Boston native, Mike Burke, has had a musical path unlike most. Learning several instruments as a child, he never performed or really thought about pursuing music as a career. His interest in math and economics took him to New York’s Wall Street where he spent 8 years working, still writing and playing music on the side. Mike has always been involved in working with children and organizations that help children/people in need. In 2008, he started working with Musicians On Call, where he would play for children who were in isolation units in different hospitals around Manhattan. In 2010, he started working with Mid Atlantic Burn Camp where children who are burn survivors can experience a summer camp with other young burn survivors like themselves. in 2011, realizing that his music was actually helping others, he decided to leave Wall Street, move to LA to pursue music full time, and support the organizations as much as he could by donating half his music proceeds to them. In 2013, Mike will be traveling with CHAP International to Liberia, West Africa to help build orphanages and help those who have lost so much. In addition to working with these organizations, Mike has made great strides since moving to LA; releasing his 2nd EP, winning the 2012 Malibu Music Awards, singing the National Anthem at several MLB/NBA games, as well as playing several multi city tours on both the east and west coasts. His music and his lifestyle promote his message of Be Happy & Help Others, hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

Hope Waits possesses that rare talent that is born of challenge, pain and heart. Growing up in the bayous of Louisiana, her story eerily parallels those of many of the great blues and soul singers whose essence she reflects. The 7th of 12 children born to an alcoholic father and an overprotective mother, Hope spent her childhood moving from place to place – often with no food for her and her siblings. Sheltered from secular music by her mother, Hope learned to sing in Southern Baptist choirs and wrote love songs underneath her bed quickly learning how to pull a tune out of her difficult upbringing. While Hope was beginning to find herself both personally and musically, tragedy struck when her mother was brutally murdered by an unknown attacker, a cold case that remains unsolved. With the loss of her mother, Hope had a moment of revelation that she would not let life pass her by and began to fully pursue her passion. Chance brought her into Chessvolt Studios where she met producer Peter Malick (Norah Jones, Otis Spann) and his business partner Douglas Grossman. The two immediately recognized the timeless qualities of her voice and brought Hope in to record her debut album Introducing Hope Waits. With Malick at the helm, Hope delivers an album so full of maturity and passion that it belies the fact that this is a debut. In addition to the 12 tracks on the physical album, the digital release includes two additional tracks produced by David Kalish (Rickie Lee Jones, Nicolette Larson) and Barrie Maguire (Amos Lee, Natalie Merchant). DownBeat has given the album a glowing 4-star review stating, “Hope Waits effortlessly transcends influences and comparisons with a fully formed and highly personalized vision and approach.” Allmusic called the album “atmospheric, intense and often hypnotic.” While Honest Tune proclaims “Hope Waits possesses a rare combination of ability, class and grace, qualities that could well make her the modern day equivalent of Billie Holiday.” M: Music & Musicians Magazine featured her in their “What’s Next” section of the July/August 2011 issue. Hope was also featured in ELLE Magazine (Brazil), alongside Melody Gardot and Diane Birch, as one of the top 5 new female singers who are a “must listen”. The accolades continue to come from all corners of the world.

Alma Desnuda (Spanish for “Naked Soul”) from the San Francisco Bay Area, is best known for their captivating harmonies, rhythmic grooves and inspiring lyrics. Often described as California Acoustic Soul (a mix between Jack Johnson, Sublime and the Beatles), they were recently voted by the public as “Best Live Act 2011” (Slim’s SF). Grammy-winning recording artist and producer David Pack attributes the band’s success to their “natural-born stage charisma, whom like Dave Matthews Band, are an authentically gifted live act that have managed to capture lightning in a bottle.” Following their award-winning debut album Middleway, the internationally-touring band’s sophomore release Riders has already won songwriting competitions like John Lennon Contest and has also generated spotlights from press and radio, including the title of “Top 5 to Watch in 2012” (Diablo Magazine). Speaking on their collaborations with various non-profits, KFOG DJ Renee Richardson applauds the band’s commitment to community outreach and says the band “appeals to the highest ideals of the zeitgeist of global culture.” Whether it’s uniting the world through singles like “Life We Got” or simply living each day with a naked soul, these four brothers are carving out a destiny that’s sure to take them to the top.

Related show

• Date: Sunday, January 27th 2013
• Time: 6:00pm
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