CrestFest 2008 Lineup - Headliners & Regional Bands

(performance times are subject to change)

Local Bands | Schedule

Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul - Saturday, August 2, 8 p.m.

See Eileen Ivers in action here.

We are proud to present Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul Saturday, August 2nd at 8 p.m. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. Rooted in Irish traditional music since the age of eight, Eileen has won nine All-Ireland fiddle championships, a tenth on tenor banjo and over 30 championship medals, making her one of the most awarded persons ever to compete in these prestigious competitions.

Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul are a mix of African and Latin percussion and bass, Irish instrumentalists, and American soulful vocals. They have performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, the Boston Pops, The Chieftains, Hall and Oates, Afrocelts, Patti Smith, Paula Cole, Al Di Meola, and Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies. Ivers was also a featured star of Riverdance, has appeared on national and international television, and has performed for presidents and royalty worldwide. She's been called a "sensation" by Billboard magazine and "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin" by The New York Times. "She electrifies the crowd with a dazzling show of virtuoso playing," says The Irish Times. Ivers' recording credits include over 80 contemporary and traditional albums and numerous movie scores. Her latest CD, entitled 'Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul' continues to display why Ivers is hailed as one of the great innovators and pioneers in the Celtic and World music genres. It is an honor to have such a distinguished musical force at this year's Festival. Please join us for a show you won't forget!

Los Pinguos - Sunday, August 3, 6 p.m.

See Los Pinguos here.

We're thrilled to welcome Argentina's own Los Pinguos on Sunday, August 3 at 6 p.m. Los Pinguos came to Los Angeles from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2001 with a mixture of Latin rhythms, performed with Spanish guitars, a Cuban Tres, horns, Peruvian cajón and harmonizing vocals.

While performing in Los Angeles, they auditioned for the television show “The Next Big Star.” In spite of fierce competition from more seasoned groups, and being the only Latin band to perform, Los Pinguos won the audience vote and rightly claimed the Grand Prize.

Since then, they have recorded four albums, and performed with such acts as Ozomatli, Yerba Buena, Charlie Zaa and Pablo Montero, and Plácido Domingo, Charly Garcia and famed Argentinean rockers Bersuit Vergarabat. They also appeared at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival with songstress Suzanne Vega. Los Pinguos’ music has appeared in TV shows such as "The Shield," "The L Word," and is featured in the Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson film "Imagining Argentina." The band also appeared in the award-winning documentary on street musicians entitled "Playing for Change." Most recently, they have appeared on three of the world famous Putumayo World Music compilations, “Baila!,” “Radio Latino” and "World Party."

Vivacious and infectious, the sound of Los Pinguos has claimed fans worldwide. So get down with this remarkable act on Sunday that is sure to put a grin on your face and feet!

Opie Gone Bad - Saturday, 6 p.m.

See OGB here.

One of the Rocky Mountain region's most durable and influential bands, Opie Gone Bad has been showing people a good time for over ten years.  Jake Schroeder's husky baritone fronts an eclectic band that blends guitar driven rock with a powerhouse funk rhythm section.  The shows are energetic events aimed at giving fans tired legs and big smiles.  The band has toured nationally many times and consistently plays to packed venues. Having released three CDs, OGB is a proud advocate of the D.I.Y. ethic as an indie band.  The band takes great pride in helping the Denver community by playing shows for many local charitable organizations and events.

Irie Still - Sunday, 4:15 p.m.

Irie Still's style, steeped first and foremost in the danceable beats of Reggae, incorporate elements of Hip-Hop, Soca, Dancehall, Calypso, Ska, Soul, Afro Beat, and Tribal Rhythms with conscious lyrics. Formed in New Mexico in 1995, and currently based in Colorado, Irie Still headlines the Reggae on Broadway series at Herman's Hideaway and plays frequently in Denver, Boulder, the metro-area front range and mountain towns. Playing mostly original music, the band incorporates audience participation, soaring vocal harmony and thought-provoking political consciousness into an overwhelming onstage powerhouse.

The Last To Know with The Flying Desert Brigade - Friday, 8 p.m.

The Last To Know out of Taos, New Mexico have been performing their style of "discofunkgrass" since 1999. They've shared the bill with Hot Buttered Rum String Band, The Motet, Culture, the Vince Herman Trio, the Skatalites, and Leftover Salmon. They perform with The Flying Desert Brigade, a troupe of seven female performance artists whose talents include dance, acrobatics and fire-dancing. The Taos News says, "If a band could be designed to play a summer jam fest in the mountains, this is it."

Fishtank Ensemble - Saturday, 4:15 p.m.

See Fishtank Ensemble here.

Fishtank Ensemble is a band that offers a unique blend of Gypsy, Balkan, Flamenco, Klezmer and original tunes.  The arrangements are always surprising and include instruments from many countries such as violin, accordion, flamenco and gypsy jazz guitar, shamisen, bass, saw and voice.  From the smokey cafes of Bucharest to the Gypsy caravans of yesterday, Fishtank Ensemble evokes the spirit of a past age with the sounds of tomorrow.

Oakhurst - Sunday, 2:45 p.m.

See Oakhurst here.

Oakhurst has a reputation for torching bar, theater, festival and cruise ship stages throughout the US and Europe with its unique sound and unbridled stage energy. The band’s adept picking, sweet harmonies, and citybilly swagger have clearly come from playing 200+ shows a year in such varied environments. Oakhurst’s unpretentious, go-for-it interpretation of a genre that’s often handled too reverently, sparks interest in bluegrass by folks who don’t know Doc Watson from Doc Holliday.

Shumei Institute's Taiko Drummers - Saturday, 3:15 p.m.

Many thanks to the Shumei International Institute for bringing Taiko Drummers from Japan to our humble little town once again. It is an honor to have such a high profile international act grace our stage. They create a mesmerizing choreographed explosion of energy and beauty.

Tobatana Marimba - Sunday, 1:20 p.m.

See Tobatana here.

Returning this year is last year's crowd favorite, Tobatana Marimba. Tobatana (toe-BAH-tah-nah) is a joyous marimba ensemble whose music is a combination of the traditional music of the Shona culture of Zimbabwe, "Township" music from South Africa and contemporary tunes. Tobatana’s instrumentation includes five Zimbabwean-style marimbas (sopranos, tenor, baritone, and the famous bass); drum kit; trombone, flute and alto saxophone; vocals; the ancient mbira; and a wide-variety of percussion. "Tobatana" translates "We are coming together," and they are dedicated to sharing the joyous music of Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa through educational and entertaining performances. Tobatana is also one of our favorite Youth & Community Performances acts to perform in San Luis Valley schools.

The Rifters - Sunday, 12:00 p.m.

The Rifters formed in 2002 in the fertile and creative music scene of Taos, New Mexico from members of two popular bands already active in the area ~ Jim Bradley and Don Richmond of Hired Hands, and Rod Taylor and Steve Garry of the Rounders. In their own words, “It’s music that comes from where we come from – both from the high desert and mountain landscape of our home and from the background and experiences of our lives – sort of a laid-back high-energy gentle giant old blue-buffalo-grama-grassy, cowboy, folky, shake-a-leg with a smile sort of thing. A rift is a split or a gap, sort of the like the Rio Grande Rift that we all live on or around. But this music is more about bridging gaps. For us the music is what ties all the different times and places together.”