Upcoming Events

Show 7:30pm // $10 at the door

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. 

Felton Music Hall Presents:

Ages 21+ // $22 General Admission

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

Show 8pm

***This is a fully seated general admission show. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Show 8pm

***This is a fully seated general admission show. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

ELIJAH FOX

Elijah Fox is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up in Durham, NC and began playing piano at age 11 and was mentored early on by Yusuf Salim, a pianist who had played with Charlie Parker and began performing in local jazz clubs. Fox studied piano at Oberlin Conservatory with Sullivan Fortner, Billy Hart, Dan Wall, and Gary Bartz and graduated in 2017 before moving to New York City. His piano composition “East Village” was sampled by Drake and 21 Savage on “Major Distribution” reaching number 3 on the Billboard Charts. Fox has also recorded/produced for SZA, Masego, YG, ScHoolboy Q, Denzel Curry, Tate McCrae, Musiq Soulchild, Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis, J Cole, and many others as well as releasing his own original compositions and sample packs. His impressionistic original piano composition “Wyoming” went viral on TikTok and has received over 20 million streams on Spotify. He is signed to UMPG for publishing as a writer/composer. He is also the touring keyboardist for UK drummer Yussef Dayes and has performed throughout the world. Fox has also performed his original music at sold out shows across the US and Europe. His sound blends elements of jazz, Impressionism, and psychedelic soul. Fox also releases instrumental music under the alias @Soren Sostrom

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

GLITTERFOX

with MOUNT SAINT ELIAS

The Portland based band Glitterfox has released five singles in just six months under their new record label Kill Rock Stars, with two more arriving this Spring. The band’s been growing steadily since “Drive” came out in August 2023, with their indie rock recipe that deftly balances Southern songwriting shine and nostalgia-fueled anthems.

The four-piece band’s songwriters and front persons, married couple Solange Igoa and Andrea Walker, have always channeled their personal struggles as well as experiencesas queer, neurodiverse individuals into their songwriting.

Bassist Eric Stalker and drummer Blaine Heinonen bring a love of Americana, grunge, and dance music into the mix. All of these influences can be heard on the band’s latest singles, produced by Chris Funk of The Decemberists, and in their spirited live shows as they prepare for their full-length album debut in 2025.

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

CRASH TEST DUMMIES

With one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian music history, alternative rock band Crash Test Dummies are a three-time Grammy nominated and JUNO award-winning group, who soared to the top of the worldwide charts in the early 1990’s with hits “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” and “Superman’s Song”. Their cover of “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” was a highlight of the soundtrack to the blockbuster film, “Dumb and Dumber”, while simultaneously reaching #4 on the US Top 100 album charts. All of their releases keep the same folk-hued, alternative spirit of their early sound, centering around the distinct baritone of frontman Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid’s folk-rock fusion.

After a twenty-year hiatus, the Crash Test Dummies reunited in 2018 for a two-week tour to celebrate their most successful album “God Shuffled His Feet”. The overwhelming reception to these shows has since led to continuous touring across two continents, with sold-out shows across the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

“Touring again was not something we’d planned on, but surprisingly– at least to me – there are lots of people who many years later, still want to come and hear us,” says lead singer and principal songwriter Brad Roberts. “It’s humbling, being in the confidence of so many people.” The band is returning to Europe and the UK in the fall of 2024 for an extensive tour before heading down under for sold-out shows in Australia and New Zealand in early 2025.

The dynamic and high-energy stage show features the band’s most iconic songs, performed by original members Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge. Joining them are long-standing guitarist Stuart Cameron and relative newcomer Leith Fleming-Smith, Canada’s keyboard whiz-kid. 

2025 will also see the band release a “Greatest Hits” double vinyl, which includes their first two new songs in fifteen years - ‘Sacred Alphabet’ and ‘When First the Heart’ - along with and a live version of showstopper and fan favorite “Heart of Stone”.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

LOTUS

Lotus, innovators in blending electronic dance music with the jamband model of  improvisation, have captivated audiences with their high-energy, dance-inducing shows  and intrepid studio work. Drawing from genres such as psychedelic rock, krautrock,  post-rock, disco, and funk, the four-piece band is known for their festival-favorite  performances and intriguing songwriting, which seamlessly transitions from high-flying  guitar solos to modular synth workouts, combining tightly composed songs with free ranging group improvisation. 

Their 11th studio album, "How To Dream In Color," showcases Lotus's evolution,  featuring 12 tracks that traverse a spectrum of soundscapes. While primarily  instrumental, this album includes vocals—both traditional and electronically  manipulated—integrating elements that create distinct atmospheres for each  composition. Highlights include tracks like “How Do I Come Down,” a riveting opener  with Radiohead-esque vocals from Gabe Otto, the groovy and unique “Watching the  Distant Storm,” and the driving krautrock instrumental “In the Shadow of the  Mountain.” The album originated from demos on an old 8-track reel-to-reel tape  machine, balancing gritty analog sounds with hi-fi studio production. The album reflects  a dreamlike narrative where incongruities blend into a cohesive whole, incorporating  guest vocals, horns, violin, handpan, modular synths, and modern electronic  techniques.

Building on their extensive touring experience and diverse production styles, Lotus  continues to innovate and inspire. Over the last two decades, the band has toured  actively throughout the US working their way up from clubs to world-class venues such  as Red Rocks (15 times). They've become festival favorites, playing everything from  Bonnaroo to Outside Lands and Electric Forest. This year, the band celebrates the  sixteenth anniversary of their annual festival, Summerdance, in Garrettsville, OH. 

Much like a live Lotus show, "How To Dream In Color" is a journey, offering a beacon for  fans old and new, inviting them to explore the vibrant and infinite realms of Lotus'  musical vision. 

Show 8pm // 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

CURSIVE

with PILE

Very few bands manage to last decades, and for the ones that do, it’s often easy to settle down and get a little too comfortable. But there’s nothing comfortable about Devourer, the explosive new album from Cursive. The iconic Omaha group is known for their intensity, ambition, and execution, and has spent 30 years creating a bold discography that’s defined as much by its cathartic sound as its weighty, challenging lyrical themes. And Devourer is as daring as ever. Full of intense and incisive songs, the album proves exactly why Cursive have been so influential and enduring–and why they remain so vital today.

