FLOWMOTION - Seattle, WA - MySpace Page
Nominated by Relix magazine as "one of the 8 great highs of High Sierra Music Festival 2005"

For the long hot days of summer, Flowmotion is your go-to party band. (For the past seven years, the band has hosted an outdoor festival called Summer Meltdown in the mountains north of Seattle.) Energetic Jimi Hendrix guitar bravado, driving funk bass lines and Clauson's gruff vocals help ground the songs within the rock genre, while the band's tendency to break into unscheduled improv keeps the live shows fun and flamboyant. By Tizzy Asher

MARCH FOURTH MARCHING BAND - Portland, OR - Myspace Page
Back by POPULAR DEMAND! Oregon Art Beat describes the band: “March Fourth is Oregon's favorite marching band, complete with fire dancers, stilt walkers, and a great horn section. They've captured the hearts of thousands of Oregonians who have seen their spectacular fun-filled performances.”
March Fourth Marching Band was voted “Best Portland Band” in the Willamette Week Best of Portland 2004 Reader’s Poll. Maybe it’s because our band is bigger than everyone else’s so we win if we vote for ourselves, or maybe it’s the infectious energy of our colorful group. We like to think the latter, and everyone in the band swears they didn’t even vote! Check out the links to see what else the media has to say about us.

THE YARD DOGS ROAD SHOW - San Francisco, CA - MySpace Page
The Yard Dogs Road Show is cabaret, vaudeville and rock and roll. In the enchanting land of stage show entertainment ours is both pleasant and formidable terrain. We require a sensitivity to the subtle and the absurd. We lead the modern hobohemian on a visual and sonic journey through part of history that may or may not have existed – followed by an ambitious return to the emotional challenges of our punch-drunk contemporary world. It’s a true story on stage: sword swallowers, dancing dolls, fire eaters and sunset hobo poetry - all animated by the live sounds of the Yard Dogs cartoon heavy band. Yard Dogs Road Show is pure visual and sonic voodoo

GARAJ MAHAL - San Francisco, CA - MySpace Page
2007 Independent Music Awards Winner. When you hear your first Garaj Mahal note, leading into an innovative fusion of funky jazz with a tasty world music flare, all other thoughts leave your mind as the music takes you on an unforgettable voyage. Fans return to experience the band again and again because they know they will always hear something new and progressive from these four first-class musicians. Featuring guitar and sitar virtuoso Fareed Haque, world-renowned bass master and educator Kai Eckhardt, gospel-inspired funky jazz keyboardist Eric Levy, and consistently in-the-pocket, natural-born drummer Alan Hertz, Garaj Mahal combines a century of musical experience to create a sound that's always new, freshly infused with a wide spectrum of musical expression, and always smoking hot.

SKY CRIES MARY - Seattle, WA. - MySpace Page
The roots of Sky Cries Mary were set when a University of Washington theatre student named Roderick decided to unite the energy of underground music with the mystique of avant guard theatre. The experiment worked and Sky Cries Mary quickly generated a massive underground following. The band has sold out countless shows in venues of all sizes, played internationally and released 5 C.D.’s. Highlights • Featured Musical Guests on the Conan O’Brien Show and featured Musical Guests on the John Stewart Show

THAT 1 GUY - San Francisco, CA - MySpace Page
“Like a one-man band plucked from the pages of Dr. Seuss, That 1 Guy delivers earthshaking future funk from ”the magic pipe” to accompany his madcap lyrics about turbo snails, meat storms, and weasel pot pies."
J.G.
Bass Player Magazine

BOOGIE UNIVERSAL - Bellingham, WA - MySpace Page
The Boogie Universal ARTS Collective is a group of volunteers that believes better living comes through building community. We are dedicated to creating events that celebrate and showcase our community's creative potential. We formed in 2002 as several of us recognized the need for new venues for great dance music and a shift in local entertainment. To us, the spectator style events based around music accompanied by booze and drugs have become very stale. We recognize that what makes an event great is when people feel they are a part of the magic. We encourage participation, artistic contributions, volunteerism, and costuming. We try to create meaningful experiences for all of our participants that will be new and different at every event and leave people inspired to dive into their own creativity for future events and in day to day life.

