Legendary soul and gospel singer Aaron Neville returned to the Grove (after a rousing Gala performance) on Sunday, August 7th, 2011.  His distinctive vocals and recognizable hits had Grove goers going gaga!  Along with his oh so sweet band, it was a true pleasure having Mr. Neville grace our stage.  Listen in for a little taste of his tunes.

East Bay soul and blues rocker Quinn Deveaux led his Blue Beat Review is a spectacularly stunning set at Stern Grove Festival on Sunday, August 14th, 2011.  Opening for legend Aaron Neville, Quinn’s sultry vocal chords set the afternoon off on the right foot!  Check out a little taste of the troupe.

Leah Crocetto

That lovely voice, defiant spirit and ease of grace have marked soprano Leah Crocetto’s career.  With her return to Stern Grove Festival this Sunday, we just had to know a few things about the world-renowned award-winning Adler fellow.

5 Questions for Leah Crocetto

SGF: What is your dream operatic role?

Leah: My dream operatic roles would have to be Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Carlisle Floyyd’s Susannah.  I love both of these girls so much.  They are both misunderstood and tragic.

SGF: Do you have any top secret practices to keep your vocal chords at their healthiest?

Leah: I don’t really have any top secret practices, but I do make sure to take vitamin C everyday, as well as drink a TON of water…and another singer friend of mine (Adler Fellow Sara Gartland) told me about Olive Leaf Extract.  It is an amazing antioxidant, and promotes an incredibly healthy immune system! I also make regular visits to my chiropractor. A healthy nervous system is a healthy body! I am all for a non-chemical way of health!

SGF: Performing opera must be incredibly emotionally draining, how do you relax after a particularly intense program?

Leah: Oh, I love this question!! Opera IS incredibly draining, because I do not know a singer who can just “go through the motions” and sing and be done with it.  We are actually becoming other characters on-stage.  It is important to find ourselves again after and sort of go back to “neutral”.  I get massages regularly, and when I finish a long day of rehearsing or performing, I love to go to the gym and take a spinning class, and then I will go home, cook dinner and watch some “trash TV” like “The Bachelorette”…something that is completely mindless and that I do not have to think about.

SGF: Who is your favorite pop artist of the moment?

Leah: This is such a wonderful time for pop music.  I feel like actual artists are actually being recognized.  Adele is the best artist of the moment! I also love the bands Mumford and Sons and the Civil Wars.  They are all amazing story tellers, song writers, and musicians.  I also love Lady Gaga! She has THE BEST tunes to work out with.  Edge of Glory makes me feel like I could run forever!

SGF: Growing up in an Italian family, what is your favorite traditional dish?

Leah: My family can cook…and they have passed it on to my sisters and I.  My Mom, my Aunt, everyone. My favorite dish is Italian Sausage and Peppers with just a little bit of fresh marinara sauce (like my Aunt taught me).  I also love the fish on Christmas eve…tradition is what is so beautiful about the Italian culture.

Modern Queen of Soul, Sharon Jones took over Stern Grove for the 74th Season’s inaugural show.  Ms Jones and the Dap Kings packed a punch with their heart string plucking and soul wrenching sound.  While this was a once in a lifetime experience, relive a little bit of the set with a live clip from the board mix!

The Cuban Sonero Wil Campa

This weekend, Stern Grove Festival patrons will be treated to a rare afternoon of true Latin American musicianship.  The Sonero Wil Campa and his twelve-piece orchestra bring their true brand magic of traditional Cuban Son melded with high energy jazz.  Training since he was five, Wil Campa’s life long connection to the sounds of his home come from a very personal place.  Check out what he had to say about the music of his parents and what artists inspire him.

5 Questions for Wil Campa

SGF: What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

Wil Campa: Music was a part of my family and Cuban life… the rhythm is in the household day and night. My Mother would sing constantly and listen to the great era of music from the 40s and 50s.

When I was 3 or 4 years of age, I would make a group with the neighborhood kids and my brother and sisters, I was always the director and lead singer of the orchestra, We would make instruments from fishing lines, pots and pans.. it was very innocent and wonderful.. the neighborhood would always support our performances.

SGF: What is the most important component of Cuban music?

Wil Campa: The Caribbean rhythm and the sophistication of the big band… the Latin Afro blend “Ritmo de SON.”

SGF: Who is your favorite performer?

Wil Campa: From years past Benny Moré… today Adelberto Alvarez.

SGF: How do you deal with constant touring?

Wil Campa: My orchestra is my family. We love each other very much ..we all live to play music and on our days off we make sure we do things a family would do — family dinners, play baseball, we laugh a lot!!!!

SGF: What is your favorite traditional Cuban dish?

Wil Campa: Arros congri, cerdo, platanos frito.

Amidst the mid-summer sunshine, dog running wild backstage, and a Grove that was packed to the hilltop with eager fans, local indie rockers The Dodos captured the moment with their driving rhythms and hypnotic lyricism.  They wrapped up their set with hit single “Fools,” give a listen to the track for a taste of what went down that day.

Quinn Deveaux

From blues to soul, gospel to bluegrass, the Bay Area’s Quinn Deveaux smashes genre boundaries with his toe-tapping and body moving beats.  Warming up the stage for legend Aaron Neville on Sunday, August 7, the native will be sure to twist your ear and wring your heart.  Get to know this troubadour a little more intimately through our sit down with the singer.

5 Questions for Quinn Deveaux

SGF: To you, what does it mean to “sing the blues”?

Quinn: Well I don’t really sing the blues but I used to and I feel like it’s the letting go or attempting to let go of heartfelt troubles.  Just letting them be released and hopefully it helps.  I started with blues but it’s definitely Blue Beat with this band and we’re working to make music a whole body experience so that people can dance and sing and let it all out.

SGF: What are some of your other favorite local bands?

Quinn: My favorite local bands right now are the Blank Tapes, the Mumlers and Meklit Hadero.

SGF: Who (or what) most inspires you?

Quinn: Love and the reasons why and the reasons why not.  Also Just taking walks and trying to keep close friends close and comedy and generally things that inspire everybody.

SGF: How did the Blue Beat Review come together?

Quinn: I met Kenan in a bar and he was dressed very well and I felt that we should start a band together and so we did.  Most of rock and roll is the outfit. Then Kenan brought in Matt MacGillivray, who produced Under Covers, and Chris Seibert from Lavay Smith’s band.  I had sung a Motown gig with Latriece Love and so I got in touch with her when I needed singers and she brought in Melanie Blythe and AhSa-Ti Tyehimba- Ford

SGF: What’s your favorite post show East Bay watering hole?

Quinn: I like the Kingfish or the Avenue both of which are in the hood but only one of which has shuffleboard.  I’m not sure which but when I’m drinking that’s where I am.