KCDC in Modesto TODAY for Center Stage Unplugged Music Series

KCDC LIVE & Acoustic @ Center Stage Conservatory 948 11th St., Modesto Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM, $10 admission

Since 2012, MUMfest has been featuring Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, world, and all the other shades of acoustic music that you can think of. Held in a series of listening-friendly venues in the heart of downtown Modesto, California, the festival highlights award-winning songwriters and bands from across the country and beyond.

Desert Postcard: Skywatching and songwriting

So yes, there was a lot of sky watching going on last week, and landscape viewing and generally lounging about. But also a lot of writing and  co-writing, the KCDC mash-up managing to complete 8 songs and counting. Time & space add up to somehow accessing the well a little better. It's a good feeling. KCDC has some lives shows coming up Feb. 20 in Alameda & March 8 in Modesto. Perhaps a new tune will get added to the mix!

Americana Hustle: A mini MUMfest day of Americana music in Modesto

Last year, we played at MUMfest, the Modesto Unplugged Music Fest produced by (seemingly) tireless music promoter Aaron Rowan. Showcasing the music of  the San Joaquin Valley and beyond, we were part of a diverse line-up of bands and songwriters that shed new light on what's going on in musically in California. It really is amazing how much music is being made everywhere if you decide to look and what Rowan is doing in Modesto is a case in point.

The MUMfest attracted so much interest, he's doing it again this year, with the added feature of several one-day 'extension' events leading up to the main festival in April. We're heading back to Modesto this weekend to take part in one of them, Americana Hustle, running all day February 17, 2014 in Modesto. Here's the skinny:

In the first of a series of daylong extension events of the Modesto Unplugged Music Festival, come enjoy a lineup of great local Americana-esque artists from around the San Joaquin Valley, and beyond.

Americana Hustle: a mini-MUMfest showcase Saturday, February 17. 

• Cafe Deva (1202 J St.), 3pm-6:30pm, no cover: 3:00 CJ Bradley 3:30 Shawn Michael Allen 4:00 American Spring Machine (Erin Odessa & Ben Vogel) 4:30 Andrew Alvarez 5:00 Hushed & Guilty 5:30 Chris Farris Music 6:00 Sue Dean Peer Recovery Art Project (1222 J St.), 12pm-6pm, $10 at door: 12:00 Tractor-boy Chris Ward 12:40 Deborah Crooks 1:35 Ron Roy 2:25 Sue Ray w/ Melissa Fraser 3:20 Carrie Henschell of Carrie and the Cut Snakes 4:15 Vagabondage 5:10 Bethany & The Pick 'N Pull

Modesto Unplugged Music Festival June 21-29

Modesto is doing something very cool: a week-long acoustic music festival! We're heading out there Sunday to play a set. If you're in Central California, perhaps we'll see you...

Modesto Unplugged Music Festival June 21-29

The hit acoustic/folk festival in downtown Modesto returns for its second year at the end of June! 50 acts will come together to jam, both national players and local favorites. You’ll enjoy the sounds of bluegrass, Americana, old-time country, swing, gypsy, folk, anti-folk, orchestral-folk, acoustic pop/rock, Irish/traditional, roots, blues, vintage ukulele tunes, and more. FRIDAY 6/21 @ Deva Café (1202 J St.), 6 PM - $10 THE THOUGHTS (orchestral folk from Seattle, WA) Award-winning NZ singer/songwriter JACKIE BRISTOW D. Henry Fenton Fox & Woman Boscoe’s Brood Alida McKeon SATURDAY 6/22 @ Theatre 417 (417 7th St.), 4 PM - $10 THE HOT DARK (formerly Descendants Of Prospectors) Of Us Giants Indian Runner Mondo Mariscal She Killed Kurt Evan Middlesworth (from Eau Claire, WI) SUNDAY 6/23 @ Theatre 417 (417 7th St.), 2 PM - $10 DEAR INDUGU The Dustbowl Children Deborah Crooks Lino Alibani Brandon Sutton w/ Victoria Sutton Krippner WEDNESDAY 6/26 @ Peer Recovery Art Project (1222 J St.), 5pm Free songwriting workshop led by Alan Williams, doctor of ethnomusicology, master folk songwriter, and lead man of Birdsong At Morning. WEDNESDAY 6/26 @ Barkin’ Dog Grill (940 11th St.), 7:30 PM - $5 MARIA QUILES & RORY CLOUD (bay area Americana duo) Birdsong At Morning (master folk songwriter from Lowell, MA) Rusty String Express THURSDAY 6/27 @ Kane Studio (1010 Tully Rd.), 7 PM - $5 THE BREAKING YARD (indie folk from Portland, OR) National hammered-dulcimer champion DAVID MAHLER (Nashville) Rose Droll Benjamin Phelps FRIDAY JUNE 28 @ Deva Café (1202 J St.), 6-10 PM - $10 PROFESOR BURNS & THE LILAC FIELD KATIE HELL The Goat And The Feather Ryan David Orr (from Lakeside, AZ) Lila Nelson SATURDAY 6/29 @ Center Stage Conservatory (948 11th St.), 2 PM - $15 advance/$20 at door. Bay area gypsy string ensemble DIRTY CELLO Award-winning songwriter JEN HAJJ Jeremy Penick Mark Lemaire & Twilight Jill Cohn King Harobed Al Medina Rainy Escobar Savant The Airlings SUNDAY 6/30 @ Center Stage Conservatory (948 11th St.), 2 PM $15 advance/$20 at door. PATTY CASTILLO DAVIS GHOST TOWN GOSPEL The (Secret) Hitchers Rob Larkin Bourbon Legend (ukulele rock from Las Cruces, NM) Colorado Road Mali Gosney William Morebeck Patrice Webb (award winning songwriter from Sandpoint, ID) The Dandelion Massacre