Sand & Strings

“The California Honeydrops…evoke the greasy rumble of Booker T and channel the spiritual ecstasy of Sly and the Family Stone.” -Rolling Stone

Formed in the subway systems of Oakland, retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops are an electrifying group that defy convention at every turn. They’ve become a mainstay at festivals including Byron Bay Bluesfest (Australia), Outside Lands, Monterey Jazz, Lightning In A Bottle, and touring with B.B. King, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, and Allen Toussaint. Led by the enigmatic and energetic frontman, Lech Wierzynski, and percussionist Benjamin Malament, each member of the band is a virtuoso in their own rite — Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig on saxophone, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards/guitar, Beaumont Beaullieu on drums, Miles Blackwell on bass, and regularly accompanied by Oliver Tuttle on trombone, Leon Cotter on saxophone/clarinet, and Miles Lyons on trombone/sousaphone — navigating through a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics every night.

But what truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to the art of improvisation – a skill so finely honed that they have completely abandoned the use of set lists and no two shows are ever the same. Off stage, their music has been streamed more than 200 million times, and placed in a variety of TV and films, including “Dead To Me,” “Alaska Daily,” “Black-ish” and more. They are currently touring North America in support of their new album, ‘Keep On Diggin’.

The Brothers Comatose are a roots-infused bluegrass band known for their infectious blend of Americana, folk, and traditional bluegrass. Based in San Francisco, California, the band has developed a reputation for their high-energy performances, heartfelt songwriting, and impressive musicianship. Founded in 2009 by brothers Ben and Alex Morrison, the group features a revolving lineup of talented musicians, but the core of their sound is defined by tight harmonies, virtuosic string instrumentation, and a foot-stomping, back-porch spirit.

In 2024, the band welcomed multi-instrumentalist Addie Levy into the fold, adding a new layer of depth and dynamic to their sound. As a talented fiddle player and vocalist, Levy’s contribution brought a fresh energy and a new dimension to the band’s harmonies, seamlessly blending with the Morrison brothers’ voices while enhancing their already distinctive bluegrass stylings. Her presence not only broadened the band’s musical range but also enriched their live performances, creating an even more compelling and cohesive sound.

The Brothers Comatose’s sound draws from a variety of influences, including old-time bluegrass, country, and rock, but they make it uniquely their own with a modern twist and a strong emphasis on storytelling. Their songs often delve into themes of love, loss, adventure, and the human experience, all while maintaining an upbeat, rollicking energy that keeps fans coming back for more.

The band has earned praise for their live shows, which are marked by their lively stage presence and infectious enthusiasm. Whether performing intimate club shows or festival mainstages, The Brothers Comatose deliver an unforgettable experience that showcases their deep passion for music and performance.

Los Rumberos is a Mexican duo composed of made up of Lito de la Isla and Paul Sefchovich, whose music blends Latin rhythms seasoned with rumba and flavor. Los Rumberos embody the musical fusion of Latin pop with bolero, bachata, and huapango.

The group is currently preparing a new album, which already includes released singles such as “Lo Intentamos,” “Un Baile Pa’ Sanar,” “Lo Mejor,” and “No Son Horas,” the latter produced by Latin Grammy winner Tony Succar.
They have recently performed in Spain and renowned venues in Mexico such as the Teatro Metropólitan (SOLD OUT) and Teatro Diana, while also touring cities like León, Tijuana, Ensenada, Monterrey, Querétaro, and more.

Paté de Fuá, formed in 2005 in Mexico City by Argentinians Yayo González and Guillermo Perata, is a band that has redefined independent music in Latin America with its unique style that blends genres such as jazz, tango, musette, and dixieland. Over nearly two decades, they have challenged commercial trends, creating a counter-current approach that celebrates the timeless and sophisticated. With standout albums like Música Moderna, Película Muda, Amores Ajenos, and their latest release Rompecabezas (2024), as well as collaborations with artists like Armando Manzanero and Lila Downs, they have left a profound mark on Mexican music, combining virtuosity with authenticity and remaining a key reference in the independent music scene.

El Kanka, the singer-songwriter from Málaga, decided to leave his hometown over 15 years ago to try his luck in Madrid’s music scene—a decision that, today, can undoubtedly be called one of his best. Juan Gómez, his real name, is an artist who has built his career in an artisanal way—slowly but steadily—letting his craft mature like a fine wine.

He is one of Spain’s most celebrated artists, earning widespread recognition not only in his home country but also across various Latin American territories. A testament to this was his 2019 invitation by the Bogotá mayor’s office to celebrate the Colombian city’s anniversary with two consecutive concerts at the León de Greiff Auditorium at the National University, accompanied by the Bogotá Youth Philharmonic before an audience of over 3,000 people each day. His successful participation in the 2023 edition of Rock al Parque further cemented his international appeal.