Promo Video

DREAM SCIENCE CIRCUS - Bellingham, WA
Roaming performances only.
Dream Science Circus tells an exciting story of imagination and wonder. This multi-media spectacle for all-ages is set in the “laboratory” of an eccentric scientist who has invented a device called the dream machine. This machine extracts dreams from the audience and materializes them on stage using acrobatics, aerial feats, live music and hilarious improvisational theater. Originating from Bellingham, Washington, U&I Productions and the Dream Science Circus is a sponsored non-profit collective dedicated to supporting artistic exploration.

THEMASSES - Vancouver BC. - MySpace Page
Themasses' music is a blend of infectious beats and unique progressions without formulas or rules. It's created with the live performance in mind, where the crowd is the show and the dance floor is the stage. In their mission to put some DJ's out of work, they play instrumental house music with the dynamics and energy that could only come from a LIVE four piece band. Elements of funk and jazz are also present, resulting in an upbeat, unpredictable, original sound that has been packing dance floors consistently for more than three years.

MCTUFF - Seattle, WA.
Joe Doria (AriSawkaDoria) captains the Hammond Organ, the renowned "Skerik" (Critters Buggin & Les Claypool's Fancy Band) on tenor sax, the impeccable Andy Coe (In Lake'ch) on guitar, and last but not certainly not least, the incredible Dvonne Lewis providing the 100% solid rock on drums. Sure, there's a time for all that wonderful heady music...and then there's a time to grab your poison of choice, the woman you want and just relax the groove. For we are remembering a sacred period...a period of soul and groove. A time when ORGANS RULED THE EARTH!

ARISAWKADORIA - Seattle, WA. - MySpace Page
Three of the Seattle underground music scene's most innovative and celebrated artists have joined forces to create a new sound combining the sound of tru-jazz, jungle beats, rock and dub. Their self-titled debut fill-length -produced by Santana drummer Michael Shrieve- will be released this spring. AriSawkaDoria is the defining spirit of Seattle's underground live music scene: their combination of jungle, jazz, rare groove, dub and improv transcends all preconceived notions of what is possible with electric groove music. Dance enthusiasts and jazz heads will both revel in the rhythmic intensity of AriSawkaDoria's explorations.

KJ SAWKA - Seattle WA.
Seeing Kevin Sawka on the drums is the only way to believe the hype. He can play the most complex of jungle, drum'n'bass and breakbeats utilizing no loops and no extended samples -only his two hands and two feet. Whereas some artists claim to be performing live drum'n'bass, live electronica, etc., it's more often than not a drummer playing alongside pre-programmed beats if there's a drummer at all; Sawka, however, can perform each and every 808 bass kick, snare slap, and compressed highhat tick himself, in real-time.

BABY GRAMPS - Seattle, WA.
Baby Gramps is an amazing amalgamation of everything that anybody’s ever heard including Mississippi John Hurt, Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Patton, Blind Blake, Captain Beefheart, the Tuvan Throat Singers and Popeye. Baby Gramps has created a highly developed and completely original musical concoction that is easily the most intriguing synthesis to come out of the roots revival of the late 20th Century.

MIKE DILLON'S GO GO JUNGLE - All Over USA -
Mike Dillon was the brains behind Billy Goat which included JJ Jungle and Go-Go Ray(Drum Counselor) He also leads Hairy Apes BMX which includes JJ. When Mike is not leading bands you can find him on stage doing percussion duties for Les Claypool and Ani Difranco.
The band made their debut on March 16th, 2006 at Davey's Uptown in Kansas City. Since then, they have shared the stage with Zilla
and Galactic in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Ontario, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

THE PANDA CONSPIRACY Seattle, WA. MySpace Page
Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the iconic panda is endearing yet fierce. It’s this double edge sword the band keeps sharp and ready. Seattle’s Panda Conspiracy draws from a worldly music archive intermingled with post-grunge. Stunning melodies set upon ferocious rhythms keep crowds stirring. Lyrically introspective but optimistic like a beam of light in the night sky, the Panda Conspiracy produces incredible live shows that leave you wanting more.

INTERVISION - Portland, OR MySpace Page
For the past year, intervision has single-handedly created a groove epidemic in their hometown of Portland, OR. Combining elements of soul, rock, jazz and pop, the quintet is earning lofty comparisons to bands like Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, and Jamiroquai, yet have created their own intensely unique sound. While 2006 brought this band to the forefront of their local music scene, 2007 promises to break them to a whole new level; with dates scheduled regionally, they have only begun to fulfill their promise of bringing fresh sounds to eager ears and booties around the world.