In the years since their 1995 formation, Cursive developed into one of the most important groups to emerge from the late-’90s/early ‘00s moment when the lines between indie rock and post-hardcore began blurring into something altogether new. Albums like Domestica (2000) and The Ugly Organ (2003) became essential touchstones whose echoes can still be heard in new bands today. The pull of nostalgia can be strong over time, but Cursive’s work has often felt like a rejection of those comfort zones; the band has continually pushed themselves, with frontman Tim Kasher’s artistic restlessness steering them ahead. In fact, for Kasher, whose pointed observations always begin with looking inward first, it was an interrogation of this voracious creativity that planted the seeds of Devourer.

“I am obsessive about consuming the arts,” he explains. “Music, film, literature. I’ve come to recognize that I devour all of these art forms then, in turn, create my own versions of these things and spew them out onto the world. It’s positive; you’re part of an ecosystem. But I quickly recognized that the term, ‘Devourer,’ may also embody something gnarly, sinister.” Devourer delves into that darker space. The characters populating the album have bottomless capacities for consumption, whether its resources, material goods, art, or even each other. Then they are consumed by larger forces, whether it’s humanity, Earth, dreams, time, or life itself. “Maybe a better word for it is imperialism,” Kasher says. “But it’s in many different forms. It’s not just the political. It’s personal imperialism and the imperialism of relationships, the way we imperialize one another, even ourselves.”

Fans have come to expect such heady topics from Cursive, but Devourer sets a new standard. The glibness of the First World toward the problems of others. The eternal struggle to stay on the straight and narrow. The eager acolytes exploited by their leaders. How anxiety can compound with age. How self-expression can warp into self-indulgence. Beginning with “Botch Job,” a propulsive banger shaking with anxiety and regret, the album seldom relents. Songs like “The Avalanche of Our Demise,” “What The Fuck,” “Bloodbather,” “Consumers,” and “The Age of Impotence” hit hard, hooking listeners with the unique blend of deep melody and discordant sounds Cursive does so well. Even as songs like “Up and Away,” “Imposturing,” and “Dead End Days” lean more into a poppier sound–or “Dark Star” and “The Loss” tone down the intensity–the album’s underlying disquiet remains. But as always, Cursive is here to wail, not wallow. As Kasher sings in “Bloodbather,” “Life’s an abscess or apple pie / So shut those demons up / And devour your slice.”

Devourer being filled to the brim thematically and musically is unsurprising considering Kasher wrote an astounding 69 compositions after songwriting began in the fall of 2020. About 20 made it to the practice space, with a curated 13 ending up on the final album. Wrangling it all at Omaha’s ARC Studios was Marc Jacob Hudson, who co-produced the album with the band after running live sound on Cursive’s recent tours. Hudson’s lengthy discography includes working with Against Me!, Thursday, and Fireworks, among others, but the musical touchstones he shares with Cursive sealed the deal. “We just got along well and had this kind of shared music history that I found so comforting,” Kasher says. “We were introduced to music in similar ways and, being the same age, share a musical knowledge. It was just so fun and refreshing.”

Now seven members strong (“We seem to be collecting band members over the years,” Kasher jokes), Cursive had a large musical toolbox to use on Devourer. Beyond the core trio of singer/guitarist Kasher, bassist Matt Maginn, and guitarist/vocalist Ted Stevens, there’s keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Newbery, cellist Megan Siebe, recording/touring drummer Pat Oakes, and founding drummer Clint Schnase (the two trade drumming duties across Devourer, but join forces for a two-pronged percussive force in “Rookie”).

Cursive had self-released their two previous albums on their label, 15 Passenger, and initially planned to release Devourer the same way–but ultimately decided to put out some feelers as well. “We got interest and it made it all feel like, ‘Yeah, we should do this,’” Kasher recalls. The group arrived on Run for Cover Records, who were excited to work with a band who has such a deep discography and storied history; it’s a fitting home for Cursive, with new labelmates like Fiddlehead, Citizen, Teen Suicide, and Self Defense Family that share a same DNA of emotionally and sonically biting music. “It really is the first time that we’ve gone off to another label since we started in 1995, when we signed to Crank! Records,” Kasher says. “So there’s a certain excitement to that. It’s no longer the excitement of, ‘We just got signed! I wonder what’s going to happen with this record?!’ It’s more like we’re doing something different–nothing feels rote.” Maginn adds, “More than most bands, our labels have been part of our history. We did it ourselves for years with 15 Passenger, so it’s a big deal to us to take on and trust new partners.”

While Cursive’s music hasn’t gotten any more comfortable, perhaps its being released into a world that’s at least a little more shaped in their image. Devourer sounds urgent and fresh, the work of a band still experimenting, still hungering to find new creative heights. On album highlight “Consumers,” the protagonist bemoans, “I saw our future and I want to go back.” But Cursive are only moving forward.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

PENTAGRAM

with DUSTED ANGEL

Dusted Angel-

Dusted Angel is a band that likes to keep it in the family. Made up of a group of close friends that have known each since the early 80s, stemming from playing in various intertwined bands engraved in the extended Santa Cruz family of friends.
Featuring Ed Gregor, guitar (hedgehog, no use for a name), Eric "Dog" Fieber, guitar (Mock, creature, fire sermon) Steve Ilse drums (creature, Herbert, Automatic Animal) Clifford Dinsmore vocals (Bl'ast!, Seized Up, Spaceboy) and Eliot Young (Lost in Line, Seance) on bass.
Formed a very long time ago (I don't know..2009 or something), Dusted Angel is a sleeping giant that awakens from time to time to enlighten people with their unique brand of heavy, heavy groove laden music.
The advice for fans is to get it while the gettin's good! When they come around, seize the opportunity to see this band!! With the recording of the new record, Dusted Angel is looking forward to embracing the opportunity to play across the world.

