Kim Lembo is a Bay Area blues singer, songwriter and producer. After recording 4 albums in the 90’s and early 2000’s with indie label Blue Wave Records, as well as French labels Sky Ranch and Blues Tone, (subsidies of Virgin Records), she set off for the Bay Area and established herself as a West Coast talent.
They said it best:
Blues Revue magazine: “She possesses the kind of harnessed electricity that would blow the doors down in a packed Blues joint on a Saturday night.”
Living Blues magazine: “With careful phrasing and a gritty edge, Kim Lembo is a force to be reckoned with.”
This Thursday, Dec 8th at Blush Wine Bar from 7-20pm, I’ll be trading songs with Kim. I’m stoked and hope you will make some time to join us.
I’m so stoked about this. I get a rare opportunity to perform a live online set from a pro-fesh-un-al recording studio Skyline Studios in Oakland. Not only that, but I get the distinct honor of joining songwriters Tom Rhodes and Erik Yates (of Hot Buttered Rum) for the evening.
There will be interviews and maaaaaaybe some collaborations. Who knows! Tune in to find out!
This Friday, 12.2.22, go to www.hotmittens.com at 6:30 pm for a warm and cozy musical hang with us.
Anna Laura Quinn headlines the Lost Church in North Beach and I get to warm the stage for her!
I’m so excited about this show! I’ve known Anna Laura Quinn for many years and this is the first time I get the honor of opening up a show for her at The Lost Church‘s new location in North Beach, San Francisco.
There are so many reasons to come to this show: First of all, Anna Laura’s masterful vocal performance and sweet, welcoming energy and warmth will make you feel all of the love. Second of all is that I get to sing you my original tunes and tell some tales of my own as well. Thirdly, we maaaaaay be doing some harmonious singing together as a treat 😉 AND The Lost Church is one of the more enchanting and intimate venues in the city.
It’s a great way to spend your time digesting the Thanksgiving offerings from a few nights before. Bring your family, relax with some refreshments, and make sure you catch Anna Laura before she heads back to New Orleans!
This Thursday my guest is singer-songwriter Chris James.
“Singer-songwriter Chris James has a reputation for performing several hours a night, with original songs that sound like covers, and cover songs that sound as good as the originals. His rich vocals and honest writing style tug at the heartstrings with a soulful grit and emotion that gives even his most tender pieces a rock n’ roll edge. James strives to put forth well-crafted, memorable songs with an unbridled spirit brought to light.”
Make some plans to be entertained and drink some yummy wines at Blush! Wine Bar from 7-10pm this Thursday 11.10.22.
Coming up on October 13th, I’ll be joined by the soul-stirring Bobby Jo Valentine.
Bobby Jo Valentine is a multi-faceted and sought-after speaker, songwriter and storyteller who grew up on the windy seaside of Northern California.
He’s been called a hopeful, realist poet and a musical philosopher for the people. His songs are both earthbound and mystical, and speak to the gentle, everyday awakenings of an openhearted life.
I’ve known Bobby Jo for many years, and he has always been such a beautiful reminder to me that the power of well-crafted storytelling is inescapable.
His vulnerability and openness make him a truly unique and captivating performer.
Bring your ma, tell your friends, and heckle us over various varietals.
THIS THURSDAY, Sept 22, I’m joined by the fabulous Amber Lee Baker!
If you’ve ever attended the Cotati Accordion Festival or have been a fan of accordion music in the Bay Area in general, then you will certainly recognize this bawdy beauty!
“With two albums and multiple tours under her belt, she’s found a fun niche scene as part of the Accordion Babe Pin-Up Calendar revolution, entertaining audiences all over the Bay Area of San Francisco.
Her style has been described as Folk Cabaret and Bawdy Singer-songwriter. A little bit show-tune, a little bit blues, and a little bit folky rock-n-roll – and a whole lot of soulful fun!”
Come on out to Blush! Wine Bar for an evening of song-sharing and storytelling.
Bring your ma, tell your friends, and heckle us over multiple multipulcianos or merlots.
For the past 6 months or so, I’ve been coordinating a Songwriter Showcase at Blush Wine Bar in the Castro district of San Francisco. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been gifted a regular spot at this neighborhood establishment to design however I like. So I decided to carve out a space for my fellow songwriters and storytellers, and so far it’s been a complete blast.
