2008 Ventura Hillsides Music Festival with Little Feat, Taj Mahal, Mason Jennings, Todd Hanningan, Rey Fresco in Arroyo Verde Park, Fall Turkey Roundup 10K, Adopt-A-Park Cleanup and other wilderness education and conservation projects

2007 Ventura Hillsides Music Festival, Photo by Amanda Peacock

TALENT

The 2008 Ventura Hillsides Music Festival united international stars
and local up-and-comers

Little Feat
	Once again the 6th annual Ventura Hillside Music festival showcased exemplary musicianship. The fundraiser featured Little Feat, whose cut-loose soaring roadhouse and jazz-infused ballads got the arroyo crowd hopping. Little Feat was formed by the legendary Lowell George in 1969, and today features 7 outstanding musicians keeping the groove movin.’ Their Ventura appearance is perfectly timed with the release of their 25th album Join the Band. Join features guest appearances byJimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews, and Emmylou Harris. Material from Join the Band will guarantee to move the Hillfest audience, who will be among the first in America to join the fun. Check out Little Feat on youtube.com by clicking here>

Taj Mahal
	Composer and multi-instrumentalist Taj Mahal, a two-time GRAMMY® winner and one of the most influential American blues and roots artists of the past half-century, was also featured. Taj’s work has become a never-ending exploration of the complex origins and underpinnings of American music. He has forged a four-decade career by gathering and distilling countless musical traditions from a range of geographical and cultural sources: the Mississippi Delta, the Appalachian backwoods, the African continent, the Hawaiian islands, Europe, theCaribbeanand so much more. Taj Mahal doesn’t just stand at the crossroads. He is the crossroads. He featured tracks from his new release Maestro. Check out Taj Mahal on youtube.com by clicking here>

Mason Jennings
	Mason Jennings, a 32-year-old singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, is known for uplifting studies low-fi, acoustic tunes. Friend Jack Johnson has said that Jennings’ songs “changes the way I see the world around me.” His work has won critical acclaim from around the country. His new album In the Ever is issued by Johnson’s Brushfire Records, and is considered his strongest work yet. Check out Mason Jennings on youtube.com by clicking here>

Todd Hannigan and the Heavy 29's
	Todd Hannigan is the leader of Todd Hannigan and the Heavy 29’s, and has called Ventura home since he was four. But despite the local creds, his music exhibits a multi-cultural influence garnered through an impressive world travel resume that has taken him from Ecuador to Indonesia and beyond. His rhythmic guitar playing and vocals have been compared to Cat Stevens and Nick Drake in his vocals. Check out Todd Hannigan and the Heavy 29's on youtube.com by clicking here>

Rey Fresco
	Rounding out the bill was another Ventura-based talent, the four-piece Rey Fresco. Their eclectic music featured a harp – along with guitar and drums that supported strong vocal arrangements. The quartet recently won a battle of the bands contest at downtown sports-bar Rookies, beating out 23 other entrants. Check out Rey Fresco on youtube.com by clicking here>

For more information about the talent, please visit their web sites: Little Feat littlefeat.net Taj Mahal tajblues.com Mason Jennings masonjennings.com Todd Hannigan and the Heavy 29's toddhannigan.com Rey Fresco reyfresco.com