Bay Area New Music O'Rama: Desira, Garibaldi, Heartache Sisters & The Welcome Matt Debut CDs & Singles This Week

Bay Area musicians are packing a big punch this week as a quartet of local acts celebrate the release of new recording efforts. I've either shared shows with or happily applauded performances by these artists, who represent the full spectrum of songwriterly tendencies and deserve many ears.

Jeff Desira is eagerly anticipating his CD-release party at Amnesia on July 19th, 8pm, for "Weathervane." Produced by Scott Mickelson and mastered by Michael Romanowsk, expect some quality hook-laden tunes. (He'll be part of the Alameda Songwriter's Roundup on July 26).

While I was up playing in Oregon, Katie Garibaldi celebrated the release of her new — and seventh (!) — CD "Follow Your Heart," a collection of pop and country-tinged tunes recorded with great care at Tiny Telephone and featuring the string work of Magik Magik Orchestra

The Heartache Sisters are hard not to love with their multi-instrumentalist cool, sweet harmonies and Americana style. They've just debuted two new singles — Please Be Kind and Living Machine _ which can be found across the Inter webs. I also highly recommend seeing them live if you're in Fresno, Pasadena or Oakland in the coming weeks. Check their tour schedule for a date near you.

I recently interviewed The Welcome Matt about "POP JUNK FLUFF & HYPE," which is packed with memorable lines and is officially released July 16. This music rocks.

Good stuff all around, I say. Get ye to iTunes quick!

Apps for Kids: AzaWhistle & Alphabet Rockers

While I've been busy moving, two friends have debuted fun educational apps just for kids (and adults will likely get a kick out of them as well) over the past several weeks. Check them out!

AzawhistleKids Yogini, writer and all-round ace person Leslie Hendry developed Azawhistle to encourage "clean living in our homes, hearts, backyards, and around the world." The AzawhisltleKids App 'Tejas and Lollipop's Great Clean Up: Everything Has A Home' "uses yoga, meditation and simple acts of cleanliness to teach and inspire children to be organized, responsible, and conscious of their impact on their personal environment." With extra cool illustrations by Boonchu Tanti.
Alphabet Rockers Meanwhile, one of my favorite Bay Area music artists, Kaitlin McGaw, has applied some of her genius to an App she created with her Alphabet Rockers urban pop/hip-hop project. The new Alphabet Rockers app uses music to help kids learn about coins and shapes. How cool is that?
Both AzawhistleKids and Alphabet Rockers Apps are available via iTunes. Let the downloading begin.