DMFXII Artist Bios

Alex Togashii is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and co-leader of the rapidly rising indie-pop band No Vacation which formed in San Francisco in 2015 and quickly received attention for their nostalgic bedroom-pop and dynamic performances. We’re super grateful to Alex for hanging out and sharing his French fries.

Sudwerk Brewing Co. Hopyard Stage, Friday June 14th, 4:45pm
Anton Barbeau is Sacramento’s prodigal son and loquacious living legend who writes “pre-apocalyptic psychedelic pop.” He’s made like 30 albums and worked with members of XTC, The Soft Boys, the Bevis Frond, and Cake. Julian Cope got him stoned once. His new album is Berliner Grotesk and it’s not bad at all.

You can catch him solo in performance and conversation with KDRT 95.7 Listening Lyrics Live at Armadillo Music then again with his full band rocking the stage at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, both on Saturday, June 15th.

(SOLO) Armadillo Music / KDRT 95.7FM Listening Lyrics Live, Saturday, June 15th, 4:00pm

(FULL BAND) Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, Saturday, June 15th, 7:45pm
Big Sticky Mess make their long awaited return to their hometown Fest, and will do almost anything to make you dance. Seriously, just ask them. Grooves for days? Without a doubt. Cow costumes? Got ’em. Sexy songs about the importance of stretching properly before exercise for a healthy lifestyle? You know it. Honestly, we’re just here to see what happens next. Do not miss this Big Sticky Mess of funky jams.

Delta of Venus Cafe Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 4:30pm
Blü Egyptian is a west coast indie-groove sensation based in Chico. Formed in 2020, the band has toured throughout the Western U.S., playing Hog Farm Hideaway, Oregon Country Fair and Cascade Equinox festivals. They have released three studio albums, plus live albums available on all streaming services. The band has gained a reputation for their charismatic live shows, meaningful songwriting, and entertaining stage antics creating an explosive fusion of bluegrass, funk, reggae and rock. Go ahead, put some jam on your toast, y’all.

Delta of Venus Cafe Porch Stage, Sunday, June 16th, 4:00pm
Boca do Rio, a long time friend of DMF, is a Brazilian-American samba-funk explosion that got its start when Kevin Welch and Alex Calatayud met in San Francisco in the late nineties and formed a partnership that would redefine Brazilian music in the Bay Area. They create psychedelic samba – music that developed through the rhythm of living and working between the Americas. Boca do Rio has evolved into a multi-layered electro-funk party boat with a sound that is fluid and edgy, adaptable and free. The good vibes – and dancers – will flow early this year, so don’t miss the party!

Delta of Venus Cafe Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 3:00pm
Bon Bon Vivant is a genre bending band from New Orleans that pull from singer-songwriter / pop / Americana / dark ballads and up-tempo indie dance music… but they would prefer you to just listen to the music. Their music is joyous, fierce, honest and heartbreaking with unique instrumentation, making them a thing to watch, leaving listeners reaching to identify what kind of music they are hearing. With brass horns and a rotating cast of New Orleans musicians coming through, this sound is alive and something to experience.  

Delta of Venus Cafe South Stage, Sunday, June 16th, 4:45pm
Broken Compass Bluegrass emerged in 2021and has been recognized for their tight arrangements, tasteful picking, and distinguished songwriting. Based in northern California, BCB includes Kyle Ledson, Django Ruckrich, Mei Lin Heirendt, & Sam Jacobs. Though young, they are no strangers to the music industry. As their notoriety expands exponentially, they are among a new breed on the jam-grass scene playing High Sierra Music Festival, Strawberry, Winter WonderGrass, Hang Town, and Hog Farm Hideaway, and now you can experience the magic live at DMF.

Davis Wine Bar Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 8:00pm
Combo Tezeta plays a blend of instrumental cumbias, chichas and musica tropical inspired by the late 60’s and early 70’s era of psychedelic Peru. Layering the reverb fueled sounds of surf onto the foundations of cumbia, the band’s focus is to highlight the rich melodies and hypnotic rhythms birthed from the Afro-Latin diaspora.

Delta of Venus Cafe Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 6:00pm
Dog Party is back by popular demand! The Sacramento band was formed in 2007 by sisters Gwendolyn and Lucy Giles, then barely teenagers. Today the duo and international touring all-stars draw influence from disparate classic sounds of The Ramones and Hank Williams as well as contemporaries like Ty Segall to synthesize their own unique style of infectious, break-neck rock.

Sudwerk Brewing Co. South Stage, Friday June 14th, 7:00pm
Earth Exit is a crossover hardcore punk metal band from Grass Valley, CA with a hardcore following earned through earnest hardcore and inclusive performances throughout hardcore northern California. They made us happy last year so they’re coming back to break necks again this year. Bring the kids!