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

DANIEL DONATO'S COSMIC COUNTRY

There are a lot of musical influences and sources that Daniel Donato has drawn on during his career and that inform his latest album, Reflector (Retrace Music), his first all-original album. But within those, Donato has carved out a unique and individualized spot for himself, one that speaks to the deep American music heritage that inspires him -- and that he's pushing towards the future with inspired, intentional vigor.

He calls it Cosmic Country, a moniker that's both self-descriptive and a statement of purpose. It's an organic rock band aesthetic with plenty of roadhouse twang; a showcase for Donato's instrumental virtuosity and facility for melodically infectious songcraft. Bridging Nashville and the Great West, Kentucky and mid-60s northern California, tie-dye and plaid, it's a world of his own, and a wide world of musical adventure at that.

While growing up in Nashville his  his father, who turned his young son on to music of all genres, suggested the fledgling and industriously minded (even at just 14) artist start busking in Nashville's lower Broadway area and outside concerts, for eight hours at a time on the weekends. One night, the two happened by Robert’s Western World where legendary honky-tonk local mainstay the Don Kelly Band were performing.  "Their songbook was that of my main influences still to this day -- Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Bob Wills, Marty Robbins, Bill Monroe, traditional bluegrass music, Hank Williams Sr. -- old-timey music with real stories and emotions that everybody has. It just hooked me right away." Donato eventually became a member of the band, playing four hours a night at Robert's (464 shows in total).

Another piece of the puzzle came through later in Donato’s teenage years -- the Grateful Dead, thanks to a high school American History teacher who gave him a pile of bootleg recordings when he was 18. "When I discovered Jerry Garcia, there's really never been anyone who writes like that," says Donato. "From there I went on to discover Bob Dylan and all the great writers and made me want to make that part of what I did as well."

The whole package of player, singer, writer and band leader was in place. Two albums in, Daniel Donato and Cosmic Country, featuring Nathan Aronowitz (keyboards/guitars/vocals), Will McGee (bass/vocals) and Will Clark (drums, percussion/vocals) are selling out venues throughout the country and bringing their brand of Cosmic Country to an ever growing, passionate fanbase.

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

JERRY'S MIDDLE FINGER

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

JERRY'S MIDDLE FINGER

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

SAM GRISMAN PROJECT

A Note From Sam-- The music that my father David Grisman and his close friend, Jerry Garcia, made in the early 90s (in the house that I grew up in) is not only some of the most timeless acoustic music ever recorded, it also triggers my oldest and fondest musical memories. What I find most inspiring about this material is the way their camaraderie and their love and joy for the music, simply oozes out of each recording. It is also impressive how deeply they get beneath their favorite songs—whether they are originals, covers or traditional/old time tunes—and how expertly that material was curated.

My goal in starting Sam Grisman Project is to build a platform for my friends and me to showcase our genuine passion and appreciation for the legacy of Dawg and Jerry’s music. By playing some of their beloved repertoire and sharing the original music that our own collective has to offer, we will also show the impact that this music has had on our own individual musical voices. Ultimately, there is nothing that makes me happier than playing great songs with my best friends and my hope is to share that happiness with audiences all over!”

Show 7:30pm 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

1. EGGY

2. Song by timeless song Eggy reaches out a hand, inviting you along as a great story unfolds. Eggy’s music traces the full spectrum of emotions, evoked by a life well-lived alongside friends well-loved.

   Eggy formed from a high school dream into a full-fledged reality. Aligning together in 2016, the lineup of Alex Bailey (drums, vocals), Jake Brownstein (guitar, vocals), Mike Goodman (bass, vocals) and Dani Battat (keys, vocals) has captured the ears of listeners across the USA and beyond. 

   Following the release of their 2019 debut record, “Watercolor Days,” the band has toured constantly, performing in over 40 states. Amidst their travels in 2021, Eggy stopped in Nashville to record two singles, released as Nashville Tapes the following year. Highlights from the band’s many eclectic shows have been handpicked by the band for consumption, including the most recent “Eggy Selects: Spring Tour 2023, Vol. 1).”

   Eggy’s new record, “Waiting Game,” is out now. Co-produced by White Denim’s James Petralli, “Waiting Game” showcases the band’s artistry through a concentrated and refined studio approach as a compliment to their exploratory live shows.

Show 7:30pm / Ages 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

THE ENGLISH BEAT

Show 8pm // 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

CIRLCES AROUND THE SUN featuring MIKAELA DAVIS

After Sunrise, the new collaboration from Circles Around The Sun and Mikaela Davis reunites thedisco cosmonauts and acclaimed harpist for further explorations of the synergy first showcased onthe title track of CATS’ 2023 album, Language.

Comprised of two new original compositions, ‘Gloaming Way’ and ‘Moonbow’, and an inspiredinterpretation of Brazilian legend Sérgio Mendes’ ‘After Sunrise,’ the album features the first appearance of vocals on a Circles Around The Sun recording, sung by Davis. A live take on ‘Language’ rounds out the second side and brings the pairing full circle.

Once the endless night of the discotheque finally gives way to morning light, you may find yourself seaside as the sun peeks over the horizon. As the party rolls through the dawn and into the day, thisis the soundtrack.

This is After Sunrise. If it’s nice, play it twice.

Originally formed from an idea that concert impresario Peter Shapiro had about commissioning original set-break music at the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary concerts (“Fare Thee Well”), Circles Around The Sun is a first-of-its-kind band that has continued to trail-blaze the instrumental cosmic disco space for nearly a decade, shapeshifting through several iterations. Not just spiritually but actually and tangibly linked to Grateful Dead history, the band’s music shares shelf space with post-rock, psych-rock, jazz-funk, and good old fashioned psychedelia, while their recorded output has included collaborations with such diverse luminaries as Joe Russo, Billy Strings and Mikaela Davis. Original instrumentals form the bedrock of CATS’ live show, taking fans on a whole different journey every time.

