Free Culture Arts is dedicated to promoting emerging musicians by providing opportunities for their exposure and growth. Every month we select a new emerging musician to shed light on as our featured artist. Check out this selected group of Santa Barbara talent that stands out from the rest! Please contact us for booking opportunities
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Taylor Lorraine Strand was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been singing and creating her own tunes since she was a tiny tot and still continues to do so today. Influences include Crosby, Stills Nash, Young; Tristan Prettyman, Carole King and G. Love. Keep and eye out for this one!
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In a house where blues greats like Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, and BB King,
reggae legends Bob Marley and Clancy Eccles , and folk legends Johnny Cash
and Davey Graham were constantly blasted on the family stereo, it was nearly
impossible for music to escape the soul of Fred Pavel, born Frederick
Theophillus Pavel Russell. Growing up in a suburb of Central Maryland, with
a family who was devoutly baptist, a father who was a minister, and a house
that was largely influenced by Cuban, African, and European cultures, Fred
has always had a large diaspora of musical and cultural influences. Living
in the San Francisco Bay Area for two years, Fred was able to experience the
many facets of the San Fran sub-culture and various aspects of the indie
scene. "Before San Francisco, I didn't know that a musician could do it all
himself, he could brand, market, and more importantly, make creative
decisions without any crap in the way." Now residing in Santa Barbara, Fred
hopes to continue to gain more knowledge of the craft and to use the many
musical and cultural influences in SB to make his sound one that is
reminiscent of greats from the past, yet unique and recognizable in the
future.
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Marc B's music is made to mellow you out. His "Sublime-on-Marley" (Kevin Ferguson, District Weekly) style is an honest representation of the laid back environment of the California coast. His music is a mix of his passion for the ocean, combined with acoustic roots, tropical vibes, and a handful of honest, street-wise lyrics that people find stimulating.
Now working with Santa Barbara-based Oniric Records (www.oniricrecords.com), Marc B has just released the 2nd printing of "The Yellow Jelly E.P.", which can be found on iTunes or at a show near you.
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Erland Wanberg is a singer-songwriter living in Santa Barbara, CA. Though known for his solo acoustic sets, he also teams up with Erich Reidl (drums) to create an eclectic sound that balances his respect for his many singer-songwriter influences. His songwriting has echoes of Lennon, Dylan, Ben Harper and much more. Leave a comment and let him know what you think.
Experimental Indie Rock It was especially warm that spring, the two-thousand and ninth year of our lord, anno domini. Three old friends held shovels, and drank cold beer, and broke dirt. Seeds were placed into the earth, and a garden began in Santa Barbara, CA. It was beneath an irrigation tunnel where they discovered a cache of ancient Native American gardening tools. The tools possessed the three musical brothers and used them as vessels for divine melody. The three friends constructed a sound studio to release the echoing voices of the ancients. People travelled from far away to listen to music in the Gardens of Villa. With new recordings in their knapsacks, the lads are inspired to continue living in the DIY spirit.
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My name's Erik Schau, right now I'm a student at UCSB, finishing up this June. I've loved music since I was a kid; growing up I remember stealing my dad's old Zeppelin and Who records and playing them over and over, most times until I fell asleep. I actually think I still have some of them. I attempted at the piano when I was around 5 or 6, but man, the teacher was an evil witch. In 8th grade my friend wanted me to play bass in his punk band, so I picked one up and started taking some lessons. I guess the rest is history. I bought my first acoustic guitar at the end of high school – it was a Yamaha, got it at the Guitar Center on Sunset in LA - and have been writing and playing ever since. When I write I try to take away all influences, make it completely come from within me. What you'll hear is the end result of that process. I hope you enjoy my music.
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Reese Galido's music has always been very tightly wound with the tales of her own life and experiences. Her songs hold in focus the small daily triumphs and heartaches that make up the everyday, illuminating milestones and moments of her life through melody and driving vocals.
Not content with a single music project, Reese performs as a singer songwriter while still finding time to rock the stage with some roots reggae as the lead singer and rhythm guitar player for The Kicks.
SINGER / SONGWRITER "It's like Jason Mraz and Bob Dylan making out in the basement, listening to Townes Van Zandt." - Hannon Smith
I make music because music makes me happy. I played talent shows when I was a kid, but was too busy being awkward during adolescence to do much music. Born and raised in a small Northern California town called Murphys, I got into writing my songs around age 17. Childhood was a lot of country and classic rock, and over the years I’ve been into hip-hop, bluegrass, alternative...pretty eclectic. I do what I can to draw from each genre to create a style that folks can enjoy regardless of their musical preference. Trying not to go broke, but as long as I get to play for people I’ll be okay with it.
