Some of the Bay Area’s top bands will transform downtown Menlo Park into the Bay Area’s hottest music venue and dance party during Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, July 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue. Get a double scoop of headliners Double Funk Crunch for the Saturday evening After-Hours Concert, then sample the other delicious musical flavors all weekend long, including classic rock and roll covers, boogie woogie piano, surf tunes, Celtic harp, Italian mandolin, and R&B groove. A not-to-be-missed event with an unbeatable price … it’s free!

Get ready to dance ‘til you drop with the groovalicious musical mix by veteran party band Double Funk Crunch at the free After-Hours Concert, Saturday, July 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Fremont Park Stage. These guys started out back in 1997 as a wild and crazy costumed club band playing classic 1970’s disco and funk. Since then, the band’s popularity and repertoire have continued to grow, and now, besides their well-known staple of 70’s and 80’s dance tunes, this high energy party band has expanded their playlist to include everything from big band to smooth jazz, Latin to hip-hop, R&B to blues to rock. The band is fronted by dynamic blues/jazz vocalist Leah Tysse, powerful rock vocalist “Ms. LA” Laura Kuppinger, and the soulful R&B voice of David “Doc” Robinson. Add to this front-line trio musical director and bass player extraordinaire Darryl Anders, jazz pianist and keyboard player Christian Boyd, funk and rock guitarist Jon Kuppinger, the steadiest groove around by drummer Ron Smith, and last but not least, the blazing horn section of veteran saxophonist Vince Lars and trumpeter Jeff Lewis.

The festival kicks off Saturday morning with The Woogie Men, two boogie woogie maniacs with amazing chemistry and talent. When Regi Rockinelli and Steve Dore get together on their dueling pianos, you’d better watch out. These guys play and sing up a storm of music ranging from their own tunes to favorite old rock and roll classics. Enjoy the sweet sounds of 60’s surf tunes with the California Beach Boys, a Beach Boys tribute band and the Bay Area’s premier rockin’ surf band. California Beach Boys honor and pay tribute in their music to the legends of surf like Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, David Marks, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and Dick Dale. When they break into a classic like Surfer Girl with their tight vocal harmonies and signature slide guitar, it’s like being swept away to a high school beach party. Members of the band have played on the same stage as The Beach Boys, Surfaris, and Ventures.

Come out and see for yourself why The Megatones were overwhelmingly voted the Bay Area’s best cover band this year. This band is not your average overnight sensation. They’ve been igniting local audiences with their irresistible dance grooves, sweet vocal harmonies, and ripping solos for almost 20 years. The Megatones frequently bring four-part harmonies into their unique interpretations of modern classics from groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Outkast, U2 and Los Lonely Boys, with a heavy dose from rock-and-roll legends like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Eagles and the Allman Brothers besides. With their wide-ranging, eclectic repertoire, creative cover arrangements and infectious enthusiasm, it’s no wonder that they were the winner of 98.5 FM KFOX’s “Last Band Standing” competition for 2007. If you want “rock hits with glitz,” you’ve got to have The CoverGrrlz. These five women make up the San Francisco Bay Area's most rockin’ all-woman cover band, playing all your favorite rock and roll hits from the 1970’s to today. Lead singer and “vocal goddess” Kat Velour can belt out all the classics of rock, from Heart and Pat Benatar to Ozzy Osbourne and AC/DC.  Miss Trixie Deelight and The World Famous Melne rock out with on the guitar, while Win the Bass Maiden and drummer Tymber keep the groove going.

The Garage Band The Groove Kings Aryeh Frankfurter Dreamroad Heartstrings Music

They may be called The Garage Band, but don’t let that fool you. These guys are music pros with 23 years of experience and a repertoire of more than 400 songs ranging from the 1940s to today. With a classic look and style to spare, this band can deliver for any occasion and musical taste. Husband and wife team Thom and Mary Ellen Duell bring their smooth vocal talent, coupled with Jeff Mayer’s guitar riffs and Jack Ortolani’s keyboard magic. Add the solid rhythm of Tony Yeates on bass and Syd Thompson on drums, then top it off with a blazing horn section and you’ve got yourself one hell of a band. The Groove Kings are the accomplished masters of danceable, popular, groove-oriented party music. Their musical repertoire ranges from popular rock and roll to classic R&B, and each and every tune is designed to keep the dance party going. Each member of The Groove Kings is an accomplished showman and musician, hailing from legendary Bay Area bands such as Daddy-O, the Heartbeats and NiteCry. From their soaring multi-part harmonies, virtuoso instrumental performances and taut arrangements, the Groove Kings never fail to satisfy their audience wherever they play. 

The stage won’t be the only place for music. Talented street performers will bring their own original compositions to every corner of the festival. Since 1994, Aryeh Frankfurter has been delighting audiences around the globe with his passionate, enduring and evocative music. His uncommon approach to the Celtic harp and folk harp repertoire, his multi-instrumentalist abilities and his numerous critically and commercially successful albums have earned him credit as a musician, recording and performance artist of extraordinary talents and abilities. Wind player Laura Bryant and keyboardist Max Gutierrez combine their talents in Dreamroad. Their original compositions hail from their diverse cultural heritage and performance experiences, and the music is both melodic and spiritual with a rhythmic sensibility reminiscent of world-beat. Take a musical journey to old Italy with Heartstrings Music, featuring Al Fabrizio on mandolin and Hugo Wainzinger on guitar. The pair plays romantic, easy listening, Italian melodies including tarantellas, polkas and traditional ethnic heartfelt ballads.

Sunday, July 19
11:00 AM to 1:30 PM –– The CoverGrrlz
1:30 PM to 3:30 PM –– The Garage Band
4 PM to 6 PM –– The Groove Kings

STREET LOCATIONS (All Day/Both Days)
Aryeh Frankfurter (Crane St.), Dreamroad (Evelyn St.), Heartstrings Music (Santa Cruz Ave.)