Meet the CATS:

Adam MacDougall (keys)

Dan Horne (bass)

John Lee Shannon (guitar)

Mark Levy (drums)

Show 8pm // ALL AGES

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

ABI CARTER

With her unparalleled vocal abilities and virtuosic piano skills, Abi Carter is a standout among the next generation of artists. Abi cut her teeth as a young teen busking on the streets of California's Coachella Valley, breaking into the public eye in 2024 with her soulful, emotion-dripping performances on American Idol. Earning praise from superstars such as Billie Eilish and Katy Perry, Carter won American Idol in what was rumored to be a landslide vote. She's since headlined Acrisure Arena, where she played to a packed room of thousands of fans. Also inspired by Billie Eilish as well as artists like Lizzy McAlpine, Phoebe Bridgers, Renee Rapp and Manchester Orchestra, both Abi's story and her songwriting express a battle between light and dark, having battled a life replete with tumult while never allowing her inner light to dim. Her music can be succinctly defined as a gorgeous blend of powerful, dynamic, dramatic vocals and ethereal, cinematic pop.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

BALLYHOO!

with CYDEWAYS and THE HARBOR BOYS

Through 25 years and eight independent albums, the last four on their own Right  Coast Records, Ballyhoo! have earned the exclamation point which marks their  name. Starting in the basement of their mom’s Aberdeen, MD, home, rocking  out on guitar and drums respectively, practicing every day, brothers Howi and  Donald Spangler formed the proto-punk band in the mold of Green Day and  Nirvana, with an eye towards the emerging ska genre led by Goldfinger, Sublime,  311 and No Doubt. 

The group’s eighth and most recent studio album, the breezy, ska-fueled, hook filled Message to the World, on their own Right Coast Records, finds the self declared “beach-rockers,” having grown up in public, accepting the  responsibilities of adulthood while still hanging on to their dreams of world  domination. Stylistically, their music ranges from the hard-edged punk of 2018’s  Detonate, which captured the feelings of anger and depression from dealing  with personal loss and the exhaustion generated by over a decade on the road  to the island reggae beats of the follow-up, Message to the World.  “Whatever you want to achieve, just focus on that and work towards it,” explains  Howi about the Ballyhoo! ethos. “Don’t worry about followers, views, or even  money. Just keep making good stuff. One day it may be possible to finally quit  that day job and live your dream full time.”Ballyhoo! is still doing just that,  purveying good vibes, positivity and fun live shows meant to take you away from  real life...

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

PETTY THEFT - San Francisco Tribute to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

At the forefront of legendary Rock and Roll bands, you are sure to find Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

Since 2003, San Francisco based Petty Theft has been touring the United States performing Tom Petty’s songs true to the originals and in the spirit of the Heartbreaker’s live shows.

“Best of Marin 2024, 2023 : Best Tribute Band” – Pacific Sun
“Best of the North Bay 2024 : Best Tribute Band” Sonoma and Napa – The Bohemian
“Best of the North Bay 2023 : Best Tribute Band” – The Bohemian
“Best of the North Bay 2022, 2021 : Best Cover Band” – The Bohemian
“Best of Marin 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018 : Best Cover Band” – Pacific Sun
“Best of Marin 2015: Best Local Band” – Pacific Sun
“Best Band San Francisco North Bay” – 2013, 2012, 2011 – The Bohemian

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

JENNY OWEN YOUNGS & JENNY O.

Jenny Owen Youngs -

In the decade since Jenny Owen Youngs last released a full-length album, she’s toured the world, co-written a #1 hit single, launched a wildly popular podcast, landed a book deal, placed songs in a slew of films and television series, moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles to coastal Maine, and gotten married, divorced, and married again. She’s done everything, it seems, except release another album.

“After writing a zillion songs with other artists and immersing myself in other people’s voices for ten years, I finally started to get excited about making my own music again,” she explains. “It was like I took this extended sorbet course, and after that palate cleanser, I was ready to dig back in.”

With her exceptional new Yep Roc debut, Avalanche, Youngs delivers a main course worthy of the wait. Written with a series of friends including S. Carey, Madi Diaz, The Antlers’ Peter Silberman, and Christian Lee Hutson and recorded with producer Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman, The Hold Steady, Cassandra Jenkins, Josh Ritter), the collection is an achingly beautiful exploration of loss, resilience, and growth from an artist who’s experienced more than her fair share of each in recent years. The songs are deceptively serene here, layering Youngs’ infectious pop sensibilities atop lush, dreamy arrangements that often belie the swift emotional currents lurking underneath. The performances, meanwhile, are riveting and nuanced to match, gentle yet insistent as they reckon with the pain of regret and the joy of redemption, sometimes in the very same breath. The result is the most raw and arresting release of Youngs’ remarkable career, a brutally honest, deeply vulnerable work of self-reflection that learns to make peace with the past as it transforms doubt and grief into hope and transcendence.

“There’s a good deal of heartbreak and disappointment in this music,” Youngs explains, “but it ultimately gives way to excitement and promise, to the incredible, immeasurable bliss of falling in love and finding yourself again. These songs travel the whole emotional spectrum.”

That kind of range has been Youngs’ calling card from the very start. Born and raised in rural New Jersey, she fell in love with The Beatles at an early age before eventually finding her way to The Cranberries and Elliott Smith in high school. Her self-recorded debut, Batten Down The Hatches, landed a high-profile sync in the Showtime series Weeds and led to a deal with Nettwerk Records, which re-released the album along with her 2009 follow-up, Transmitter Failure. Widespread acclaim and dates with the likes of Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson, Frank Turner, and Aimee Mann followed, but by the time Youngs released her third album, 2012’s An Unwavering Band Of Light, she was ready for a change of pace, moving to LA to focus on writing for other artists and for film and TV. In 2016, Youngs co-wrote Pitbull’s “Bad Man,” which debuted at the 58^th annual Grammy Awards; in 2017, she co-wrote Shungudzo’s “Come On Back,” which was featured in the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack; and in 2018, she co-wrote Panic! At The Disco’s smash hit “High Hopes,” which went five-times platinum and broke the record for most weeks atop Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart. Along the way, Youngs also launched Buffering The Vampire Slayer, an episode-by-episode podcast devoted to Buffy The Vampire Slayer that attracted more than 160,000 monthly listeners and led to a book deal with St. Martin’s Press. Youngs recently launched a new series with her podcasting partner/ex-wife called The eX-Files and has a narrative fiction podcast due out next year, as well.