DANNY GODINEZ - Seattle, WA
Danny Godinez will quickly get your attention with his acoustic guitar. He was smooth and fast. It was obvious that he "becomes one" with his guitar. When a guy uses harmonics, slaps his strings, picks with precision and speed, and masterfully bends his guitar neck to get just the perfect sound, you know that you are getting more than just music. You are getting the man's soul. When he adds smooth singing and even mimics his guitar licks with his vocals, you are getting soul and art.
Sam Synder - Continuum

ALBINO - Berkeley CA. - MySpace Page
Winner of the 2005 SF Music Award for "Best World Music", ALBINO! has performed to capacity crowds up and down the West Coast and as far east as Chicago. The band's 12 members hail from such diverse acts as SPEARHEAD, HAMSA LILA, APHRODESIA, and MUTAYTOR among others. ALBINO!'s brand of afrobeat reminds music lovers of what it feels like to groove, and without fail, inspires audiences to let go and absorb the ecstatic energy that pours from the stage whenever this funk-fueled juggernaut performs.

CLINTON FEARON - Seattle, WA. - MySpace Page
ROOTS rock reggae legend Clinton Fearon who hails from deep in the hills of St. Catherine, Jamaica. Creating danceable rhythms, positive vibes and bring the spiritual message of roots reggae music for all to enjoy. As a member of the Gladiators (with Albert Griffiths and Dallimore Sutherland) he was at the forefront of the Jamaican music invasion in the '70s.

VICCI MARTINEZ - Tacoma, WA. - MySpace Page
When you first hear Vicci Martinez sing, you know immediately that you could be in the presence of somebody great. Vicci may be 22 years old, but she writes, sings and plays guitar with the touch of a veteran. Vicci is an acoustic-based singer/songwriter with a passionate voice, profound lyrics and incendiary live performances. The Tacoma native is growing a grass roots following and critical acclaim with her contagious live performances throughout the Northwest and beyond.

DIEM - Seattle, WA. - MySpace Page
Professionally dj’ing for over 13 years, diem has an impressive collection of beats and rhythms. Currently in Seattle, he has played throughout North America. His sound he defines as “hardtribaldisco”, a blend of tribal Latin rhythms, hard funk, house beats, breaks, and layered evil disco. Often seen wearing his trademark bunny ears, he is known for dancing behind the decks, pumping his fist, and often joining the crowd. Recent additions to his repertoire have been his playing of live PA performances as well as professional photography, recently featured on The Beehive’s latest EP.

DAS VIBENBASS - Seattle, WA. - MySpace Page
From Los Angeles to Berlin, audiences have been captivated by the musical sound of Das Vibenbass. The group’s independently released debut, Animals and Robots, sold over 1,000 copies in a mere six months. Sustaining a spot in the top five of Seattle’s KEXP 90.3 jazz charts for over 5 months, the quartet was then nominated, alongside Wayne Horvitz, for Best Jazz/Experimental act in the Seattle Weekly’s ‘Best of 2006’. Tours of the United States, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic have spawned a devoted fan base whose discriminating tastes welcome only the best into clubs. Venues include Seattle’s Triple Door, Hamburg’s Birdland and The Tunnel in Vienna.

KATIE GRAY - Orcas Island, WA - MySpace Page
Influenced by folk musicians, jazzy divas and her East Indian roots, Katie is a unique musician with an incredible sound. A soulful strength dancing between this tender world and others, her music takes the listener to places deep within and far, far away. A folky 4 chord progression, trickled with an Indian chant, followed up by a jazzy skat, all while speaking genius lyrics about the state of this world and the love it contains.

ACORN PROJECT - Bellingham, WA. -
Acorn Project serves an improvised combination of down and dirty, funk-infused, rock psychedelia with a twist of controlled chaos. Feeding off the energy in the room, each show promises to be unique. Acorn Project continues to spread their huge sound with their own brand of danceable jams.

SPANISH FOR 100 - Seattle, WA - MySpace Page
Seattle's Spanish for 100 has this indie guitar-rock thing down. Shades of Built to Spill permeate the band's latest EP "Metric," which - no surprise - was produced by Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse). The band has hit the road for multiple self-promoted and self-booked national tours, spreading its gospel of sonic guitar revelry and upbeat songwriting.

TAPHABIT Bellingham, WA. MySpace Page
Forged in the heat of Bellingham’s funk-groove fire, TapHabit comes at you with epic proportions of good energy, soulful swoons, and seamless transitions that will propel anyone into a state of euphoria.
TapHabit has shared the stage with musicians such as Stu Allen of the Jerry Garcia Band, Flowmotion, Shanti Groove and The Lifesavas. Their diversified sound dabbles in rock, reggae, jazz, Carribean and psuedo-ska, while fueling the fire for your Groove-Funk desire! The TapHabit Crew's in the house and their knockin' at your door.