Odd Fellows Lodge, Saturday June 15th, 7:00pm
Element Brass Band bring an energetic blend of New Orleans Second Line, hip-hop, R&B, trad jazz and original music back to DMF with a special crowd-participation set you won’t want to miss! Cali got a what?!

New Orleans Second Line procession from Pence Gallery Courtyard Stage to Delta of Venus Cafe, Saturday, June 15th, 8:00pm
Güero consists of lifelong skateboarders, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, and genuinely awesome guys. As a band, they express themselves collectively, each member being a key contributor to the overall sound bringing sharp indie-rock playing to insightful lyrics and original jam band grooves.

Sudwerk Brewing Co. South Stage, Friday June 14th, 5:30pm
Ideateam is an evolving cast of Sacramento-based musicians collaborating to refine their craft through distinct original compositions. The band’s live sets are known for flowing in and around a winding fusion of grooves while leaning on a rock solid foundation of experimental funk, soul, hip-hop, and R&B sounds.

Pence Gallery Courtyard Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 8:45pm
Inner Nature is a chillwave synthpop band from Sacramento that started as a solo project for Casey Groat until he added James Petropoulos on bass, Myles Taylor on saxophone, and Austin Mooney on drums to the band to complete their live sound. Listen to them, then expect their live set to build on everything you liked online and more.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 6:15pm
Interoception
DJUSD Tiny Desk Contest Winner

Interoception are three high school students – Tristan, Gabriel, and band leader, Davis High senior Uma – and they are the 2024 winners of the DJUSD Davis Music Fest Tiny Desk Youth Band Contest! When they aren’t focused on school work, they get together and make music. They are currently in the process of recording and releasing original music. Their music styles include indie rock, R&B, and jazz. 

Delta of Venus Cafe Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 2:00pm
Jakhari Smith is a rising and prominent voice in the Sacramento hip-hop scene with undeniable intensity and heart, and unparalleled lyrics and flow. Catch him on his way up! He’ll be backed by our Pence Gallery Stage Artists in Residence LabRats.

Pence Gallery Courtyard Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 2:45pm
Julian Cunningham is an adjunct professor of jazz performance at American River College and vocal director at Natomas Charter Performing and Fine Arts Academy… oh, and he is also the lead singer and MC of Ideateam. He’ll be backed by our Pence Gallery Stage Artists in Residence LabRats.

Pence Gallery Courtyard Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 4:15pm
LabRats are a dynamic crew of multi-instrumentalists specializing in jazz, soul, funk, rock, and hip-hop. You can find them at the Torch Club every Sunday night where they curate the Sunday Sessions, a free, inclusive environment for musicians and other creatives to meet and perform together fulfilling the band’s personal mission of giving back to the community that shapes them. They’re bringing that same spirit to DMFXII with a special all-day residency at our Pence Gallery Courtyard stage hosting a rotating cast of talented and familiar local MC’s including Jakhari Smith, Julian Cunningham, and The Philharmonik as well as a set of their own originals.

Pence Gallery Courtyard Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 5:45pm
Laura Benitez & the Heartache use the “3 Chords and the Truth” philosophy of country music to tell simple, unvarnished stories about love, too much whiskey, and the call of the road. Their twangy honesty shines through in straightforward arrangements, crystalline harmonies, and spare instrumentation. Beware their catchy hooks and sweet melodies – these stray puppy tunes will follow you home and become your most steadfast companions.

Davis Wine Bar Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 3:30pm
Lucas Lawson grew up on a small farm just north of Santa Cruz. This upbringing influenced him to try to bring positive and successful change one community at a time by sharing emotion and introspection through music. Lucas pays his respects to the land, our customs, and communities through transformative lyrics and heartfelt melodies, forging a bond with listeners who have endured struggles akin to his own.

Sudwerk Brewing Co. South Stage, Friday June 14th, 4:00pm
Max Hart Trio is led by Yolo county native, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Max Hart (Melissa Etheridge, Katy Perry, and every local act you like) on organ. The trio is a spirited amalgam of consummate musicians fusing jazz, soul and rock and roll into a groove inspiring performance that’s not to be missed.

Davis Wine Bar Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 6:30pm
Megan Slankard is a self professed indie-rock nerd whose songwriting has received national and international recognition. She was a finalist in 2021 (and 2018) and 2nd place winner in 2020 in the Unsigned Only Music Competition, a finalist in 2020, 2019, and 2017 in the International Songwriting Competition, and a finalist in 2019 in the International Acoustic Music Awards. Megan won first place in 2017 in the Unsigned Only Music Competition (AAA Category) for a punk song she wrote, recorded, and performed herself in her kitchen, smack dab in the middle of San Francisco. (Sorry neighbors.)