Jenny O. - 

Jenny O. is a singer-songwriter living in Los Angeles, California. Her latest release and fifth record, Spectra, is her most joyful and her favorite. It has been called “psychedelic pop” and likened to an “instruction manual for healing and kindness.” It is also, at times, rowdy and funny. Spectra was produced by Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, S.G. Goodman, Andrew Bird). 

Songs by Jenny O. can be heard in television soundtracks like Orange Is The New Black, Shameless, and Grey’s Anatomy, or featured in The Sims and Rocksmith video games. She has toured with Jenny Lewis, Violent Femmes, The Proclaimers, Father John Misty, Rodriguez, and performed on recordings by Conor Oberst, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and Jim James.

Jenny O. recently recorded a solarpunk album— ecological pop songs for a decarbonizing society— or music for solving the climate crisis. She invites us to envision non-dystopian futures after fossil fuels. What does it look like to get it right? How does it feel? By accommodating only negative outcomes in our minds and pop culture, we use our available attention on despair and uphold the status quo. Yet if we envision a just, renewable energy transition, with intentional regeneration of our ecosystems to cool the planet, we are activated to get there. This album will be out in 2025.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

ZOSO - THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE

Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2025, Zoso has become one of the most iconic and respected Led Zeppelin tribute experiences in the world, having played over 4,800 shows across the globe. Known for their unparalleled dedication to faithfully recreating the legendary band's live performances, Zoso has earned accolades from both critics and fans alike.

The band was founded by Matt Jernigan and Adam Sandling, both of whom are renowned for their exceptional musicianship and passion for Led Zeppelin's music. Jernigan, who takes on the colossal role of Robert Plant, has a commanding stage presence that rivals the icon himself. Sandling, who brings John Paul Jones to life, masterfully plays bass, keyboards, and mandolin, replicating the multifaceted talent of the Zeppelin legend.

In 2015, Bevan Davies joined Zoso as John Bonham, completing the lineup. An accomplished drummer with a resume that includes playing with Danzig, Jerry Cantrell (of Alice in Chains), Static X, and Billy Duffy (of The Cult), Davies brings an unmistakable power and precision to Zoso’s live shows, helping the band recreate Bonham’s legendary drum sound.

Zoso’s live performances focus on the raw energy and intricate musicality of Led Zeppelin’s best-known hits and deeper tracks, with a particular emphasis on recreating their live show experience. The band’s commitment to authenticity has earned them praise from major outlets, with the LA Times calling them “head and shoulders above all other Led Zeppelin tributes,” and the St. Petersburg Times describing them as “the most exacting of all the Led Zeppelin tributes.”

With over 30 years of music history behind them, Zoso continues to be regarded as one of the finest Led Zeppelin tributes, with the Chicago Sun-Times calling them “the closest to the original of any Led Zeppelin tribute.” Whether you're a lifelong fan of Led Zeppelin or discovering their music for the first time, Zoso delivers an unforgettable experience that takes you back to the glory days of rock and roll.

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

DAN AND PEGGY REEDER

with RILEY DOWNING

Dan Reeder is a 70-year-old artist and musician who has spent the past three decades creating a unique blend of folk, art, and DIY innovation from his home in Nuremberg, Germany. Born in Louisiana and raised in California, Reeder’s work spans music, visual art, and homemade instruments—everything from steel-string guitars and banjos to PVC trombones. 

Prior to a brief tour in 2024, Reeder hadn’t played on his home soil in fifteen years, preferring to create quietly from a distance—far from the spotlight but never truly unseen. He now performs alongside his daughter, Peggy Reeder, whose harmonies and the pair’s charming, humorous family banter are sure to captivate any audience.

With a sound that combines the similar warm, weathered voice of Ted Lucas with playful, quirky lyrics, Reeder is an outsider artist who marches to the beat of his own drum. He is Oh Boy Records' longest-signed artist after Prine himself, a relationship that began when Prine heard Reeder’s homemade demo and signed him to the label in the early 2000s. 

Reeder’s music is self-produced and meticulously crafted, with every note, instrument, and recording detail borne from his hands. Reeder has stayed true to his unconventional path, creating art and music on his own terms, often in solitude. His songs—frequently a mix of dark humor and whimsical insight—carry a distinct charm. Still, twenty years after John Prine first admired his work, Reeder is still having fun.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

THE GARCIA PROJECT

The Garcia Project is the only nationally touring tribute that performs full, classic Jerry Garcia Band set lists from 1976-1995!

The Garcia Project stands as a premier tribute band dedicated to faithfully recreating the legendary performances of the Jerry Garcia Band. With a meticulous attention to detail, they reconstruct not only the beloved setlists but also the distinctive tempos, arrangements, and even utilize replica guitars and gear to authentically capture the essence of Jerry Garcia's sound.

Comprised of dedicated musicians and passionate fans of Jerry Garcia's solo work, The Garcia Project goes beyond mere homage, striving to transport audiences back to the intimate and transformative concert experiences that defined the Jerry Garcia Band. From soulful ballads like “Mission In The Rain to electrifying jams such as "Deal," every performance is a journey through Garcia's musical universe, faithfully recreated with precision and reverence.

Through their commitment to authenticity and musical craftsmanship, The Garcia Project ensures that each show is not just a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but a vibrant celebration of Jerry Garcia's enduring musical legacy. By meticulously recreating the nuances of Jerry Garcia Band concerts, from the gear to the groove, The Garcia Project honors Garcia's spirit of improvisation and musical exploration, ensuring that his music continues to inspire and resonate with audiences everywhere.

Not a Grateful Dead tribute, but a tribute to Jerry Garcia’s beloved other band, The Jerry Garcia Band, which toured in between Grateful Dead tours, and played original songs as well as great covers from many genres, including rock, Motown, gospel, bluegrass and more. 

