Kevin Pakulis Band
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Kevin was the first place winner in the 2004 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, and a top 10 finalist at the 2004 Mountainstage Newsong Festival. He has appeared with Larry Lee Lerma at Glow and in concert at the Triangle L Ranch in 2008. He will be joined by bassist Lerma and drummer Ralph Gilmore. For more info and photos visit www.kevinpakulis.com.
Leila Lopez
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Leila Lopez has been developing her own sound since age 8. Growing up in a very musical family, she quickly learned how to play the guitar by listening and watching her father. In grade school, Leila began learning how to play the Cello, and a bit of theory, broadening her knowledge of the musical world. After realizing her true dedication to music, Leila went on to learn other instruments such as drums, bass guitar, flutes, hand percussion and violin. Leila records and produces all of her albums at home, and has been distributing her albums independently for three years.
Her music resembles Folk with a light Jazzy feel and has percussive Latin influence at times. Leila Has had the privilege of opening up for national acts such as: Joanna Newsom, Tim Reynolds, The Mountain Goats, Amos Lee, Brandi Carlile, Keaton Simons and the Hot Buttered Rum String Band. Leila is currently working on a new album, planning a west coast summer tour and teaching children in Tucson, Arizona.
Becoming well known internationally as a performer with presence and originality, we are pleased to have Leila at her Oracle debut! Listen to her tunes at www.leilalopezsongs.com and on her Myspace page.
Way Out West
11:30 PM - 12:45 PM
Way Out West covers the range from Nogales, Arizona to Telluride, Colorado and from Deming, NM to Los Angeles, CA. They’ve taken their Western and bordergrass music to Great Britain and to Europe; played for Chinese generals and dignitaries fresh to Tucson from a meeting with the President; and performed at the Silver Spur Awards in L.A., celebrating the movie and TV stars of the silver screen!
Emmy Creigh, with her fluent Spanish, swing guitar and mandolin, and prairie vocals helps front the talent of Way Out West. Born in Kansas, she penned one of Way Out West’s favorite tunes “Arizona April,” while considering how she missed the beautiful spring of the Sonoran desert. In addition to guitar and mandolin, Emmy provides percussion on cascabeles (snake rattles).
Tom Poley is a 5-string philosopher and a multi-instrumentalist (banjo, guitar, mandolin, and harmonica) in a 10-gallon hat. He likes to write songs that sound traditional, but reflect the issues of the modern West. Tom founded Blue Bhikku Records, Way Out West’s label, in 1993.
Slim Rost completes the trio vocally and with the bunkhouse (or doghouse) bass. Slim sets the gait for Way Out West and holds the songs together like tight rawhide. He brings additional song writing talent to the trio.
Way Out West has released three CDs: Granddaddy’s Cabin (bluegrass/newgrass), Poke Songs and Pony Tales (cowboy poetry and songs), and Down on the Ol’ Bar None (Western and Bordergrass songs and poetry). For more information visit or bookings visit www.bluebhikku.com.
Blue Prairie Dogs
4:15 PM - 5:00 PM
The Blue Prairie Dogs have been delighting audiences with their family-friendly Western tunes for about 15 years. Singer/songwriter and guitarist "Cactus" Dan Oved will amuse and move you with his inspired songs. "Diamond" Jim Hewitt will add some sparkle on the fiddle. Doc Whitmore's righteous bass playing will keep it all steady.
Recently reunited for a "Reunion" tour, Jim played with the band in the late 1990's in Tucson and performed on their first CD, Even Cowgirls Get Tattoos. In 1999 Jim won a TAMMIE (Tucson Area Music Award) for his work with the BPD. Both Cowgirls and the Dog's most recent CD, Lone Saguaro, provide great original songs by Dan Oved in a unique blend of folk, blues, and the old west.
The Blue Praire Dogs were featured at this year's Dessert in the Desert, so if you missed them stick around after the main course with Kevin Pakulis if you want some dessert!
The Jumping Chollas
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Headed up by well known local fiddler Jennifer Sordyl, “The Jumping Chollas” are a contra dance band performing Celtic, New England and Old-time selections. The Fiesta will open with a set of barn dances, with dance calling by Becky Nankivell, who has been a contra dancer since childhood. Becky's specialty is teaching beginner dancers with fun and simple steps so that everyone can join in. See Becky's article "What is Contra Dancing" for more info.
Jennifer teaches fiddle & violin in Southern Arizona and at the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp in Colorado. She also played with "Diamond Jim" Hewitt at the Oracle Barn Dance and is a regular at the dances sponsored by the Tucson Friends of Traditional Music.
Tom Ryan, is a banjo and mandolin playing, itinerant tennis bum, who enjoys composing wonderful contra dance tunes, many influenced by the beautiful desert surroundings here in Arizona. In a former life, he was a member of the Dusty Chips (not Chaps) specializing in Country Schtick. Steve Richard, long time Tucson geologist and guitar player is the backbone of the Jumping Chollas. Playing with a dropped D tuning, Steve makes the guitar sound like a musical drum, and his specialty is bringing fun and rhythm to the dances.