About the Artists:
Ami Yares
Ami Yares is the offspring of the Jersey suburbs, raised in the echo of the Liberty Bell, only to find his voice on the shores of the Mediterranean. “Yares wields his 12-string guitar as if it were an entire orchestra, backing his vocals with a dense, rich cascade of sound ” (David Foster, AXS). Influenced by the spectrum of American roots music, Ami’s music merges his Jersey upbringing with wisps of Middle Eastern culture. Yares has performed across the world and US. He released his first solo album Begin to Begin Again in 2018 and works on his sophomore release.
Bethlehem and Sad Patrick
Bethlehem and Sad Patrick perform songs of love and other struggles. Combining her soaring vocals and driving percussion with his sparse guitar, they deliver powerful songs about being in and out of love, keeping your head up in the city, struggling to make your way, and seeking peace on the margins. Sad Patrick’s hybrid of folk, blues and jazz playing supports Bethlehem’s “vocussion” – her powerful singing, remarkable improvisations and nuanced melodies riding atop her tarima stomps and body percussion. Their live shows are enthralling, with their on-the-spot interplay and how fully Bethlehem inhabits their songs and captivates a crowd.
Driftwood Soldier
Driftwood Soldier plays gutter-folk music, a proprietary blend of bittersweet ballads, crooked stories, and thumping blue rants on mandolin, bass guitar, and assorted junk foot-percussion described by Bruce Warren of WXPN as “a bluesy version of Nick Cave with a nod to Tom Waits.”
Their second album, Stay Ahead of the Wolf, was produced with Erin McKeown, mixed by Grammy winner Ted Hutt and released in 2019 to kind words from the likes of Billboard, Glide and Americana Highways. Delivered live with a grin, a growl, and a hint of brimstone, don’t miss the chance to hear this beast howl!
Maggie Mae
Maggie Mae is a soulful singer-songwriter based in Philadelphia who fronts an exciting and energetic Folk/Funk group under the same name. She has been described as “poppy, polished, talented, & promising,” by XPN’s The Key’s John Vettese and has become a fixture in the Philadelphia music scene.
Maggie Mae has shared bills with local and national acts including Soulive, The Heavy Pets, Dawg Yawp, Emily Drinker, the Ladles, and more at many of Philly & New Jersey’s premiere music venues. The band has been hard at work in the studio after completing a successful fundraising campaign for their debut album.