El Kanka has released five albums: Lo mal que estoy y lo poco que me quejo (2012), El día de suerte de Juan Gómez (2014), De pana y rubí (2015), El arte de saltar (2018), and Cosas de los vivientes (2023), the latter under his own record label, “A Volar Music.” Highlights of his career include being named Malagueño of the Year in the field of culture in 2023, delivering the opening speech at Málaga’s Fair in 2024, and composing the original song for the film Cuerpo Escombro, directed by Curro Vázquez and starring Dani Rovira and Ernesto Sevilla, among others. Interestingly, while his music is rooted in a unique fusion of styles and influences that result in a diverse array of songs, El Kanka’s sound remains unmistakably his own. From the first chord, his music is instantly recognizable.

His talent and authenticity have captivated critics and audiences alike wherever he performs. It’s nearly impossible to leave one of his concerts without a wide smile on your face. El Kanka continues to pour optimism into his lyrics and remains devoted to creating honest music that reflects his innermost feelings. A true singer-songwriter, his ever-growing legion of devoted fans speaks to his remarkable and unstoppable rise.

The Sweet Lillies’ music is, first and foremost, heartfelt and collaborative. Those defining traits are given life by the quartet of musicians who make up the Lillies. Together they have combined their individual strengths to deliver powerful narratives of life in song. With their lineup of guitar, viola, upright bass, drums and ethereal vocal harmonies that float like a dream, the Sweet Lillies’ music has a hard hitting original flavor with a forward-looking eye. They have incorporated all of their cumulative life-experiences into their music, song-writing, and artistry, crafting an uncommonly-beautiful style they have christened “String-Americana” – a nod to the band’s all encompassing musical tastes and willingness to experiment with genres ranging from folk and rock all the way to hip-hop.

Whiskerman is a rock-and-roll overture to our great unraveling. Over the last decade the Oakland-based band has developed an underground reputation for tackling the sublime with their ambitious songwriting, thunderous stage show, and acute lyricism. They have since emerged as an engine of the Bay Area’s revitalized psychedelic and festival scenes. Frontman Graham Patzner, who will crow like a medicine show preacher and then coo you into the arms of his lovesick eternity, might be a spitfire protege of the underworld himself, though again and again he will remind you that there is no rapture without artistry.

On the surface this is splendid rock-and-roll, rooted in the classic, psych and glam rock tradition, but the pageantry and chaos of Whiskerman’s performances will leave you describing an experience more than a sound. Whiskerman’s fourth studio album, Kingdom Illusion, is a rock and roll vision quest that ushers the band’s elegiac psychedelia towards a louder, pushier, more colorful sound. They are back in the studio and on the road in 2023.

Hailing from North Lake Tahoe, CA, americana/roots rock band Dead Winter Carpenters has built a reputation for pouring their heart and soul into each performance. Celebrating 15 years on the road in 2025, the band has worked hard to position themselves, wrote Portland Metronome, “at the forefront of a youthful generation trying to redefine what string music is and what it can do.” That progressive nature shines through loud and clear on the band’s latest
release “Sinners ‘n’ Freaks.” The 5-song EP is DWC’s fifth studio effort and is a celebration of the hard roads previously traveled and the road that lies ahead. Born of an organic, roots based approach, Sinners ‘n’ Freaks rings
true to the Sierra Nevadas.

Reminiscent of genre-benders like Jack White, Chris Thile, and Sam Bush, Dead Winter Carpenters harmoniously blend refined musical ability with a scarcely restrained tendency to let it all hang out. The result is a controlled burn, a riveting sound, and a connection with fans that sells out shows and has the band sharing stages with the likes of Jason Isbell, Easton Corbin, Greensky Bluegrass, Rising Appalachia, Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters and Hard Working Americans. Members include Jesse Dunn (acoustic guitar, vocals), Jenni Charles (fiddle, vocals), Nick Swimley (lead telecaster guitar, vocals), Brian Huston (drums, vocals), Jeremy Plog (bass, vocals) and the latest addition, long time collaborator Matt Mitchell (keys, vocals, acoustic guitar). A steadily touring band since forming in 2010, Dead Winter Carpenters has entertained growing crowds at notable festivals including High Sierra Music Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, California Worldfest (CA), DelFest (MD), Northwest String Summit (OR), Harvest Music Festival (AR), WinterWonderGrass (CA and CO), Hangtown Music Festival (CA) and more.
Dead Winter Carpenters is a band engrained with ambition, talent, and authenticity. Look for them to continue to delight – and invite – fans from many music camps.

