Coyote Music Festival May 4 at Cuyamaca College
Posted on: Apr 15, 2019 9:00:00 AM
Contact: Anne Krueger
Some of the region’s top young musical talents converge May 4 at Cuyamaca College
when the 11th Annual Coyote Music Festival returns to the Rancho San Diego campus’s
Grand Lawn.
The free family-friendly festival features groups with styles ranging from dream
pop to alternative folk and R&B playing on two stages from noon to 4 p.m. Food trucks
and vendors will be on hand, too.
The entirely student-run event culminates a semester-long Music Industry Seminar
class that covers everything involved in staging a music festival, including marketing,
promotions, production, booking, staging and sound engineering.
“We’re giving our students real-world experience in producing a music festival that
promotes local artists while also bringing the community together,” said marketing
instructor Annie Zuckerman, who noted that Cuyamaca College is the only community
college in the county offering a transfer program that combines music with marketing
and production.
Here is the schedule and the performers:
- Eight West started garage-jamming in 2018 and consists of: Derek Bertram, bass; Blake Bixel,
guitar/vocals; Tomis James, guitar/vocals; Kevin Egan, keys; and Cody Rex, drums.
They share common goals of creating catchy tunes and playing hip-shaking grooves while
paying homage to rhythm and blues, funk, psychedelic rock and hip hop. Eight West
takes the stage at noon.
- Junipero, a Tijuana-based, dream pop duo featuring Janelle Saucedo and Joan on both the guitar
and vocals. This duo, which got together in 2017 and played at last year’s Coyote
Music Festival, recently performed in Mexico City and the nearby cities of Pueblo
and Pachuca. Junipero takes the stage at 12:40 p.m.
- Alex Lievanos, who grew up in Spring Valley and released is debut EP “Nights Like These” as a teen.
The multi-instrumentalist’s started playing piano when he was 3, and his single, “Living
in Wonder,” has earned praise for his composition, vocal technique and mixing. His
style includes both indie pop and surf rock, and venues at which he has performed
include the Berklee Performance Center at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Alex Lievanos takes the stage at 1:20 p.m.
- Kahlil Nash, a product of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts whose versatile
style includes funk, rock and R&B. Nash has performed at a vast array of prominent
venues and events, including a two-year residency at the Hard Rock Café in San Diego
and shows at the House of Blues. Kahlil Nash takes the stage at 2:40 p.m.
- BJ Jezbera, a singer/songwriter from Chula Vista whose diverse influences from alternate styles
has led to catchy pop-punk, alternative-folk tunes such as “Red Cups” and “Homesick.”
Jezbera is an artist on San Diego label Mannequin Vanity Records. Jezbera has performed
at the San Diego County Fair, SD Gypsyfest and the Arte Pad Festival, among other
venues. BJ Jezbera takes the stage at 2 p.m.
- Dan DiMonte Trio, led by Chicago native Dan DiMonte, who enjoys a dual career as a performing artist
and a traveling nurse. Over the past several years, DiMonte has worked at hospitals
in four states and released five albums on his indie label, “Funky Night Nurse Sounds
and Sights.” DiMonte is an exceptionally talented musician who plays trumpet, guitar,
keyboards, bass and percussion and he and his trio recently played several dates in
Arizona. The Dan DiMonte Trio takes the stage at 3:20 p.m.
“I think it’s really cool that the college has a business and promotions aspect to
its music program, and I want to do everything I can to support that program and help
people who are interested in getting the experience needed to get into this kind of
business,” said DiMonte, whose trio recently completed a cross-country tour.
Lievanos, who earned an associate degree in music industry studies from Cuyamaca
College last fall and who played at the 2018 Coyote Music Festival, said he’s looking
forward to this year’s event. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “The entire festival is
run by students, they do a great job of marketing, they have all the gear set up and
ready for, and there’s usually a lot of people going to the show, so it’s a great
community event.”
Parking is free. Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
“I’m looking forward to having a good time and helping to create a great experience
for everyone involved,” said musician Khalil Nash.
Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego, 92019.