The fifth annual Kaleidoscope Art & Music Festival, a unique event that celebrates the arts in the high desert, has announced its lineup of musical performers when it returns to the Palmdale Amphitheater, 2723 Rancho Vista Blvd., on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
Among the musical acts taking the Palmdale Amphitheater stage will be Irish/Celtic performers Paddy’s Pig, Latin jazz artist Louie Cruz Beltran, playful folk/bluegrass/Dixieland entertainers High-D Boys, original world guitar sounds by Incendio, and classic soul/Motown powerhouse Stone Soul.
“Kaleidoscope is a community favorite event that features unique artful experiences, including local and regional artisans, live musical entertainment, art displays, live muralists crafting spectacular works, in person painting and craft activities, food, craft beer, and wine,” said Palmdale Director of Parks and Recreation Keri Smith. “Our lineup of diverse musical entertainment will be sure to impress.”
In addition to musical entertainment, Kaleidoscope offers a wide variety of artisan displays, original works, and live art demonstrations, including specular works of art created by muralists on site. The peaceful sounds of the Living Water Statues® will bring another dimension to the event, while professional artists will present their works and offer demonstrations in their respective booths. Works by student, novice, and hobbyist artists will be on display in the ArtLight exhibit, and people of all ages and skill levels may try their hand at painting at the free Brush Strokes classes.
Food and drink also make Kaleidoscope an unforgettable experience. Attendees will have delectable offerings from several food trucks, while the Art of the Wine and Art of the Brew Craft Beer exhibits offer both flavorful and fresh locally crafted beverages.
The Palmdale Amphitheater is generously sponsored by Antelope Valley Hospital, Waste Management, American Medical Response, Snow Orthodontics, ValleyWide Dental, Ventura Graphix, Learn 4 Life, and AV Mosquito & Vector Control District.
For more information, please visit www.KaleidoscopeArtFestival.com
About the Musicians
Louie Cruz Beltran (http://www.louiebeltran.com)
A charismatic entertainer, singer and master percussionist who has captivated audiences with his dynamic stage presence and wonderful vocals, Beltran’s musical career was crafted upon the soulful sounds of his ethnic American background and flavored with contemporary R&B, jazz, Latin jazz, and salsa as well as the Great American Songbook. Steeped in music from early childhood, his first memories recall his mother singing gospel music, Mexican and Caribbean folk tunes.
Whether he is at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, or an intimate supper club, Beltran always connects with his audience, delivering a crowd pleasing, high-energy performance. He has performed in Washington D.C. at Blues Alley and on the National Mall through the Smithsonian Institution. He has appeared with Carlos Santana, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson, among many others, and has performed the National Anthem for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Clippers. Other recent appearances include The Oxnard Jazz Festival, and Jazz at Drew. His entertaining solo, interactive and educational percussion presentation, “Rhythm & Roots,” has been presented in over 40 libraries and schools.
High-D Boys (http://highdboys.weebly.com/)
Formed in the Central Mojave Desert in 2010, the High-D Boys are a four-piece ensemble combining the instrumentation of a folk/bluegrass/Dixieland group with the tight harmonies of a barbershop quartet. They pride themselves on bringing audiences humorous banter and the songs they love in ways they never knew were possible. The High-D Boys are: Dan Reyes, guitarist/vocalist; Mike Kelly guitarist/Banjoist/vocalist; Robert Blomker, lead vocalist/ukulele; and Phil Clevinger, washtub bass/horns/vocalist.
Incendio - www.IncendioBand.com/
The acclaimed Los-Angeles-based group Incendio performs original “world guitar” compositions, featuring incredible guitar-playing across a variety of genres: Latin, Middle-Eastern, and Celtic grooves. Incendio is Jim Stubblefield, guitar; J.P. Durand, guitar, guitar synth; Liza Carbe, bass guitar; and Tim Curle, drums. Formed in 1999, the group has ten CD’s and two DVD’s available internationally, variously hitting the Billboard, CMJ, NAV, and Amazon.com charts. Averaging over 150 shows a year since 2000, INCENDIO’s live performance is an explosive improvisatory journey, garnering tremendous audience response in such diverse venues as the Strawberry Music Festival in Yosemite, the Sundance Film Festival, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, California World Festival, the national Levitt Pavilions and many more across the U.S.
Paddy’s Pig (www.paddyspig.com)
Formed in Los Angeles 20 years ago by Detroit transplant Missy Gibson and southern California native Mike Flanagan, Paddy’s Pig performs lively renditions of traditional and original Irish and Celtic music, resisting attempts to update these centuries-old tales, allowing the storytelling to guide their songs. Their original material also fits comfortably into this approach. The band strikes a balance between preserving folk-song traditionalisms and delivering these venerable songs with humor and rock-n-roll energy, offering a distinctive and passionate voice with broad appeal.
Paddy’s Pig’s most recent release is a new 15-track CD (“ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE”) as a follow up to its recent “Rebel Tooth” EP, and past two full-length CDs, “Maple & Wire” and “Do Your Worst”. Diving deeper into mostly new original material, replete with rants, boozy jaunts, wistful reflections, a creepy dirge, tall tales and more, they manage to forge new ground, while staying true to their long-time aesthetic. Featuring special guest performers and a more punched-up sound, “Downhill” represents a few steps forward in the evolution of the band.
Band members are: Missy Gibson: vocals, percussion; Mike Flanagan: vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, accordion, guitar, bouzouki, banjo and tin whistle; Damon Pipitone: drums, percussion, vocals; Gene Sullivan: guitar, percussion, vocals; and Jon O'Hara: bass.
Stone Soul (www.stonesoul.com)
Stone Soul is an eight-piece horn-blowing, foot-stomping classic soul and Motown tribute band that performs spot-on renditions of timeless hits from legendary artists. Their talents have been called upon to open for Stevie Wonder, The O’Jays, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and BB King, as well as entertaining thousands at clubs, special events and corporate parties all over Southern California and beyond. Stone Soul has played over 400 Southern California summer concerts to over 1 million fans (called "Stone Souldiers") as part of the California Park & Recreation Society's "Parks Make Life Better!" Summer Concert Tours, with their original song “At the Park” becoming a sing-along summer anthem to celebrate California's beautiful public parks.