My calendar is up to date with all of the upcoming showcase dates and guests for the rest of the year, so please check it out and mosey on over when you have a Thursday evening available.
This week I am so excited to invite Francesca Lee! Francesca is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter specializing in Introspective Dream Pop. Think Fiona Apple meets Jeff Buckley. Merging elements of Folk, Jazz Pop, Electronica, and Indie Rock. Her single ‘Paper Hearts’ is available on iTunes.
Additionally, Francesca is a songwriting coach, having taught workshops at the Freight and Salvage, and also teaches guitar and piano lessons.
She is also a music coordinator for Bread & Roses, a local non-profit that specializes in bringing live music to underserved communities.
I guarantee we are all in good hands with her and I, personally, cannot wait to swap songs with her. See you at BLUSH!
My friend Antonia Miran has invited me to be a part of a very special evening. I took my mom to see the first event at Stagewerx and we were both deeply moved by all of the very personal and impassioned stories. It left us both reflecting on our own stories in a way that we hadn’t had the space to do in a while.
The theater was sold out for this event, so I do recommend getting tickets as soon as possible and to be prepared to find yourself encapsulated in good company and personal reflection.
“This is a show about lifting up women’s voices, rewriting old narratives and sharing wisdom in community. It would mean SO much to see you all there, not just supporting (me) but also the other amazing women who will bravely be getting up on stage and sharing personal stories from their lives. We promise you a beautiful, impactful evening that will leave your heart bursting to the seams.” -Antonia
As a songwriter, story is integral to my way of life. It has been medicine for me since I started this journey at the age of fourteen and has been a part of my education for far longer.
Click the image to purchase tickets and I hope to see you there. <3
A bi-weekly event showcasing the Bay Area’s talented songwriters.
Elaine Ryan will be my first guest!
There was once a magical bookstore/cafe in Oakland that hosted live music for local and touring acts. It was a special place in that there was nothing else in the Bay Area like it. It was called the Octopus Literary Salon and, unfortunately, it closed down a couple of years before the pandemic.
I was fortunate to host a songwriter event at the Salon once a month and it was always such a great musical conversation, and I always left feeling inspired.
Fast forward three (or four) years and, not only has the Salon moved on, but so has a large population of our performers, musicians, artists, and writers.
Along with the culling of the population of creators, we have lost a good number of venues that were an important part of the Bay Area songwriter ecosystem. Places beyond open mic nights, where songwriters can really stretch their wings and tell a larger portion of their stories became another sad statistic of the toll of the pandemic.
Fortunately, some of the places that are left are actively working to find ways to bring the community back out into the world. One of these places is Blush! Wine Bar in the Castro.
I’ve been performing at Blush for many years as a member of the Americano Social Club, and it has been a gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. Now, the wine bar has offered me a bi-weekly spot all to myself (squee!).
When will I have a better excuse to welcome my songwriters back into the fray? Can’t think of one. Now is always the only time.
You are officially welcome to the first (of many!) Songshare Showcases at Blush! Wine Bar. I have a calendar of local writers on the horizon and I cannot wait to see what conversations take place among us.
First on my list is the soulful songstress Elaine Ryan! Originally from Vancouver by way of Maui, Elaine has a LOT of gorgeous stories to tell. When she isn’t writing or performing, she is helping other musicians to connect and grow with her various platforms including Unicorn Sync.
Come join us on July 9th from 7-10pm as we tell tales, share tunes new and old, and see what new truths we can uncover. I’m so excited to be hosting this new event at one of my favorite haunts in San Francisco.
Check out my calendar to see who I’ve got on the list, and I’ll see you at Blush!
I’m so excited to have been invited to open for one of my favorite humans and one of the Bay Area’s finest blues vocalists, Tia Carroll.
“Powerful and smoldering blues and soul luminary from the San Francisco scene, performing a range of original music and timeless standards. Celebrated for her weekly radio show on KPOO 89.5FM San Francisco, Carroll’s voice moves and astounds. In her worlds, “it’s show time, y’all.”’
Tia Carroll has recently been nominated for a BMA for best Blues Soul Album and it couldn’t be more deserved. I’ve worked with Tia on stage and off for many years and I cannot give you an example of a more inspired, more luminous, and more phenomenal human being than she. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to see her in this context.
Make a date to spend some time with us in the wine region of Livermore California (It’s a wee bit of a secret treasure). May 14th, 6pm.
