Lakefest: Live Music

Shelby Blondell is an international, songwriter, singer, inventor and speaker from Linthicum MD, whose determination shows that even brain surgeries cannot get her down. Shelby has a unique sound that captivates a crowd by bringing them to their feet and hitting their heart.

Shelby’s music, story, and work have been featured on radio and multimedia internationally, with a radio hit TOP 10, "Fun In The Sun", on the European Indie Music Charts while sharing the stage with artists like Pentatonix, Howie Day and many in between.

Chinobay is a Ugandan musician, educator, and creative arts producer whose work has been described as “some of the most exquisite music coming out of Africa today”. Since his youth, he has captivated audiences with world-roots rhythms and melodies that emanate from the diversity of the many traditional instruments he customized to develop his unique sound.

The diverse textures of Chinobay’s music make it soothing, pulsing, meditative, and invigorating —much of it a mix of original and traditional with global influences—but the sounds are uniquely his.

The Reminders are a rare and remarkable musical duo seamlessly blending soulful sounds and roots music with insightful messages and thoughtful lyrics. The group consists of Brussels-born emcee Big Samir and Queens-born emcee/ vocalist Aja Black.

Having shared the stage with artists such as Les Nubians, Snoop Dogg, Fishbone, Barrington Levy, Nas, Mos Def, Big Boi, KRS-One, Rakim, K'Naan, and others.

Born of a mutual passion for the deep, down home sounds of an earlier time, eight-piece band King Soul is bringing the excitement of real Southern Soul to a new audience. Featuring original songs, powerful vocals, soaring horn work and driving rhythms, King Soul has become a top draw at area clubs and events.

The all-star band includes members of the Slickee Boys, the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, the Recliners, the Grandsons, the Hula Monsters the Thangs and the J Street Jumpers. King Soul’s membership holds more than 30 Washington Area Music Association Wammies and Austin Music Awards to its credit.

Chinobay is a Ugandan musician, educator, and creative arts producer whose work has been described as “some of the most exquisite music coming out of Africa today”. Since his youth, he has captivated audiences with world-roots rhythms and melodies that emanate from the diversity of the many traditional instruments he customized to develop his unique sound.

The diverse textures of Chinobay’s music make it soothing, pulsing, meditative, and invigorating —much of it a mix of original and traditional with global influences—but the sounds are uniquely his.

Born of a mutual passion for the deep, down home sounds of an earlier time, eight-piece band King Soul is bringing the excitement of real Southern Soul to a new audience. Featuring original songs, powerful vocals, soaring horn work and driving rhythms, King Soul has become a top draw at area clubs and events.

The all-star band includes members of the Slickee Boys, the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, the Recliners, the Grandsons, the Hula Monsters the Thangs and the J Street Jumpers. King Soul’s membership holds more than 30 Washington Area Music Association Wammies and Austin Music Awards to its credit.

With his interactive style of musical entertainment, Mr. Gabe inspires children to use their bodies and their brains. He performs nursery rhymes, traditional children’s classics, and modern favorites (such as “Yellow Submarine” and “La Bamba”), as well as originals from his two award-winning CDs. “Listening to Mr. Gabe sing is like hearing an old friend telling stories on the front porch swing.” — Ashley Jo Farmer, Parents’ Choice Foundation

An All-women music band that plays and highlights the richness of rhythms from the Colombian Caribbean region rooted in African, Indigenous and European influences. The group was formed in an effort to provide a learning space and honor Colombian ancestral music from a female perspective.

La Marvela are defenders of domestic violence survivors, and strive to provide a safe, inclusive and judgement free space.

Wylder is an indie-folk quartet from the heart of Virginia. The band is the creation of Will McCarry. His songs embrace an enigmatic but unmistakable brand of thoughtful, energetic and lyrically-driven indie-folk.

Wylder has been heard on TV shows like The Good Doctor, Maid and Shameless as well as national radio stations like NPR and SiriusXM's The Pulse.

The pandemic has driven many away from their creative centers, but Sunny’s been uncommonly busy. She founded a Los Angeles chapter of the nonprofit Food Not Bombs and put together a network of volunteers to distribute vegan food to the homeless.

She marched for BLM in protest against police brutality and found time to cut a new album. Sunny’s last album brought her universal praise and a powerful Tiny Desk performance at NPR. “I haven’t heard a young guitarist this dexterous and ass-kicking in eons.” - Michael Simmons, L.A Weekly

When you hear Marielle Kraft’s music or experience her candid live shows, you feel as though you already know her. The indie pop singer/songwriter, now based in Nashville, displays craftsmanship beyond her years, following suit to artists like Shawn Mendes, Maisie Peters, and Taylor Swift.

Self-taught, the Rhode Island native began playing guitar at 16 and soon writing songs that strike chords with listeners everywhere. Her gift for storytelling is evident through her use of salient detail, raw emotion, and poignant word choice to describe moments “exactly as they feel.”

At 16 years old, Abel Simon Mekonnen fled his homeland of Ethiopia for a three-month journey to neighboring Sudan; an odyssey of missed connections, 4 a.m. truck rides, and bouts of malaria. It would be three long years before he reunited with his family in the United States.