(SOLO) Armadillo Music / KDRT 95.7FM Listening Lyrics Live, Saturday, June 15th, 8:00pm
Milk for the Angry are a San Francisco based psych-pop/rock band with a sound both immediately familiar and new, and our pick for breakout artist of this year’s Fest (remember The Snares last year? Different vibes, same awesome!)

Delta of Venus Cafe Porch Stage, Sunday, June 16th, 2:15pm
MILLY was originally a solo project of Brendan Dyer, but his move from Connecticut to Los Angeles saw the band expand into its current shoegaze, slow-core, lo-fi indie rock trio whose expert blend of sonic swells and building rhythms coalesce into an intense, singular musical expression. You may have caught their DLMC stand alone show with Fitting last year. If so, you know and want to see them again. If not, this is your chance.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 9:15pm
Misner & Smith are Davis’ own dynamic duo of original folk and Americana songwriting continuing their now decades long search for connection and meaning through music. They’ll be joined by a full band to play familiar favorites as well as showcase their adventurous new album All is Song.

Delta of Venus Cafe South Stage, Sunday, June 16th, 12:00pm
Monster Treasure is a Stockton, CA based group of friends and rockers who met in high school and play “fuzzy mermaid punk” which is now honestly our new favorite made up sub-genre of music. They’re bringing a raft of hazy melodies, irresistible scuzzy guitar and glorious harmony-laden hooks back to DMF and we couldn’t be happier. Mermaids.

Odd Fellows Lodge, Saturday June 15th, 5:30pm
Orchestra Gold brings a vibrant international sound spearheaded by band leader Mariam Diakite, whose raw, hypnotic vocals deliver heartfelt and thought-provoking lyrics in the Bambara language of Mali, Africa. While paying homage to Malian musical traditions, their fierce new sound thrives on heavy rhythms, a funky brass section, and cosmic guitar. With the January 2023 release of their third album, Medicine, this profoundly spiritual and dance-inducing ensemble continues their pursuit of spreading healing and community through the universal gift of music. Join the healing!

Delta of Venus Cafe Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 7:30pm
The Parts is a rock band from Davis. Weird Harold, another rock band from Davis, described The Parts as having that “quirky, 90’s college rock sound.” We thought that was a pretty decent summation. The early independent label rock scene is an important point of reference, but that’s only one part. There are other parts. United in sound, vision and mentality, each member of The Parts brings his parts to The Parts. The whole can thus be clearly seen as greater than the sum of The Parts. Parts.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 3:15pm
The Philharmonik is a hip-hop, future soul R&B artist and producer from Sacramento and Grand Prize winner of the American Songwriter 2023 Song Contest. His work is inspired by legends of his past ranging from Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Queen, and The Beatles to current touchstones Outkast, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keyes, Common and Chance the Rapper just to name a few. He’s gained a loyal following for his electrifying live performances, and his new album Kironic finds him at peak synergistic soul. He’ll be backed by our Pence Gallery Stage Artists in Residence LabRats.

Pence Gallery Courtyard Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 7:15pm
Plum Skin is an inventive young and rising all femme, all queer band from Santa Cruz, CA who started making a name for themselves by winning the 2023 UC Santa Cruz Battle of the Bands with a unique blend of crunchy guitars and blissed out harmonies. They’re gearing up for a west coast tour with Casino Youth and Career Woman, and we’re excited to introduce them to our DMF crowd!

Odd Fellows Lodge, Saturday June 15th, 2:30pm
Rainbow City Park is an indie alt-rock/dream pop band from – you guessed it, locals – Davis, CA. The band draws inspiration from 90’s alt-rock acts such as Third Eye Blind and The Smashing Pumpkins, infusing their music with a modern twist akin to the sounds of Boygenius and Snail Mail. The band takes you on a journey through various soundscapes, from dance-inducing rhythmic sections to heavy breakdowns, to ethereal interludes where shimmering guitars blend seamlessly with the vocals. The lyrical content often delves into existential and melancholic themes, offering a stark contrast to the buoyant musical atmosphere.

Delta of Venus Cafe South Stage, Sunday, June 16th, 1:30pm
Reckling is a high energy LA-based garage/punk four-piece tour de force led by vocalist/songwriter Kelsey Reckling, plus heavy hitting LA rock alums drummer Max Keuhn (FIDLAR), guitarist Erik Jimenez (Together Pangea), and bassist Joey Mullen (Paramore/HalfNoise).

Odd Fellows Lodge, Saturday June 15th, 10:15pm
Routine Layup is the solo indie-folk shoegaze project of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Justin Cox who recently relocated to Orcas Island, WA from Winters, CA. We know this photo makes him look like he’s on his way to a golf tourney or something, but his songwriting and delivery put him way over par. Or under. We don’t know golf. We DO know music, and he’s great.