“The Garcia Project is a must-see for anyone who had the good fortune of seeing Jerry’s band live. I was lucky enough to share the JGB experience with Jerry, John Kahn, Maria Muldaur, Keith and Donna. Being on stage with Mik, Kat, Dan and the crew is the closest thing to the original.  They are Jerry’s kindred spirits when it comes to making music. Even if you never saw JGB live, you can see and hear their spirit at a Garcia Project performance.”

– Buzz Buchanan, Drummer for The Jerry Garcia Band 1977-1978

Often called the “DSO of JGB” by fans, The Garcia Project’s performances are based on actual set lists performed by The Jerry Garcia Band. All of their performances are recreations of full classic Jerry Garcia Band shows from 1976 to 1995. For anyone that never had a chance to experience the Jerry Garcia Band or for fans that want to relive a classic show, The Garcia Project delivers. 

The founding members of The Garcia Project got to see the Jerry Garcia Band live on tour for many years, and the sound and feelings are deeply embedded in them. With precise arrangements and the proper instrumentation and feel for the various eras, The Garcia Project faithfully channels and projects the feelings, emotions and music that propelled the Jerry Garcia Band and the fans through many years of musical bliss. It’s about family, soul searching, rejoicing, contemplating, celebrating, seeking truth and loving one another.

Praised by Dennis McNally, the press, and fans, The Garcia Project has been recreating classic Jerry Garcia Band set lists with stunning accuracy and detail across the country since 2010.

Show 8pm // $15 General Admission

***This is a fully seated general admission show. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

WAKE THE DEAD

WAKE THE DEAD, The Bay Area's own Celtic All-Star Summer of Love party band, is returning to Felton Saturday, March 15th, dishing up a raft of sizzling new material for their ever-popular Tie-Dyed St. Patrick’s show. For 25 years, this hot septet has combined Irish jigs and reels with the songs of the Grateful Dead and other '60s iconic bands, delivering them with unique power and joy.  Soaring vocal harmonies and daring instrumentals fuel Wake the Dead's singular groove engine, delighting Celtoids and Deadheads alike.  Local fans are guaranteed many brand-new surprises.  Wake the Dead is Cindy Browne (bass), Danny Carnahan (vocals/fiddle/octave mando), Kevin Carr (fiddle/pipes), Sylvia Herold (vocals/guitar), Paul Kotapish (vocals/mandolin), Brian Rice (vocals/percussion), and Valerie Rose (vocals/fiddle).

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

KR3TURE

with HEATHER CHRISTIE & VIR MCCOY, AGUA MAYYIM, and KING KAIROS

Show 8pm

***This is a fully seated general admission show. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

MIHALI

For Mihali, music behaves much like a living being. It grows, it matures, and it changes with a sentient consciousness and with whims of its own. And just like music, the Vermont-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of rock outfit Twiddle continues to evolve, using his gift as one of the strongest modern-day songwriters, guitarists and performers to bring healing vibes and unforgettable songs to the world. 

His latest record, Effection [2022, Ineffable Records], is a ten-track body of work that intertwines reggae spirit, fluid soundscape architecture, and invigorating mantras meant to be chanted aloud in a packed venue. With support from reggae and roots rock mainstays like Iration, Chadwick Stokes (of Dispatch), The Movement, The Elovaters, Jacob Hemphill (of SOJA), and Iya Terra, Effection effectively brought Mihali into the reggae spotlight, landing him on tour with SOJA and G. Love & Special Sauce in 2024.

Now he continues to grow and transform with his music, continuously rolling out new songs while mapping out his 3rd solo album, and relentlessly touring the country to spread love and reggae spirit to all those who need it.

Show 8pm // 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

YAIMA

with SHANNON LEE HAYDEN

Featuring Multi-Instrumentalist & Producer Masaru Higasa from Okinawa, Japan and  Vocalist Pepper Proud from Seattle, WA. Yaima has often been described as timeless  and unmistakable, offering a balanced synergy of both the masculine and feminine  expression. 

Their melodious soundscapes showcase instruments from all over the world. 

Inspired by the Majesty of Nature their musings encompass the listener with driving  and revitalizing organic rhythms, transcendent electronic production, warm soothing  female vocals and heartened lyricism. 

Their intention is to create a bridge between Nature and Humankind, an expansive  experience that encourages growth and graceful passage for the hearts and minds of  their listeners. 

The name YAIMA emerges from two sources one from the Mapudungun language  meaning "that which water runs through” and the other from the culturally preserved  Yaeyama District of Okinawa Japan-Over the last 5 years YAIMAs music has been  reaching the ears and hearts of listeners from all around the world.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

SAXSQUATCH

with TEP NO

Show 8pm 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

OLD 97'S

with GREY DELISLE

Old 97's is an American alternative country band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1992, they have since released twelve studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is Twelfth. 

They were pioneers of the alt-country movement during the mid-to-late 1990s, but lead vocalist and primary songwriter Rhett Miller has described the band's style as "loud folk". The band's name is in reference to the Wreck of the Old 97. 

Initially a popular Dallas bar band, Old 97's toured the country after releasing their first album, 1994's Hitchhike to Rhome and 1995's split EP release Stoned / Garage Sale with fellow Dallas band Funland on Idol Records. In Chicago, they caught the attention of Bloodshot Records and were signed to record their next album. 1995's Wreck Your Life brought them to the attention of Elektra Records, who hoped that alt-country could be a new post-grunge trend. Lead singer Rhett Miller, born in Austin, later lived in New York City and Los Angeles. Many of the band's songs include local Texas references, with references to New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago appearing as well. 

In 2005, Blender magazine ranked the band's then most successful single, 1999's "Murder (Or a Heart Attack)", as the 176th greatest song "since you were born." 

Their music has been featured in a number of films and TV series, including The Break-Up ("Salome", "Melt Show", "Timebomb"), Clay Pigeons ("Timebomb"), Slither ("The New Kid"), Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide ("Big Brown Eyes"), Ed ("Question", "King of All the World"), Scrubs ("Question"), Veronica Mars ("Adelaide", "Four-Leaf Clover", "The New Kid") and Scorpion ("Question"). With respect to The Break-Up, a key scene toward the end of the film takes place at an Old 97's concert. 

