OFF THE AIR @ THE MODESTO ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Off The Air will be producing a stage of music at this year’s “Modesto Art and Wine Festival.� The “Off The Air Stage� will be located near the corner of 10th and J Streets and will feature many great local and out-of-the-area bands. Did I mention that children 16 and under are FREE!

Here’s who’ll be taking the stage:

SCISSORS FOR LEFTY (San Francisco, Eeenie Meenie Records) rocks a blend “darting keyboards, Strokes-like guitar riffs and disco rhthms� says Billboard Magazine. This lively five-piece has opened for bands such as the Arctic Monkeys, Blonde Redhead and Panic! at the Disco and recently played the main stage at Live 105’s BFD show at the Shoreline Ampitheatre.

BUILT LIKE ALASKA (Oakdale, Future Farmer Records) makes “majestic, melancholic, music.� In addition to releasing two stellar records on Future Farmer, these hometown vets of the local music community scored and had two of their tracks featured in the independent film, “Ellie Parker� featuring Naomi Watts and Chevy Chase. “Ellie Parker� debuted at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

JACKPOT (Sacramento, Jack Pine Social Club Records) “comes on like a lo-fi Wilco, with the singer Rusty Miller rasping one clever verse after another" says Les Rock Magazine from Paris. The New York Times has crowned Jackpot as “one of California’s greatest unknown bands…� and LA Weekly warns that “Jackpot just might end up being huge if they just don’t watch it.�

EL OLIO WOLOF (Merced) use an acoustic guitar, electric bass, accordion, jazz-influenced drums, keyboards and bells to craft their “dusky indie rock.� Blogger/fan ESTEWARTIST (www.estewartartist.blogspot.com) compares their live performance to “a pentecostal Tim Burton carnival.�

TWO SHEDS (Sacramento, UnderAcloud Records) have been compared to Mazzy Star, Lucinda Williams and the Cowboy Junkies. The voice of Two Sheds’ singer, Caitlin Gutenberger “clocks in somewhere between PJ Harvey and Cat Power’s Chan Marshall...� raves Radio Free Silverlake (www.radiofreesilverlake.blogspot.com).

SAPO SUEÑO (Modesto) recently self-released their debut album, “Reaching For A Starless Sky.� They have been featured on B93.1’s local music show “15 Minutes of Fame� and list influences such as the Dave Matthews Band, Damien Rice and The Police.

AGENT RIBBONS (Sacramento) say their music is “baroque, intensely theatrical and always, simply, romantic.� They list influences such as the Ditty Bops, Johnny Cash and Jolie Holland.

DAVE HANLEY BAND (Oakdale, heckabad music) are known for their “great folksy-bluegrassy heartfelt songwriting.� In 2006 they were a Modesto Area Music Award nominee for Best Acoustic/Americana act. Their influences include Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Hot Tuna.

NOT AN AIRPLANE (Vacaville) is a band of one man, Nick Shattel, known for his “high energy performances.� Nick’s record, “I Never Wanted to Believe in Ghosts� was produced, recorded and mixed by Craig Long of Paradise Studios in Sacramento who has worked with artists such as Cake and Tony, Toni, Toné.

The Modesto Art and Wine Festival happens on Saturday, August 18 from 10 AM – 10 PM in the streets of Downtown Modesto. Tickets are $10 and children 16 and under are free. For more information visit: www.modestoartandwine.com.