The music
Who they Are
The Solstice Emsemble
Playing at 12:30 p.m.
The Solstice Ensemble is a subset of the chorus of Christmas Revels, creating magical immersive musical theater in Oakland for 36 years. A volunteer group of about ten singers and instrumentalists headed by Anne Bingham Goess, The ensemble performs throughout the year, carrying the revels tradition of seasonal celebration into the larger community with repertoire from the British Isles and beyond.
​
California Revels winter show draws on the histories, stories, rituals and traditions of diverse peoples and cultures to reveal timeless human values this year their Midwinter Revels, The Butterfly Lovers of Gold Mountain, takes us to mid century California, with a spotlight on Chinese culture. Opening Dec. 9; check their website ( californiarevels.org) for ticket information.
The new Vintage Players
Playing at 1:30 p.m.
Bay Area folk veterans Dan Warrick, Harry Liedstrand and Paul Kotapish play a rollicking mix of old time dance tunes, lonesome ballads, cowboy songs, brother duets and assorted vintage rural music, played on fiddle, banjo, and guitar.
Wakefield Mountain Trio
Playing at 2:30
Wakefield Mountain Trio brings together the family style harmonies of Bethany Sorkey ( Good Ol' Persons) on bass, bass, brother guitarist Greg Pratt, and good friend Sylvia Herold ( Cats & Jammers, Wake the Dead) on guitar. The trio presents a program of vintage country, western swing, and hillbilly rock and roll.
Penny Opry
playing at 3:30 p.m.
Hailing from the cold waters of San Francisco Bay, Penny Opry specializes in bringing old music back from the dead, with a sound concocted to lift spirits and bring life back to the party.
Joan Wilson Rueter ( accordion and vocals) and Rosie Steffy ( drums and vocals) have spent the better part of the past eight years traveling together and honing their skills as part of the trio Whiskey and Woman. The duo's latest incarnation, Penny Opry, delves further into folk music of the past, drawing inspiration from Tin Pan Alley, old-time Americana, and maritime folk music.
The AdHoc Brass Band
Playing at 4:30
The Ad Hoc Brass Band has been successfully keeping a low profile in the Bay Area since 2008. Led by trombonist Greg Stephens, the band features Aaron Priskorn and Tyler Graves on trumpet, Wiley Evans on sousaphone, and Dana Burt on drums.
the background of the repertoire consists of arrangements of Greg's faorite tunes from bands he has played with around the Bay Area and elsewhere, including tangos, Balkan/Eastern European tunes, New Orleans jazz, polkas, waltzes, circus music, old show tunes, jazz standards and more. They'll play a few originals charts as well and might even throw in a classical piece or tow