Salon on Thursday March 9th. 7pm, $10, All Ages

Don't miss this very intimate concert with True Life Trio and the incredible Iron Henry!

The Octopus Literary Salon is located in Oakland's Uptown and is near the 19th Street BART station.

This six-week workshop series will focus on Eastern European singing techniques and how they can be applied to folk and popular styles from other regions. She will discuss and demonstrate how to develop a personal, confident, and healthy vocal technique, as well as how to perform effectively alone and in groups. At the end of the series, students will have the opportunity to perform some of the material learned in the workshop.

Oakland location disclosed upon registration.

Tickets and more info here.

Briget Boyle is one of the preeminent vocalists in the Bay Area's Balkan and Eastern European music scene. After performing with Kitka for nine years and renowned Balkan brass band Brass Menaeri for ten years, Briget went on to form True Life Trio with fellow Kitka alumnae Juliana Graffagna and Leslie Bonnett. Briget is also a solo singer-songwriter and began writing her own music at the age of 12.

Briget Boyle photo by April Renae

This six-week workshop series will focus on Eastern European singing techniques and how they can be applied to folk and popular styles from other regions. She will discuss and demonstrate how to develop a personal, confident, and healthy vocal technique, as well as how to perform effectively alone and in groups. At the end of the series, students will have the opportunity to perform some of the material learned in the workshop.

Oakland location disclosed upon registration.

Tickets and more info here.

Briget Boyle is one of the preeminent vocalists in the Bay Area's Balkan and Eastern European music scene. After performing with Kitka for nine years and renowned Balkan brass band Brass Menaeri for ten years, Briget went on to form True Life Trio with fellow Kitka alumnae Juliana Graffagna and Leslie Bonnett. Briget is also a solo singer-songwriter and began writing her own music at the age of 12.

Briget Boyle photo by April Renae

This six-week workshop series will focus on Eastern European singing techniques and how they can be applied to folk and popular styles from other regions. She will discuss and demonstrate how to develop a personal, confident, and healthy vocal technique, as well as how to perform effectively alone and in groups. At the end of the series, students will have the opportunity to perform some of the material learned in the workshop.

Oakland location disclosed upon registration.

Tickets and more info here.

Briget Boyle is one of the preeminent vocalists in the Bay Area's Balkan and Eastern European music scene. After performing with Kitka for nine years and renowned Balkan brass band Brass Menaeri for ten years, Briget went on to form True Life Trio with fellow Kitka alumnae Juliana Graffagna and Leslie Bonnett. Briget is also a solo singer-songwriter and began writing her own music at the age of 12.

Briget Boyle photo by April Renae

This six-week workshop series will focus on Eastern European singing techniques and how they can be applied to folk and popular styles from other regions. She will discuss and demonstrate how to develop a personal, confident, and healthy vocal technique, as well as how to perform effectively alone and in groups. At the end of the series, students will have the opportunity to perform some of the material learned in the workshop.

Oakland location disclosed upon registration.

Tickets and more info here.

Briget Boyle is one of the preeminent vocalists in the Bay Area's Balkan and Eastern European music scene. After performing with Kitka for nine years and renowned Balkan brass band Brass Menaeri for ten years, Briget went on to form True Life Trio with fellow Kitka alumnae Juliana Graffagna and Leslie Bonnett. Briget is also a solo singer-songwriter and began writing her own music at the age of 12.

Briget Boyle photo by April Renae

Sayat Nvaq Ensemble returns to Le Bateau Ivre restaurant for an intimate evening of French food and Armenian music! 

No cover charge - tips graciously accepted.
http://lebateauivre.net/

This six-week workshop series will focus on Eastern European singing techniques and how they can be applied to folk and popular styles from other regions. She will discuss and demonstrate how to develop a personal, confident, and healthy vocal technique, as well as how to perform effectively alone and in groups. At the end of the series, students will have the opportunity to perform some of the material learned in the workshop.

Oakland location disclosed upon registration.

Tickets and more info here.

Briget Boyle is one of the preeminent vocalists in the Bay Area's Balkan and Eastern European music scene. After performing with Kitka for nine years and renowned Balkan brass band Brass Menaeri for ten years, Briget went on to form True Life Trio with fellow Kitka alumnae Juliana Graffagna and Leslie Bonnett. Briget is also a solo singer-songwriter and began writing her own music at the age of 12.

Briget Boyle photo by April Renae

Join True Life Trio and Gari Hegedus for this unique musical experience at the legendary Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Doors, drinks, and mingling at 7:30 PM, listening at 8:00 PM.

