Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 is the 3rd Annual Mill Valley Music Festival at Friends Field in, you guessed it, Mill Valley.
The festival has become a popular family event featuring an impressive music lineup, a marketplace featuring local handmade crafts, clothing, jewelry and more plus a killer lineup of all kinds of food and drink including wine and beer.
Some of the bigger musical acts include Gary Clark Jr., Chic featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Nile Rodgers, Monophonics, Sister Nancy and The Crosby Collective which boasts multi-instrumentalist virtuoso Jason Crosby and an array of impressive jam band musicians.
However the festival is also great about celebrating local artists. We wanted to talk to a few of them about the upcoming gig.Singer/guitarist Rose Paradise grew up just over Mt. Tam in Stinson Beach.
With a folky sound new album, cheekily titled “Over the Hill” (she’s under 25 years old), which she says “is largely a tribute to West Marin, leaving home and the experience of coming back.”
When asked about her experience with bigger shows, she says “I’ve been playing a bunch the last few years back and forth between New York and the Bay Area. The biggest shows were at venues like Bowery Ballroom in NYC and The Independent in SF. Mill Valley Music Festival is however my first festival! I’m super excited to be playing it in my hometown along with so many incredible artists.”
Her set is from 5:00-5:45 on Saturday. Mill Valley’s own Matt Jaffe has been steadily building a buzz around the Bay Area and has also been named host of the popular Open Mic Night at Sweetwater which incidentally is sponsoring the stage where both he and Paradise will be performing with Jaffe there Sunday from 2:15-2:45 pm.
As for big crowds, Jaffe says he’s done the National Anthem twice at Golden State Warriors games as well as once at Oracle Park before a Giants game but not as many festivals. He says he likes how the fest combines new as well as establish acts adding “they’ve done a fantastic job of remaining true to the foundational music of Mill Valley (i.e. a significant jam band contingent) while introducing acts that cater to a broader audience.
”Another popular Marin performer is Elliott Peck of the band Midnight North which she co-founded with Grahame Lesh who needs no introduction. An old hat to the festival circuit, Peck has played all over including at the famed Newport Folk Fest. Says Peck of that experience, “That day I had the chance to play with a star studded Phil Lesh & Friends lineup, which included the incredible Sheryl Crow! Truly one of my favorite, all time experiences playing music.”
Peck kicks off the fest on Saturday from 12:30-1:00pm so get there early.With a fan base that comes out to see them as well as new ears hoping to find a new fave, Jaffe says for a shorter festival set “sticking to tried and true tunes is usually a reliable recipe. Comedians have their “tight ten” for when they have a slim window to make ’em laugh, and we have a strong half hour that is down to muscle memory.”
Peck agrees adding “I tend to choose songs I believe will draw in new listeners, songs with my strongest melodies & a bit tighter arrangements.”
Paradise’s aim is to be “playing a lot of the songs off the album. Now that these songs are out in the world, it will be fun to see how the audience engages and whether they know the songs. I probably will sneak some new stuff in too that I’m excited about!”If you’re able to check these locals out live it’s always great to support them after the fact. Jaffe says he has a new single out called “Girl in the Moon House” while Peck has a new EP called “In the Pines” which is available now.
More information about these musicians and the Mill Valley Music Fest can be found at millvalleymusicfest.com. The day is open to all ages and a wide variety of ticket options are available now.
Elliott Peck is a gem of the north bay music scene . She has the most beautiful voice . I got to see her play last week at the Junction in Mill valley for free !!