Blue Bear Band Showcases

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At the end of every quarter, students in Blue Bear School of Music's Band Workshops perform live in a San Francisco club. It's an exciting culmination of the bands' 10 weeks of rehearsal and preparation, and we're excited to announce that the Blue Bear Band Showcases will return to Cafe Du Nord, a cool subterranean club with classic decor and great sound. Many nationally renowned artists play at this landmark San Francisco venue, so it's an especially good performance opportunity for our students - some of whom will be playing live for the first time. Please join us and show support! Proceeds benefit Blue Bear's non-profit mission and the shows are always a fun time.

During the four-night run, 12 student bands ranging from rock to blues to jazz to soul/R&B to pop will perform on the main stage. The main stage will also feature bands led by Blue Bear faculty and staff, professional musicians who are active in the Bay Area music scene. The showcases will again feature a second stage, the "lounge stage," with jazz vocals and songwriters classes, acoustic acts plus individual students, teachers and staff. All ages are welcome and Cafe Du Nord offers a full menu, so bring your family and friends for four fun-filled evenings of music, dinner, drinks and dancing!

Blue Bear Band Workshops are student bands organized by the school that rehearse with a professional musician, who coaches the band in group playing and arrangement. For 10 weeks the aspiring musicians rehearse a set which they perform live in a San Francisco club at the end of the class session. The shows are always lively, and donations help support Blue Bear's nonprofit mission to make music education fun and affordable for anyone who is motivated to play or sing or craft a song.

Band Showcase Schedule

Blue Bear Band Workshop Teachers

Steve Kirk has played in and written for progressive rock, jazz, alternative and swing bands, is a long standing member of the Club Foot Orchestra and has composed music for video games, TV, film and radio. Berklee grad Sean Leahy has toured the U.S. and Europe with Kofy Brown, Red Archibald, Marginal Prophets, Boomshanka, Four Year Bender and London Street, and is releasing his first solo album in 2008. Bandleader, guitarist, singer and showman Johnny Nitro is a regular in San Francisco clubs, has played with Charlie Musselwhite and written songs for Albert Collins. Blue Bear alumnus Jim Peterson graduated from Berklee, recorded and toured with world beat band Mumbo Gumbo for more than a decade, and now performs in the U.S. and Europe with renowned bandleaders Mitch Woods and Steve Lucky. Blue Bear alumnus Mark Schuh has also studied music at the University of Wisconsin, City College of San Francisco and the Berkeley Jazz School, plays in "live jukebox" band Suite Love Express and his original band The Shim Sham Rebellion. Bammy-Award-winning singer and guitarist Bill Spooner was founder and principal songwriter of the legendary Tubes, and actively performs in the Bay Area's best dives and bars.

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