Natalia Díaz Salas, better known as Arroba Nat, is a singer-songwriter from Zacatecas, Mexico. Nat began her musical career in Zacatecas with her project Nat y Uke, where she performed covers and original songs in local restaurants and venues. Over time, her performances began to gain popularity and attract a growing audience. In 2016, Nat moved to Mexico City to study design at INBA. However, she soon fully immersed herself in her musical career thanks to her illustration project, “Arroba Nat,” which eventually became her musical endeavor.

Arroba Nat is currently promoting her new album, “todo pasa,” after several years without releasing original material. In this new work, the artist explores various musical genres, such as R&B, Lo-fi, and bolero, drawing inspiration from musicians like James Blake, Alt-J, Daniel Caesar, and Eloise, among others. This new album is presented as a conceptual work featuring instrumental tracks such as “intro,” “cambios,” and “despertar,” accompanied by visualizers. The entire project forms a musical experience that invites emotional awakening, a journey into emotional responsibility, mental health, and self-love.

Over the last decade, Ryan Curtis has continued to carve out a name for himself in the world of Alt-Country and Americana music. His unique blend of old-school honky tonk and high desert country blues plays like a love letter to the past, bucking the slick sheen and tired cliches of today’s pop country radio in favor of traditional, songwriter-driven roots music. Ryan’s songs are usually about life’s harder-learned lessons, painting cinematic pictures of anti-heroes from the Midwest to the Rockies. Visionary tales of down-and-out townies, bar room drifters, forlorn lovers, and resilient loners dot the mournful subject matter he turns into rowdy & upbeat country gold.

Charlie Higgins is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who, together with his band sunset station, has developed a dedicated following in Mexico’s Bahia de Banderas with a rich blend of Roots rock, blue-eyed soul and west coast americana.

On “Gringo”, the band’s first EP, Higgins presents six original songs that combine engaging, no-frills arrangements, brought to life by lyrics that are equal parts heartfelt sentiment and dark humor exploring his experiences with modern love, loss and addiction.

The band is currently working on its self-produced first full length LP “Just Stay a Little Longer” scheduled for release in 2024. The album is an eclectic batch of deeply personal songs, many of which higgins wrote during the height of the Pandemic, expressing his unexpected realizations about both the importance of love and companionship in hard times and his reckoning with the often self-serving quality of such love. ranging from stripped-down folk to multi-layered pscyhedelic soul, the album is a testament to the power of music of all shapes and sizes to lead us through spiritual and emotional transition when the moment calls for it.

Singer/songwriter/producer Hannah von der Hoff is recording & performing artist ‘Holy Hannah!’ She conjures the greatest rock, jazz, r&b/soul, and folk artists of all time, evoking songs that remind us authentic, organic music is still alive and well. Her debut album is triumphant as it is vulnerable, provocative as it is introspective. Her upcoming releases explore the rawness of existential quandary, epiphany, desire, heartbreak, and all things human nature.

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, Hannah was immersed in the musicality of her family and hometown since the womb. She takes her greatest influence from classic artists and channels them through her own unique creative lense that has left audiences commenting on reminiscence of Janice, Jimi, Zeppelin, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Jeff Buckley, Chrissie Hynde and Florence & The Machine

With what PopMatters describes as “tenacious swagger,” locally acclaimed solo artist Ashleigh Flynn, from Portland, OR, recently dialed up the volume and debuted an all-female rock band as a nod to the “Rosie the Riveter” archetype from WWII. Flynn grew up in Kentucky and cut her teeth on local bluegrass music and Motown. A prolific songwriter and performer blessed with unbridled charisma, she arrived on the Americana scene in 2008 with the release of American Dream, a poetic lament to the elusiveness of that national ethos. A Million Stars followed in 2013 – a rollicking journey celebrating the women pioneers of the American West. She had the goodfortune of playing shows in support of her musical heroes: The Wood Brothers, Todd Snider, Amy Ray, Chris Isaak.

Having just rounded out the summer with a fantastic tour in the books, including being handpicked to open for the one and only Willie Nelson in Oregon, the band will spend the remainder if 2024 woodshedding their new songs at their monthly residency at Portland’s beloved, independently-owner Laurelthirst Public House as they gear up for the release of their new album in 2025!

Russ Robson is an independent recording artist and singer-songwriter from southern Ontario Canada. He conveys his own unique sound through contrasting genres being described as “Grunge Folk” with hints of acoustic folk music, alternative, grunge rock, and country.