2020 Music at the Festival

Each year, in addition to the full film program, the Woods Hole Film Festival also includes live music by independent musicians. While they usually play at the live festival parties and events, this year, they will play for us virtually streaming on social media. From Cape Cod and Rhode Island, the 2020 Musicians of the Woods Hole Film Festival:

MONICA RIZZIO – Saturday, July 25, 2020 10 pm

With a perspective equally influenced by her Texas roots and her Cape Cod home, Americana singer-songwriter Monica Rizzio has emerged as one of the finest talents in the East Coast music scene. Monica released her debut album, aptly named Washashore Cowgirl, in 2016; where it was Monica’s solo introduction after a decade in the trio Tripping Lily, Sunshine is Free is her expansion — after time spent on the road, she realized it was time for her to start collaborating again and recorded the album in Nashville with producer Michael Rinne and a stacked lineup of guest musicians. Throughout the eleven tracks on Sunshine Is Free, Monica appreciates the little things in life and looks for silver linings where necessary. It’s clear she has a keen ability to connect; her songs are often autobiographical but delivered through a fictional approach that aids in creating a universal experience for the listener — whether it’s expressed using her trademark sense of humor or with such striking honesty that the pain in her voice is tangible.

KIM MOBERG – Wednesday, July 29, 2020 10:30 pm

Kim Moberg was born in Juneau, Alaska, the daughter of a classical pianist mother of Alaskan Native Tlingit descent and a US Coast Guard veteran father from Kansas. At the age of 14, Kim began playing acoustic guitar on a borrowed nylon 6 string. A few years later, Kim taught herself to strum and finger pick to her favorite songs by singer/songwriters of the 1970’s, but debilitating stage fright kept her from pursuing her own dream of becoming a professional performer. In 2014, after a hiatus from music, Kim set out to overcome her stage fright and wrote her first song.

Kim teamed with Grammy nominated producer Jon Evans to record two cds – “Above Ground” (2017) and “Up Around The Bend” (2019) – both of which received much acclaim in the Folk world, charting on the Folk Alliance International Folk DJ charts. She is a regionally touring artist whose resume includes sharing the stage with numerous contemporary and established artists including Jim Kweskin, Bill Staines, Kirsten Maxwell, Ellis Paul, Joe Jencks, Vance Gilbert, Catie Curtis, Cheryl Wheeler, Alice Howe, Liz Longley, Rod Abernethy and Grace Morrison.

Kim is a strong believer in the importance of giving back and being actively involved. She offers her music and time at events to support her local community such as founder and host of the monthly Craigville Coffeehouse Open Mic, founder and co-event manager of the Sandwich Arts Alliance PorchFest, serving as a board member for Vinegrass (a non-profit organization that provides scholarships for music students), and performing at political fundraisers and charity events, including her annual “Concert For Kelly”, a benefit concert to raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer.

THE JITTERS – Thursday, July 30, 2020 10:30 pm

The Jitters, born of internet jitter, rising above it….

Paul Robers, Liam Hogg and Rick Barry…prior to Covid lock down, they played in more than half a dozen working bands between us during the prior year. The Cape is a small place and they all knew of each other. Then came Covid 19 came and they found each other on the internet.

The lock down gave them the time and desire to play with people who were able and willing to put the work in virtually. They didn’t want to increase risks for their families or communities, but they had a burning desire to play music. They found a tool called JamKazam and in an eight week period they chose and learned more than 30 songs, mining songs from Americana, although they call it rock. They are all about music and collaboration and laughter. So please listen to their tunes, and enjoy them. No ulterior motive. They don’t even exist. Or do they?

CROOKED COAST – Friday, July 31, 2020 10:30 pm

Hailing from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Crooked Coast distilled celebratory summers and bleak winter into a joyful explosion of indie rock riffs, reggae rhythms, hip hop flows and pop melodies.

They cut their teeth and gained a die-hard fan base grinding it out on the bar circuit. After selling out local shows consistently as well as touring the states and beyond they decided to produce and headline their own festival; 2019’s Coast-Fest. They sold out a 1,500 capacity bandshell.

After self-producing a string of albums and singles they were heading to Hollywood, CA to record an EP with acclaimed producer/engineer Courtney Ballard (5 Seconds of Summer, Good Charlotte, The Used) when the pandemic hit. They holed up in their local studio and created the single Rise & Shine. When Courtney heard it he wanted to mix it. The result is the next level of Crooked Coast’s sound and a big step forward into the unknown. They are debuting a brand new video at the Festival. Don’t miss it!

JAMES MONTGOMERY WITH STEVE “THE HAT” RESTAINO – Saturday, August 1, 2020 10 pm

When blues legend James Montgomery plays the harmonica, he “brings it on home”. Whether it’s recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit he learned first-hand from the masters – James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells – at the legendary “Chessmate.” Over the years, he’s carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in Blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene.