The City of Palmdale has announced the lineup of performers for the Mosaic Stage at the fourth annual Kaleidoscope Art & Music Festival, coming to the Palmdale Amphitheater, 2723 Rancho Vista Blvd., on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission and parking are free.
The performers for 2019 are Larry Mamalias, Chuck Murphy & Napynap, Valley Siren, Jason Arimoto, Tiffani Jennee and Janell Crampton. Each artist is a local and/or regional talent who will perform both original and cover songs on the Mosaic Stage.
“The Mosaic Stage offers singer/songwriter an intimate presentation of their work,” said Palmdale’s Communications Manager John Mlynar. “It’s a nice environment to hear quality music from some exceptionally talented musicians/performers.”
The Mosaic Stage performers’ bios and stage times:
Larry Mamalias - 10:30 am
Narceso “Larry” Mamalias, born in Kauai, Hawaii to a family of six. He was given his first ukulele at the early age of five. Bored with the idea of playing ukulele at the time, he was forced to go with his brothers and would hear them playing music all night long. By the age of nine he was playing the guitar.
Following his time in the Korean War, in 1951, he was introduced to Arthur Godfrey from the U.S. comedy show who told the people of Kauai that the best ukulele player would go to Hollywood with him. His friends playing ukulele inspired him to learn and within a few years, he was playing at the Hideaway Hotel, the Aston Circle Hotel, the Kamaaina Hotel in Waikiki, and the Coco Palms Hotel in Kauai. Almost 70 years later, at the age of 89, Larry enjoys playing jazz, bolero, samba and bossa nova.
Chuck Murphy and Napynap – 11 am
There was a moment in 2016 when singer/songwriter Chuck Murphy realized people were listening. After spending three weeks in the hospital with a stomach ailment, Murphy returned home to find he had three million SoundCloud listens to his song “Falling Star.”
When Murphy’s album, Peace Be With You, hit No.3 on Billboard’s Folk Americana chart in the Fall of 2016, it was proof the artist was coming into his own.
From his earliest days in Minnesota as a 10-year-old with the electric guitar and amp his father received in barter, Murphy found that music was his way to express himself. “The neighbor kids and I would go from house to house carrying our stuff,” Murphy recalls. “I think that was my first tour.”
Today, Chuck Murphy & Big Coyote and Chuck Murphy & Napynap perform to bring attention to Music and Kids and all proceeds from their performances and album sales go to fund the mission of Music and Kids (www.musicandkids.org).
Murphy’s objective is to use his platform to help change his environment, his community, and whatever portion of the world he can reach to make a difference.
“Every day I wake up and ask for the strength to be the best I can be -- the strength, the wisdom and courage to deal with today the best I can.”
Valley Siren – 12:15 pm and 3 pm
Siren Valley is an acoustic band that formed when four long-time friends decided to come together and bring joy and music to the world. With a wide range of covers and original music written and performed by them, they provide something for everyone. Siren Valley consists of vocalists Amy Colleen and Katelyn Shay, guitarist Kris Danam, and percussionist Marlon Barnes Jr.
Jason Arimoto – 1:15 pm
Originally from Hawai‘i, Jason Arimoto, Ph. D., is a Los Angeles-based ‘ukulele creative with a professional background in ‘ukulele performance, education, and retail. Arimoto performs and teaches across the U.S. and internationally, and is the co-owner of U-SPACE, L.A.’s premier ‘ukulele store and award-winning, full-service community-centered creative arts enterprise.
In addition to teaching undergraduate ‘ukulele studies in Applied Music at Occidental College, he also served as artist faculty in arts institutions across the country.
Arimoto’s studio recordings are featured on: A Brighter Day, an album of original ‘ukulele and vocal compositions; Take On the ‘80s, a collection of ’80s hits re-imagined on ‘ukulele and vocals in the varying styles of blues, reggae, and swing; and JMD, featuring ‘ukulele, bass, and drums on six original reggae/blues/rock compositions.
Tiffani Jenee – 2:15 pm and 4:45 pm
Tiffani Jenée is an American singer-songwriter that performs in and around the LA area. Her backing band features D, James on guitar, B.E. Nelson on bass, Mark Enevoldsen on keys, and Tim Heitz on drums. She is currently in the recording studio, working on her second album, which is set to be released next year.
Janell Crampton – 3:45
A High Desert native who writes and performs her own material, Crampton draws inspiration from singer-songwriters of the likes of Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, and Brandi Carlile. Using genuine life experiences as her ingredients, she creates melodies that entice you to listen and feel. Even in the age of mobile-everything Janell says, "Sometimes I see people put their phones down and just listen to my music. It's so cool." Always eager to grace any venue to share her gift, she is a musical experience not to be taken for granted as she and her guitar are undoubtedly destined for much bigger stages around the world. But even as a multitalented artist she keeps her goal simple: "To share stories and connect with people.”
About Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope Art & Music Festival is a unique event dedicated to the arts, both visual and performing. Kaleidoscope will feature two stages of live music, live artisans and muralists, Off the Canvas living masterpieces, Brush Strokes live studio classes, a ukulele workshop, Young at Art upcycled art, Art of the Brew craft beer, Art of the Vine wines, Fresh Made Market culinary & apothecary vendors, artisan food and much more.
The Palmdale Amphitheater is generously sponsored by Antelope Valley Hospital, Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Waste Management, Snow Orthodontics, Heritage Sierra Medical Group, Valleywide Dental, Antelope Valley Mall, Logix Smarter Banking, Antelope Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, Sierra Commons Dental Group and Orthodontics, Smart & Final, Hilton Garden Inn, American Medical Response, and Ventura Graphix.