Rhett Miller has recorded seven solo studio albums and one live album, with 2002's The Instigator. Murry Hammond's solo album, I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm on My Way, was released April 21, 2008. 

Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band, although they claim never to rehearse their act. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on Satellite Rides, and released a live double CD set recorded at historic Gruene Hall in 2005, Alive & Wired. 

Rhino Entertainment released Hit by a Train: The Best of Old 97's, an eighteen-track compilation of songs from the band's beginnings through 2001, featuring liner notes and an essay by rock critic Robert Christgau. 

Their next studio project, The Grand Theatre, was released in two volumes. The first, The Grand Theatre, Volume One, was released on October 12, 2010. The second, The Grand Theatre, Volume Two, was released on July 5, 2011. 

In 2013 the band released an EP containing two tracks with vocals by country music legend Waylon Jennings entitled Old 97's & Waylon Jennings. Rhett Miller called the previously unreleased tunes with Jennings "the band's 'holy grail.'"

The band's tenth studio album, Most Messed Up, was released April 29, 2014, by ATO Records and was their best-selling album to date, reaching #30 on the Billboard 200. 

Their next two releases on ATO Records were Graveyard Whistling, their 11th studio album, released February 24, 2017, and Love the Holidays, an album of mostly original Christmas songs, released November 16, 2018. 

ATO Records released the band's next studio album, aptly named Twelfth, on August 21, 2020. The twelve tracks were produced by Vance Powell, who produced Graveyard Whistling. Old 97's noted that the recording sessions in Nashville started on the night of a deadly tornado outbreak and right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

LAURA JANE GRACE & THE MISSISSIPPI MEDICALS

with ALEX LAHEY and NOUN

Laura Jane Grace is a major figure in today’s rock scene as both a solo artist and the front person of Against Me!, which she founded in Naples, FL in the late 1990s. As a working artist, she has released six solo offerings and seven albums with Against Me!, and in 2012 went public with her gender transition in the pages of Rolling Stone. In her music, she continues to detail her journey all while staying true to her earlier themes of outspoken political critique – environmentalism along with personal and social liberation – with a base in American music including country and folk-rock, with a penchant for noise and anarchy. Laura Jane will be joined by her band "The Mississippi Medicals" featuring Matt Patton of Drive-By Truckers (bass), Mikey Erg of The Ergs (drums) and Paris Campbell Grace (vocals, percussion).

Show 8pm // Ages 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

MELT

Pulsing with the energy of their hometown New York City, ‘If There’s a Heaven’ (2024) is the debut album from indie band Melt. Melt is simultaneously at their most airtight and freewheeling–evoking the raw, communal spirit of Fleetwood Mac as much as the modern, danceable hooks of MUNA. Recorded live to tape with producer Sam Evian 

(Big Thief), the eleven tracks span feel-good, existential pop (“Plant the Garden”), classic love ballads (“Your Name”) and lush, soulful rockers (“Heaven”). Melt’s debut is a joyous, timeless soundtrack for growing up and finding community. 

Melt formed in 2017 and saw early success with their first single “Sour Candy.” Quickly spreading out across the Northeast for college, the band reunited to tour over weekends and cut their teeth playing everywhere they could, from packed basements to sold-out theaters across the country. Called “one groovy super-organism” by NPR, the band’s intuitive connection as players and unique combination of sounds has found them supporting a wide array of artists such as Grouplove, Lawrence, and Greensky Bluegrass. 

More than seven years since their first show, Melt has refined their ecstatic live set and cemented their status as a band to watch. Catch them on tour this Spring across North America.

Show 8pm 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

NEAL FRANCIS

with COLOR GREEN

The latest album from Neal Francis, Return To Zero, emerged from the kind of visionary fever dream that only the most masterful and inventive artists are capable of bringing to life. Amid a grueling tour schedule that found him playing nearly 400 shows from 2021 to 2024, the Chicago-based singer/songwriter/pianist immersed himself in creating a beautifully strange entangling of timeless rock & roll and ’70s-era dance music, merging supremely heavy guitar riffs with lush and pulsating grooves—all constructed sans digital programming, in keeping with his devotion to all things analog. Worlds away from the glitzy fantasia of archetypal disco, Return To Zero inhabits a far moodier atmosphere and ultimately makes for the most thrilling manifestation of Francis’ peerless musicality yet.

Equal parts heady and hedonistic, pensive and euphoric, Francis’ third studio LP echoes both his deep-rooted psych-rock sensibilities and a lifelong affinity for classic funk. “I’ve always been intrigued by music that toes the line between funk and rock,” notes Francis. “In the past I’ve asked myself things like, ‘What would it sound like if Thin Lizzy cut a disco record?’ It’s something I’ve been fascinated with for a very long time, so I finally decided to really go for it.”

The follow-up to his 2023 double live album and concert film Francis Comes Alive, Return To Zero marks Francis’ first full-length studio effort since In Plain Sight—a 2021 release acclaimed by the likes of leading rock critic Steven Hyden, who praised its “throwback big-band sound that recalls the highs of 1970s funk and swamp rock.” With his past work also including his 2019 debut album Changes (hailed as “the reincarnation of Allen Toussaint” by BBC Radio 6), Francis began playing piano at the young age of four and became an in-demand sideman while still a teenager, touring with revered blues artists and beloved instrumental band The Heard before embarking on his solo career. Over the years, he’s sold out headline shows all across the globe, supported the likes of Wilco, Black Pumas, and My Morning Jacket, appeared at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Fuji Rock,  and Lollapalooza, and even performed at historic venues like Carnegie Hall.

Like all of his studio work so far (including his 2022 EP Sentimental Garbage), Return To Zero finds Francis co-producing alongside his frequent collaborator Sergio Rios and recording live with members of his touring band (drummer Collin O’Brien, bassist Mike Starr, guitarist Kellen Boersma), elegantly showcasing his prodigious talent and dazzling originality as a keyboard player. Mainly created at Rios’ L.A. studio, the album’s grandiose yet warmly inviting sound also took shape from his close collaboration with composer/conductor Dom Frigo (who aided Francis by transcribing the LP’s symphonic string sections), Say She She (a Brooklyn-based psychedelic-soul trio who adorn a number of songs with their beguiling backing vocals), and a stacked lineup of co-writers that includes Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman and Wild Belle co-founder Elliot Bergman.

