South Pasadena Celebrates 135 Years at THE ECLECTIC Music Festival and Arts Crawl April 29

Eclectic-poster-2023

South Pasadena’s 13th Annual Eclectic Music Festival and Arts Crawl  is Saturday April 29, 2023 from 3pm – 10pm with some venues having early bird performances. The free, family-friendly festival will host over 75 musical acts, an Artisans’ Alley, a vintage flea market, interactive art activities, a children’s activity zone, beer gardens, food trucks, and special activities at area merchants. South Pasadena is also celebrating its 135th year and the city invites South Pasadenans to celebrate its birthday beginning at 3pm at the City Hall courtyard with a cake cutting at 3:30pm.

Music, art, and commerce intertwine throughout the festival, with South Pasadena’s shops, galleries, and eateries treating visitors to pop-up galleries and special performances throughout the day. The festival’s Artisan’s Alley, a curated marketplace with 80 vendors offering unique and hand-crafted items, and the South Pas Vintage Village, featuring 25 vintage vendors, give Eclectic attendees more to explore while taking in the music.

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South Pasadenan headquarters will be hosting a meet and greet with complimentary beverages where you can check out our shop, pick up a paper – subscribe and show your South Pasadena pride by picking up some South Pasadenan merchandise like our cute mugs, t-shirts and bags.

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PHOTO: Davina Sowers of Davina and The Vagabonds

Headlining the Gold Line Stage at 8pm is Davina and The Vagabonds – a bluesy, jazzy band led by the fierce and sassy Davina Sowers. With a new spin on an old sound, they have created quite a stir on the international music scene with their high-energy shows. Sowers has been called a unique mélange of Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Betty Boop! But all agree she is a true original. Bringing you 100 years of American music and Davina’s originals, which lend themselves to the American Songbook, the band brings edgy nostalgia to older generations and fresh new music to younger ears. This rollicking quintet is held together by Sowers’ keyboard playing, with acoustic bass, drums, and a spicy trumpet and trombone horn section. The group’s focused, clean sound and emphasis on acoustic instruments is novel to both blues and jazz worlds, and sets the show closer to New Orleans than to Chicago. The music starts on the Gold Line Stage at 3pm with Conga & Co. followed by Glifos, The South Pasadena Transit Authority and Upstream.

For fans of classical music, Calvary Church is offering an impressive lineup from 4pm – 6:45 beginning with Arroyo Seco String Trio led by Armen Ksajikian, the asocial principal cellist for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He has worked with notables Pavarotti, Baryshnikov, Corea, Dudamel, John Williams, Zubin Mehta and many more. Joining him is Miriam Hartman, the principal violist of the Pasadena Community Orchestra and a French horn player with the Glendale College Community Orchestra. Since 2015, Miriam has been on the faculty at Pasadena City College, where she is an Assistant Professor of Physics. Rounding out the trio is Peter Chang on violin. Beginning at 5pm will be Soprano Alaysha Fox with pianist Catherine Miller. Currently a member of LA Opera’s Domingo Colburn Stein young artist program, Fox joins the Lyric Opera of Chicago this season to cover Elisabeth de Valios in Don Carlos.  Pianist Catherine Miller is a member of the music staff at San Diego Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and an in-demand collaborative pianist and coach. Recent engagements include principal pianist for die Walküre Act 3 at the Hollywood Bowl under the direction of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel.

And at 5:45, baritone Daniel Radmacher with violinist Andrea Wang and pianist Courtney Duncan will take to the stage. Radmacher hails from the Pacific Northwest, and has been involved in musical endeavors of many styles and genre. He has been a member of the Pasadena-based Donald Brinegar Singers since its inception in 1994. In 2004, he sang the role of Schaunard with the California Phil in scenes from Puccini’s La Boheme. He was also featured in the role of Pilate with the Los Angeles Bach Festival’s production of St. John’s Passion in 2011.

Jeweled Universe is one of the stages offering an early start to the festivities with Peg Leg Love taking to the stage at 1pm. Peg Leg Love has a sound somewhere between deathrock, garage and surf where this Los Angeles based band sounds thrive. The main maestro Ilir Zeneli (guitar, vocals) along with Roclo Galindo on drums. Brings in the rock n roll sound with the right amount of darkness and pop. Next up will be Diana March, owner of Jeweled Universe and creator of her one-woman show at the famous Hollywood Roosevelt’s Cinegrill which also turned out to be one of the longest running shows at the venue. She loves hosting biweekly open mic nights for singers, songwriters and musicians of all styles at Jeweled Universe. The rest of the dynamic and diverse lineup includes Corrina Carter, JNJ Band, Jakl, Lorin Hart, Andy Kimbel, David Haerle & Edendale, Alarma, and closing out the evening at 9pm with some Latin-infused Jazz dance featuring Latin Jazz, Salsa and Cumbia hits is Flamenco Souls.

Flamenco Souls

Some local favorites will be at the SOPA Studio Patio at 1125 Hope Street including Joe Davis and Lynn Clark at 3:45 and Sophie Reynolds at 5:15. Griffins regulars Grondle will be appearing at the Griffins stage at 5pm, followed by Grand Canyon at 7:30 with The Drive closing out the evening at 9:30.

PHOTO: Michael Rizzi | South Pasadena News | Singer Songwriter Sophie Reynolds in the video for “You’ve Got This”
PHOTO: Pat McGowan | SouthPasadenan.com News | David Plenn, South Pasadena legend, performs at the Library’s Carnegie Stage in 2018.

The always popular Wine and Song will have a lineup of local faves beginning at 3pm at their current residency South Pasadena Theatre Workshop beginning with the jazz stylings of Michael Campagna & Domenic Genova followed by the always entertaining storyteller music of Chauncey Bowers, the rock and roll guitar stylings of David Plenn, the Americana sounds of The Nextdoors, and the beautiful three part vocal harmonies along with fine musicianship on violin, guitar, mandolin, upright bass and banjo of Sugar in the Gourd.

Check out the full line-ups at all the aforementioned stages along with stages at Aro, Mamma’s Brick Oven, Carrows, Dinosaur Farm, Mission Tile West, Piccolo, Old Focals, and Canoe House at TheEclectic.rocks

PHOTO: Kasper Tobias | The South Pasadenan News | Groups & Performers from The Eclectic Music Festival 2022 in South Pasadena

You will see the familiar faces of our South Pasadena D.U.D.E.S selling beer and wine by the Main Stage at the train station. Also, skip the hassle of parking and ride your bike! Michael Siegel and the South Pasadena Active crew will be hosting a FREE bike Valet during the event. Festivalgoers are encouraged to bike, walk, or take the Metro Gold Line to South Pasadena station at the heart of the fun. Those arriving by car can park at the Arroyo Golf Course, take the free Artmobile shuttle to Mission Street, or park in one of South Pasadena’s free public parking areas.

The Eclectic promises to be a humdinger and a hot time in the old town will be had by all! Visit TheElectic.Rocks for the complete line-up of performances, a festival map, and more information on this showcase of South Pasadena’s talent and hometown charm.

About The Eclectic Music & Arts Festival

Now in its 13th year, the Eclectic is organized and produced by the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce in partnership with DeepMix Entertainment and the City of South Pasadena. Started in a parking lot with a couple of local bands and a few dozen attendees, the Eclectic has grown into a signature event for the city, featuring dozens of diverse, local and regional musical acts, one-of-a-kind artisans and makers, interactive activities, open galleries, beer and wine gardens, and family-friendly fun.