Davis Wine Bar Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 5:00pm
The Sam Chase & the Untraditional hails from San Francisco, California. This juggernaut of a band blends rock n roll with folk music while maintaining the sensibilities and attitudes that come from growing up on a healthy diet of punk rock. ​The leader of the band is The Sam Chase himself, a natural storyteller with a voice that sounds as if it has weathered many an epic tale.  With boot stomping orchestration and lyrics that have been immortalized on the tattooed skin of their fans, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional doesn’t mess around. These are the warriors we need in troubled times.

See The Sam Chase solo in performance and conversation with KDRT 95.7 Listening Lyrics Live at Armadillo Music then again in full splendor as The Sam Chase & the Untraditional closing down the Delta of Venus stage, both on Saturday, June 15th.

(SOLO) Armadillo Music / KDRT 95.7FM Listening Lyrics Live, Saturday, June 15th, 6:00pm

(FULL BAND) Delta of Venus Cafe, Saturday, June 15th, 9:00pm
Skating Polly embody the unbridled freedom of punk in all its forms. The band came together when stepsisters Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse were just nine and 13. Since then the Oklahoma-bred band have built a sound they call “ugly-pop,” unruly and subversive and wildly melodic. Yeah! With Kelli’s brother Kurtis Mayo joining on drums in 2017, they’ve also built a close-knit community of fans while earning the admiration of their musical forebears, a feat that’s found them collaborating with icons like X’s Exene Cervenka and Beat Happening’s Calvin Johnson, and starring as the subject of a feature-length documentary.

Odd Fellows Lodge, Saturday June 15th, 8:30pm
Smoking Data Guns are an energetic indie-rock band joining us from San Diego to blend hook-laden Americana jangle with angular post-rock guitars and drumming to keep heads bobbing and ears wanting more.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Stage, Saturday, June 15th, 4:45pm
The Snares are quickly becoming the Sacramento region’s premier purveyors of American psych-rock goodness. The band consists of Izzie Gomez, Lukas Brodie and Julian Paz. Their influences range from garage, psychedelic rock, pop, noise rock, and post-punk. Last year the band’s blast of energy gave them a DMF breakout moment – the greasy goodness in the middle of an unforgettable rock and roll sandwich. This year we’re giving them a proper showcase you won’t want to miss!

Sudwerk Brewing Co. Hopyard Stage, Friday June 14th, 7:45pm
Sol Peligro is a Latin alternative band from Sacramento and new old friends of the Fest.  Formed in 2005, the group has been paying their dues doing shows and writing their own material touching on today’s political climate, personal loss and social unity with a modern blend of fun-loving music always striving to deliver a positive message with an infectious nod to Cumbia, Salsa, Reggaeton, and Tex-Mex influences. Through years of hard work Sol Peligro has had the good fortune to perform with Grammy winning artist the likes of Ozomatli, The English Beat and Los Lobos.

Delta of Venus Cafe South Stage, Sunday, June 16th, 3:00pm
Sour Widows is a bedroom folk-pop trio that formed in the Bay Area with Davis connections in 2017 by close friends Maia Sinaiko, Susanna Thomson, and Max Edelman. They craft sometimes sleepy, sometimes brazenly rocking but always harmonically driven songs full of warmth, depth, intimacy, and urgency. After catching their set at Outside Lands last year it was clear that DMF needs Sour Widows.

Delta of Venus Cafe Porch Stage, Sunday, June 16th, 12:45pm
Ten Foot Tiger may be DMF’s most requested band of the last few years. With a sound beyond traditional categories, they’ve found themselves absorbed into the jam-band scene, but they stand well outside that label with their catchy indie-pop, rock, and funk tunes. They have poignant and provocative songs as well as powerful improvisations that stem from so many genres there’s “something for everyone” says front man Dan Green. But it is unmistakable that their exhilarating live performances make Ten Foot Tiger a must see for any music lover. Every year they’ve played DMF they’ve exceeded the capacity at that stage, so this year we’re giving them an entire brewery. Let’s see if we can break that cap too!

Sudwerk Brewing Co. South Stage, Friday June 14th, 8:45pm
The Tremolos catapult their way to DMF out of Monterey, CA with a frantic, hook-laden punk rock meets garage-surf sound that is reminiscent of luminaries like Wavves, Bass Drum Of Death, and Fidlar. Old heads can reference Social Distortion if that doesn’t make sense.

Odd Fellows Lodge, Saturday June 15th, 4:00pm
Yekeno is the solo project of Natalie Ho, a registered nurse, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and co-leader of the rapidly rising indie-pop band No Vacation which formed in San Francisco in 2015 and quickly received attention for their nostalgic bedroom-pop and dynamic performances. Sound familiar? It should! Look for Natalie and Alex Togashii hopping on each others sets for a mini No Vacation reunion at DMF!

Sudwerk Brewing Co. Hopyard Stage, Friday June 14th, 6:15pm