SPOONSHINE Anacortes WA. MySpace Page
Three part vocal harmonies, mandolin, guitar, keys, woodwinds, stand up bass, and an eclectic drum set make up this four piece’s sound. From high energy grooves, to melodic laments, sets can be short and sweet, or all night long, depending on the setting. From a stage at a festival, to busking on the street corner, it’s all about connecting with people through music.
Spoonshine has been performing in small towns, big cities, bars, community halls, and festivals for over three years now. They have played at The Oregon Country Fair, Joshua Tree Music Festival, University Street Fair, Fremont Fair, Folklife Festival, The Subdued String Band Jamboree, Western Washington Earth day Festival, The Garlic Festival, The Herbal Fair, and many other venues throughout the region.

JAM ON WHITE BREAD - Seattle, WA.
Originally formed in 2001, Seattle-based Jam On White Bread is a highly energetic band with very danceable music.  Fronted by songwriter Aaron Donohue, and featuring Jeremy Kidder (guitar), Eric Bryson (bass), Dennis Greely (vocals, percussion), Michelle Shirley (vocals), and Jens Gunnoe (drums), JOWB displays a wide range of influences; mainly American roots-based.  Their sound is a unique blend of soul, R&B, psychedelia, funk, blues, pop, and rock.  

SYMPHONY DE-LA STEEL - Seattle, WA.
Symphony De-La Steel is the Pacific northwest most exciting & entertaining Steel Drum Band. They began performing in the Seattle area in 1991, this lively Caribbean Steel Drum Band entertains all around the Pacific Northwest. The group members are all from the Caribbean, with over twenty years of experience in playing the steel drums. Whether it is playing styles such as Soca, Calypso, Salsa, Traditional Steel Drum Music, Reggae or Samba, the ensemble’s island music sound will make the listeners feel as if they are on a beach somewhere in the sunny Caribbean.

Spare Rib & Bluegrass Sauce - Seattle, WA - MySpace Page
Formed in 2005, Spare Rib & The Bluegrass Sauce brings it's own special blend of Groove-Grass to the NorthWest. Playing a wide range of Traditional, Old Timey, Classic Rock, and Original music that merges Bluegrass with marathon Jams, the Bluegrass Sauce will get you hootin', hollerin' and stompin' all night long!

HIGH CEILING - Shelton, WA - MySpace Page
Founded in the spirit of improvisation, High Ceiling has brought high energy funkadelic groove-laced music to the Pacific Northwest since February, 2004.  Emerging as one of the areas top acts, the group's performances create a live synergy connecting music, band, and audience.  With their eclectic and intense blend of reggae, funk, dub, trance and jam-style music High Ceiling can lead an audience towards throwing their hands up to the sky, zoning into their glass of beer, or dancing in circles.

MEGATRON - Bellingham, WA
Taking their sound back to the old school, MEGATRON's I believe... showcases the immense power and skill of three unique and very talented musicians. Paul Chandler, the trumpet player and leader of the group, has produced an album of vintage quality - with sounds that take us back the 60's and 70's while incorporating some modern twists as well.

YOGOMAN BURNING BAND - Bellingham, WA.
Yogoman Burning Band is an 8 member group blasting out of Bellingham, WA with an upbeat rock steady, soul, reggae/dancehall sound. The band has been cultivating their unity-building sound around the region for the past year and is excited to be stepping beyond Bellingham this summer with the release of their debut CD and a westcoast tour in early August. Yogoman Burning Band is thrilled to help open Meltdown and will be bringing the party early on Thursday. See you there!

DOUG GREEN - Garberville, CA.
A 37 year resident of Humboldt Co., Doug performed with the Floating Lotus Opera Co. and toured California with The Living Theatre in the 60’s, was Chet Helm’s partner on the Family Dog’s Tribal Stomps in the 70’s, and built French’s Camp and co-founded Reggae on the River in the 80’s. The 90’s til now have found him as a perennial MC and spoken word artist at the Oregon Country Fair, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Trinity Tribal Stomp, 30th & 35th Anniversary of the Summer of Love, Shining Stars Festival, Vashon Island Earth Fair and EarthDance, to name a few. His words have been described as “funny and passionate/compassionate activism”