AKI KUMAR - HINDI MAN BLUES Indian-born, San Jose-based Aki Kumar, aka "The Only Bombay Blues Man," left his home in Mumbai with the intention of working as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. Then he discovered the blues, and his life dramatically changed. Singing and playing harmonica, he steeped himself in the music and [...]
MARINA CROUSE - NEVER TOO SOON Opera isn't normally thought of as a path to success in the world of jazz and blues, but it's the route (with some detours) that Marina Crouse took to become one of the most notable rising talents on the San Francisco/Bay Area music scene. Her early classical training is reflected [...]
On August 1st, Little Village Foundation will celebrate the release of 7 new LVR releases at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, CA with a Summer Showcase performance featuring LVF artists Ada Pasternak, Aki Kumar, Marcel Smith, Marina Crouse, Mariachi Mestizo, Maurice Tani, Whitney Shay. Six singers and a Mariachi! Doors open at 6:00 and [...]
The eclectic nonprofit record label Little Village Foundation, which exists to shine a light on underground artists in and near California, has found its voice. From a young age, Marcel Smith’s dynamic vocals—transitioning from smooth, tender and soulful to raw and feverishly uplifting in short order—have electrified churchgoers for years with undeniable conviction and passion. [...]
Congratulations to all these people who have recorded/produced or performed with LVF for their 2018 Blues Music Award Nominations! Wee Willie Walker The Paul deLay Band June Core Tony Braunagel Chris Cain Christoffer “Kid” Andersen Rick Estrin Nancy Wright Jim Pugh Curtis Salgado
On January 19th, 2018 Little Village Foundation Artists gathered at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA featuring Aireene Espiritu (Aireene Espiritu & The Itch), Aki Kumar, Chris Cain, Howell Devine, Maurice Tani (Maurice Tani & 77 El Deora), The Sons of The Soul Revivers, and Xóchitl Morales. Watch the video here:
The Desert Sun Bruce Fessier Wheeler has led more than a dozen bands over 36 years, playing hybrid genres he’s invented, such as “political sleng teng,” “proto-emo jangle rock” and “glam-inspired punk pop.” He might have set the precedent for desert rockers such as Josh Homme and Brant Bjork to feel it’s more important to [...]
HOWELL DEVINE - HOWL “…a real King Biscuit Time vibe in sound, groove, and attitude. Joshua Howell, the band’s guitarist and harmonica player, plays wicked harp loosely in the Rice Miller tradition, with traces of Jaybird Coleman and Little Walter… emotive, straight blues, with sharp and superb guitar sliding [...]