What is a listening party? Lush, cinematic and evocative, Like Never & Like Always was designed as a full-immersion sonic experience best enjoyed in sequence from beginning to end (call us old-fashioned…). At this party, we will gather in the studio and listen to the album in its entirety. (There will be chairs but feel free to bring your own cushion if you want to lounge on the floor). True Life Trio and Gari Hegedus will then round out the evening with some live music.

ABOUT LIKE NEVER & LIKE ALWAYS

This exciting album is the culmination of a live performance and recording project commissioned by the East Bay Community Foundation Fund For Artists. True Life Trio and multi-instrumentalist/composer Gari Hegedus have created a dreamlike soundscape of stunning open-voice harmonies, elemental modal music and vivid poetry from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and inspired original music. Co-produced by sound designer/composer Eric Oberthaler, this ambitious album is a heartful and intriguing musical odyssey that traces a life journey in reverse, touching on universal themes of childhood, marriage, migration, war and death. 

Oakland's own singer and guitarist Briget Boyle appears for the first time on the East Coast! Briget will be performing a solo set of songs from her debut album, The Parts Interior, as well as new material, at the Radio Bean in Burlington, Vermont.

Briget's partner and musical collaborator, Harlow Carpenter, is proud to call Vermont home and thrilled to bring Briget to this supportive and awesome community.

This is event is free. 100% of donations will go to the artists.

Briget is thrilled to share this concert with singer, songwriter Monica Pasqual. Monica is the winner of 5 Independent Music Awards and Six Emmy Awards. Her song ‘Bird in Hand’ charted on both Americana and Roots Radio and was among the top 10 Folk Radio songs for 2011. Her songs have been used on numerous network television shows and she has composed soundtracks for PBS, The History Channel and National Geographic Television.   For the last 13 years Monica has been a member of the popular Bay Area Band, Blame Sally, touring the US and Europe extensively and releasing 8 albums.  Pasqual’s recent solo material has focused on haunting, yearning song-poems that explore her sense of place, love, loss, war and dreams.

Vocal harmonies from Eastern Europe, the Americas & beyond.

Reservations and directions: contact info at wisteriaways.org

True Life Trio performs riveting vocal harmonies from Eastern Europe, the Americas & beyond. This innovative trio explores the creative possibilities of cross-fertilization of different traditions with unlikely timbres connecting Bulgaria to the Bayou. TLT's improvisation-laced repertoire includes original songs and folk tunes from far-flung lands such as Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Ukraine and the American South. Featuring the powerful vocal talents of three dynamic performers whose musical collaboration was forged in Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble, this Bay Area trio delves deep into a vast array of folk music that lends itself to three-part vocal harmony, massaging and expanding the boundaries of these traditional styles.

True Life Trio is currently working on their first full-length recording, Like Never and Like Always, scheduled for release at the end of 2015. Like Never and Like Always is a collaboration with string virtuoso Gari Hegedus and was originally commissioned by the East Bay Fund For Artists with premiere performances in November of 2014. This ambitious and exciting recording project is being produced by Eric Oberthaler (www.soundsliketree.com) and was recorded by David Luke at Opus Studios in Berkeley, CA. True Life's Trio debut EP Home is available on cdbaby.

True Life Trio is: Leslie Bonnett: voice, fiddle, percussion, Briget Boyle: voice, guitar, percussion, Juliana Graffagna: voice, accordion, percussion

True Life Trio website, True Life Trio on CDBaby, True Life Trio on Facebook

Lily Storm sings traditional folk songs from many lands. She has been a member of Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble, appearing on numerous national broadcasts, and touring nationally and internationally. She also performs solo, and with many Bay Area favorites, including accordionist Dan Cantrell. She holds degrees in music and math, and finds immense fulfillment in teaching children and adults to find their own voices and musicianship. She is currently completing her second album Like Spring Flowers: Folk Lullabies of Old Europe.Special Guest: Lily Stor

Join us for an evening of songs and stories at this great new venue in Downtown Oakland.

About Andrew Blair - 
"Singer-songwriter Andrew Blair makes believers quickly with his soulful howl, set over a collection of strings and soft percussion. It’s a classic but entirely fresh Americana sound, the latest offshoot of the folk tradition set forth by Woodie Guthrie and Bob Dylan ages ago. You can hear the history and the authenticity at every turn, but we’ll let you listen for yourself”
— Chris Trenchard 7x7 Magazine