Fast forward to 2022, Abel is now the lead singer of the D.C.-based reggae band Nkula, waging a new battle against an unjust global system with reggae music as his weapon of choice.

Characterized by high energy and strong vocal harmonies, the 19th Street Band bridges the musical traditions of bluegrass and roots from Ireland to the Appalachia with their eclectic gypsy-rock spirit literally leaping from the stage and engaging every crowd.

The charismatic vibe that Caolaidhe Davis (guitar player and vocalist) blends with fiddle/mandolin player, vocalist (and wife), Meghan, creates a joy-filled chemistry that no crowd can resist.

Lakou Mizik is a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake. The group includes elder legends and rising young talents, united in a mission to honor the healing spirit of their culture and communicate a message of pride, strength and hope to their countrymen and the world.

The band brings together musical generations in celebration of the cultural continuum while using Haiti’s deep well of creative strength to shine a positive light on this tragically misrepresented country.

An All-women music band that plays and highlights the richness of rhythms from the Colombian Caribbean region rooted in African, Indigenous and European influences. The group was formed in an effort to provide a learning space and honor Colombian ancestral music from a female perspective.

La Marvela are defenders of domestic violence survivors, and strive to provide a safe, inclusive and judgement free space.

The pandemic has driven many away from their creative centers, but Sunny’s been uncommonly busy. She founded a Los Angeles chapter of the nonprofit Food Not Bombs and put together a network of volunteers to distribute vegan food to the homeless.

She marched for BLM in protest against police brutality and found time to cut a new album. Sunny’s last album brought her universal praise and a powerful Tiny Desk performance at NPR. “I haven’t heard a young guitarist this dexterous and ass-kicking in eons.” - Michael Simmons, L.A Weekly

At 16 years old, Abel Simon Mekonnen fled his homeland of Ethiopia for a three-month journey to neighboring Sudan; an odyssey of missed connections, 4 a.m. truck rides, and bouts of malaria. It would be three long years before he reunited with his family in the United States.

Fast forward to 2022, Abel is now the lead singer of the D.C.-based reggae band Nkula, waging a new battle against an unjust global system with reggae music as his weapon of choice.

Lakou Mizik is a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake. The group includes elder legends and rising young talents, united in a mission to honor the healing spirit of their culture and communicate a message of pride, strength and hope to their countrymen and the world.

The band brings together musical generations in celebration of the cultural continuum while using Haiti’s deep well of creative strength to shine a positive light on this tragically misrepresented country.

The Wilde Lake High School Steel Drum Band is one of many performing ensembles that make up the Wilde Lake Band Program. Since its inception ten years ago, this ensemble’s students have presented concerts that have been well received by audiences in our school and local community.

The Wilde Lake High School Steel Drum Band is well known for its performances of a variety of music, from Calypso to Soca, as well as jazz.

Although based in indigenous traditions, Elikeh’s music has no borders. Exploring global themes and personal odysseys, Elikeh uses elements of Togolese rhythms as a foundation for exploration in American-influenced blues, funk, and rock to produce captivating afro-pop tunes.

The Band recently won a WAMMIE for “Best World Music Recording” and has been nominated for “Best World Beat Album” by the Independent Music Awards.

The students in the Mt. Hebron Jazz Ensemble perform multiple concerts throughout the year, playing music at an advanced grade level of difficulty. Mr. M. Joseph Fischer, a native of Maryland, has conducted the band program at Mt. Hebron High school since January of 2019, where he conducts three concert bands, percussion ensemble, jazz ensemble, jazz combo and the MtH marching unit.

Prior to his appointment at Mt. Hebron, Mr. Fischer was the band director at Ellicott Mills Middle School in Ellicott City, MD and River Hill High School in Clarkville, MD, Instrumental Music Director at Liberty High School in Eldersburg, MD and the Director of Bands at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, MD.

The 26-member Columbia Jazz Band consists of musicians from all over Howard County. In their non-musical lives, they work in varied professional fields such as medicine, social work, engineering, computer science, education, law, and more.

This accomplished group has performed at the Blues Alley in Georgetown and international jazz festivals in Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, and France.

The Glenelg Jazz Ensemble has received more than 60 awards over the last 20 years, including the highest rating at the Maryland State Jazz Festival.

Many national and regional jazz artists have shared the stage with the Ensemble, including Maynard Ferguson, The Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster, Carl Fischer, Chris Vadala, and Deanna Bogart.

Although based in indigenous traditions, Elikeh’s music has no borders. Exploring global themes and personal odysseys, Elikeh uses elements of Togolese rhythms as a foundation for exploration in American-influenced blues, funk, and rock to produce captivating afro-pop tunes.

The Band recently won a WAMMIE for “Best World Music Recording” and has been nominated for “Best World Beat Album” by the Independent Music Awards.

The 26-member Columbia Jazz Band consists of musicians from all over Howard County. In their non-musical lives, they work in varied professional fields such as medicine, social work, engineering, computer science, education, law, and more.

This accomplished group has performed at the Blues Alley in Georgetown and international jazz festivals in Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, and France.