In the making of his most ambitious work to date, Francis faced countless moments of creative frustration—a factor that eventually gave the album its title. “I was cutting a lot of the vocals at home, using a hybrid process where I’d bounce the tracks from my computer to a tape machine and then record the vocals to tape,” he explains. “I’d be in my vocal booth in the closet with all our winter coats, and every time I needed to start over I’d press this button that says ‘RTZ,’ which stands for ‘Return To Zero.’ I was doing take after take and pressing that button over and over—it was a huge pain, but it also linked up with what I’ve learned in my meditation practice: no matter how frustrated you get, just remain calm and take inventory, and then begin again.”

Although executing Return To Zero’s highly elaborate arrangements often involved a very time-intensive trial-and-error approach, the album-opening “Need You Again” surfaced from an immediate burst of inspiration after Francis attended a DJ set by Derrick Carter (a Chicago house legend who created a 12-inch remix of “BNYLV” from In Plain Sight). “My girlfriend and I went out to a queer dance party called Queen! and stayed till about four in the morning, and Derrick played a track that was a big rock riff over a funk beat,” he recalls. “The next day I went into the studio on very little sleep and started working on the demo for ‘Need You Again,’ and after I finished I couldn’t stop listening to it.” Featuring a guest spot from Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce), the result is a glorious entry point into the album’s groove-heavy soundscape, unfolding in sinewy riffs and larger-than-life rhythms as Francis narrates a tale of ruinous infatuation. “It’s a song about a love affair, and the experience of projecting magical qualities onto another person and feeling almost addicted or beholden to them,” he reveals. 

Another charmed moment in the album’s creation, “Broken Glass” was sparked from a session featuring Francis on bass and Shuman on drums, with the two soon conjuring the hypnotically potent riff that propels the track forward. With its viscerally charged depiction of lust and self-denial, the darkly majestic epic reaches a stratospheric crescendo at the bridge, when pounding drums meet with Say She She’s near-operatic harmonies. “Once we had that riff I started filling in some freeform poetry from my notebook, which had to do with the idea of taking direction in an intimate liaison,” says Francis. “It all came together so naturally because of how Michael was playing drums, bringing that Queens of the Stone Age heavy-rock thing I love so much.”

One of the most dance-ready tracks on Return To Zero, “Back It Up” glides along on glossy synth lines and a playfully swaggering riff, imbuing a carefree spirit into Francis’ deliberately over-the-top confession of romantic desperation. “That song went through a few different phases before we got to the final iteration,” he says. “It took me a while to accept that it’s okay to have fun with the lyrics, instead of making everything so serious all the time.” Meanwhile, on “What’s Left Of Me,” Francis presents a gorgeously sprawling power-pop anthem built on his resplendent piano work. Co-written with Nashville-based songwriter Chris Gelbuda, the track arose from a piano-and-vocal demo captured at Chicago’s Fine Arts Building, soon evolving into a piercingly candid reflection on life on the road. “Chris and I are good friends and we got to talking about the challenges of being in a committed relationship while you’re on tour,” says Francis. “A lot of these songs were influenced by Electric Light Orchestra and the way Jeff Lynne synthesizes classical music and pop songwriting, and ‘What’s Left Of Me’ was definitely one where I was going for an ELO vibe.”

Partly inspired by the funk and dance records he typically spins during his sets as an all-vinyl DJ, Return To Zero also encompasses everything from the spaced-out drama of “Dance Through Life” to the string-laced reverie of “Can’t Get Enough” (a collaboration with Durand Jones & The Indications’ Blake Rhein that is a sublimely mellowed-out homage to acid-jazz pioneer Roy Ayers). In creating such a complex body of work, Francis found his sense of perseverance repeatedly tested. “Most of these songs were pretty hard-won,” he says. “There was a feeling of pulling out all the stops to achieve what I was going for, and in the middle of that I was dealing with some depression and exhaustion. I ended up learning a lot about myself, and now I feel like I’m in a completely different place in terms of my priorities with mental health.” Despite its more daunting aspects, the writing and recording of Return To Zero also brought plenty of moments of pleasure, including composing with strings for the very first time and tracking songs with his longtime bandmates. “All those guys are like my brothers, and there was a feeling of us working together with an almost athletic desire to get better every time we did a new take,” Francis says. “Those were really long days at the studio, but they were also so much fun.”

Looking back on the making of Return To Zero, Francis points to certain crucial lessons absorbed while creating his most extravagantly realized work so far. “One of the main things I’ve learned is that every album is going to be its own journey; I can’t really take the arsenal of things I’ve learned in the past and expect them to save me from any kind of frustration with whatever I make next,” he says. “Creating art is always going to be a challenge, which maybe goes back to why AI-created music is never going to be all that compelling—it’s just too fucking easy. The best I can do is use what’s at my disposal and try not to freak out or despair when it gets difficult, and hopefully end up making something that gives people joy.”

Show 8pm // 21+ 

***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.

Felton Music Hall Presents:

SIERRA HULL

with STEPHANIE LAMBRING

Sierra Hull is widely regarded to be a as a master of her instrument; A two-time Grammy Nominated artist and songwriter, recognized for both her most recent projects, 25 Trips (2020) and Weighted Mind (2016), she is also the 4x recipient of IBMA’s Mandolin Player of the Year, the first woman to ever receive this distinction. A pioneer for acoustic music throughout her already impressive multi-decade career, she has graced the country's most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House. Her virtuosic abilities have garnered respect from genre-defining trailblazers, friends, and collaborators such as Alison Krauss, Sturgill Simpson, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Bobby McFerrin, and Brandi Carlile. Originally hailing from Byrdstown, Tennessee, her unique sound is rooted in bluegrass, and she is widely considered one of acoustic music’s most inventive artists.