California Alternative Feel Good Band The Naybrhood got together in the spring last year. It was love at first jam. Understanding the connection they had together they compiled a five song demo in one week at a recording studio in Cardiff by the Sea. After going on tour across California that summer, they came back to Santa Barbara to play together writing more music, playing more shows, and growing together as a band that represents the neighborhoods they all grew up in. Stemming from different California roots from the bay area to Los Angeles and San Diego, the Naybrhood are on their way to compiling their first full length album in the name of love, the beach, and Sunny California.
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Meghan was born in Carmel, CA to a family of artists and writers. Like any good Irish Catholic, she enjoys liquor, laughter and songs that break her heart. She grew up listening to her mother's Joni Mitchell, Ricki Lee Jones and Joan Baez records, and came of age around the time of the Lilith Fair when artists like Tori Amos, Jewel and Sheryl Crow were challenging the male-dominated radio and record industry. It wasn't until around age 20 that Meghan began to write songs and teach herself to play guitar, and now she can't think of anything that brings her more pleasure. Her first full-length album "A Stranger Here" will be available in May 2009.
EDUCATOR / PERFORMER / WRITER
Lost Souls, Ltd. is an umbrella title for the musical projects of Bryan Snyder, an enviromental educator, performer and adventure travel writer originally from the quieter side of New York State. His music seeks to integrate Native American flute sounds with strong percussive elements, channeled through the atypical medium of the Irish whistle. The resulting mix is an experimental, modern sound that is 95% improvisational, fed by images from his travels and by audience contributions. He has performed at Burning Man, Lightning In A Bottle, UCSB's Campbell Hall in Santa Barbara, and at open mics across the country.
SINGER / SONGWRITER
Shennie Smith is from Norway, "the land of the midnight sun." She grew up there with her Norwegian mom, American dad and little sister Carolina.
She recently moved to Santa Barbara to study sociology and pursue her dream as a singer. She loves expressing herself by using her voice and her passion has always been music as she has been singing since before she could walk! Her biggest inspiration is Christina Aguilera, a powerful female role model. Shennie also loves a diverse spread of music including Korn, Slipknot, The Killers, Jack Johnson and Britney Spears. Bottom line, she loves music and was born to sing!
SINGER / SONGWRITER
Steve focuses most of his musical endeavors on the new genre he has created called "Chick Music." His influences include The Beatles, Crowded House, The Rembrandts and other artists who won't put you to sleep.
SINGER / SONGWRITER
Although Fred Cichy has no musical background, doesn't know how to read a single musical note, and has never taken one vocal or musical lesson, he passionately writes his music with innovative riffs and unique melodies that are just downright pleasing to your ears. Fred picked up his mom's old classical guitar 7 years ago with the hopes of putting his thoughts and feelings on paper. In is short musical career, Fred has played with numerous bands; each having their own very different style. These various punk, pop, rock, funk, and jam bands that he's played with have allowed Fred to share the stage with acts such as the John Butler Trio, The Pharcyde, The Sugar Hill Gang, Matt White, Mer, The Soap, and many more! After being influenced from all of the talented musicians he has played with, Fred hopes to spread his own eclectic sound to anyone and everyone who will listen. You will like some songs, you will love some songs, and you might even dislike some songs; but as long as you feel something, anything from them, Fred feels that his songs have made their point.
SINGER / SONGWRITER
Michael grew up in Moorpark, California and began playing drums at 11. He continued for 13 years, and then sold his drumset and bought a guitar. He started writing music when he moved away for college. He went to Humboldt State University in Northern California. “I find most inspiration from the activities I do and from the sad things I see in my life and the lives others. I figure that writing a sad song is the only way to get some kind of compensation for going through a sad experience.”
MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST / SINGER / SONGWRITER
Kris Ehrman is a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter working in Central and Southern CA. His songs are social-political messages about life and lost and found love. His music can be described as warm, soulful and disarming. Kris is also a versatile musician that performs with BHAKTI GRIOTS, a band based out of San Diego, CA that brings African & Asian Indian rhythms and dance to the stage to perform conscious Afro beat, Bhangra and Funk.
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Experimental Indie Rock
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California Alternative Feel Good Band
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EDUCATOR / PERFORMER / WRITER
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MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST / SINGER / SONGWRITER