Dec 2: Cascada de Flores and The Stairwell Sisters

Cascada de Flores (“waterfall of flowers”) has been interpreting the traditions and diversity of Mexican and Caribbean folk music and dance for the past 10 years with elegance and originality. The trio, who have all traveled domestically and internationally to grow and perform their talents, showcase a remarkable number of traditional instruments including, but definitely not limited to, guitar, flute, donkey jawbone, and zapateado (percussive dance).


Members of Cascada de Flores are all highly regarded. Vocalist, dancer, and player of traditional Mexican rhythm guitar Awren Lawrence had her performance described by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the most authentic moments of the evening, performed with such loving purity that it stayed with the audience long after the curtain fell." Guitarist Jorge Liceaga comes from a rich musical heritage and has been part of other notable innovative groups such as Potaje, which explores the musical bridges between Spain and Cuba. Sabra Weber is trained in classical flute performance and is currently director of SONando Santa Barbara, a Latin American cultural arts organization.

The Stairwell Sisters return to Cyprian's stage for another "old-time tear-down" with a punk-rock intensity. Sweet country music, rowdy fiddling, steel strings, step dancing and bluegrass through-and-through claim raves for these five San Francisco women on tours all across the U.S. and Europe. Ten years, three albums, from the Lincoln Center to Prairie Home Companion -- The Stairwell Sisters could not be more welcome at Turk & Lyon.


Awesome Double Bill: Cascada de Flores & The Stairwell Sisters
Doors open 7:30pm, performance begins at 8pm
Cyprian's, 2097 Turk St. at Lyon
$18 adv/$20 door; $16 for kids, seniors, and students with ID


Tickets:
brownpapertickets
Swankety Swank, 289 Divisadero, San Francisco
Phoenix Books & Records, 3957 24th St., San Francisco
Down Home Music, 1034 San Pablo, El Cerrito


Check Getting to Cyprian's above for bus lines (with a stop across the street) and secure off-street parking options. Secure bike parking provided on site.
Refreshments for sale and you can drink in the church.


Cascada de Flores and The Stairwell Sisters appear at Cyprian's as part of the SF Live Arts Music Series

Nov 18: Kathy Kallick Band Brings Hit Songs from "Between the Hollow and the High Rise" to Cyprian's

Extraordinarily talented Kathy Kallick has been writing and performing traditional bluegrass music since the mid 1970s. Fifteen album releases later, this award-winning artist is continuing to wow with the Kathy Kallick Band. Their most recent album, “Between the Hollow and the High Rise” has been receiving great praise from critics, and the single “Where is My Little Cabin Home” has had more bluegrass chart time than any other song in 2010-2011.

The current Kathy Kallick Band lineup has been described by Chris Stuart of Sing Out! as “a wonderful combination of youth and experience.” Adventurous mandolin player Tom Bekeny has been singing and playing with Kallick since 1996. Alaskan born, Bay Area resident Dan Booth contributes soulful lead and harmony singing in addition to acoustic bass. Greg Booth, Dan’s father, plays the banjo and dobro, and won a dobro playing competition in 2006 after playing for only one year. Annie Staninec, at the age of 22, has already won the Fiddler Player of the Year Award from the Northern California Bluegrass Society twice.

Jeanie & Chuck's Country Roundup open  the show with honky tonk and bluegrass favorites on acoustic instruments and their specialty of strong, rich duets.

This is another SF Live Arts performance at Cyprian’s not to be missed!

Doors open 7:30pm, performance begins at 8pm
Cyprian's, 2097 Turk St. at Lyon
$18 adv/$20 door; $16 for kids, seniors, and students with ID.

Tickets:
Brownpapertickets.com
Swankety Swank, 289 Divisadero, San Francisco
Phoenix Books & Records, 3957 24th St., San Francisco
Down Home Music, 1034 San Pablo, El Cerrito

Fans Brave Rain and Cold for More Bluegrass

Portland's Water Tower Bucket Boys drew patrons in from the cold and wet

The Brothers Comatose added their huge Bay Area following

And Jackstraw, also from Portland, packed the house with walk-ins to the end

A little pre-performance jamming downstairs with Jackstraw

A cold -- really cold for San Francisco -- and drenching wet night simply made bluegrass fans all the more resolute in their pursuit of the sweet picking and fine vocals of three top bands at Cyprian's Friday. More than 120 people packed into the new performance space for another night of the San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival, produced in cooperation with SF Live Arts.

The two Portland bands -- Jackstraw and The Water Tower Bucket Boys arrived at Turk and Lyon direct from a long trip south with some of the guys traveling in a truck without heat, little fluid for the windshield, and wipers that didn't quite work. Through the mountains, in the rain, reaching out the window with a bottle of water to splash on the windshield. These are guys who really want to play San Francisco.

Robyn Amos, a long-time member of St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, welcomed the audience at intermission, and reflected on the church's 50 years at Turk and Lyon streets. "We've been in the neighborhood a long time," she said, "but now we're becoming of the community as well." Then she added, "And we're Episcopalian, you can drink wine and beer, if you want, in our church."

Three hours of prime bluegrass for three nights -- a perfect launch of Cyprian's. We're excited to be the new venue for SF Live Arts (formerly Noe Valley Music Series).

Next on the schedule: Saturday, March 5th, 8pm:

• The George Cole Quintet - gypsy jazz with the Django Reinhardt-inspired ensemble
• Glass House - Bobby McFerrin vocalist Dave Worm & exotic guitarist Mark Vickness

At Cyprian's, 2097 Turk (@ Lyon)

Tickets $18 advance/$20 door, $16 students w/ID, seniors and kids at door only

brownpapertickets.com (800) 838-3006

Swankety Swank, 289 Divisadero; Phoenix Books, 3857 24th Street

"Good to Get Up in the Morning" -- Cahalan Morrison & Eli West at Cyprian's Feb. 12

"It may be hard to believe this is the voice and these are the words of a twenty-three year old, but it won't take but two minutes to believe Morrison is the real thing when it comes to roots music, with his effortlessly soulful voice and accomplished fingerpicking..."
-Bricks and Mortar Media, San Fransisco 2009
www.bricksandmortarmedia.com .

Cahalen Morrison hops "effortlessly from fingerpicking, to flat-picking, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, to lap slide guitar (not to mention that he is a trained and respected drummer). Cahalen’s writing encompasses everything from punchy political commentaries, to soul warming serenades, branching out into instrumental rags and fiddle tunes, yet still attaining his subtle musical signature." www.cahalen.com

Cyprian's sound, lighting and seating are all set for an evening with Cahalen Morrison and Eli West on February 12.