2021 Sky Island Artisan Market
Gazebo Stage Schedule  

Saturday October 9, 2021 
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Jam Pak Blues ‘N Grass (Youth Blues and Bluegrass) 
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | The Tirebiters (Singer-Songwriter Rock) 
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Kevin Pakulis Band (Americana) 
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Zach Farley & Friends (World / Folk)  
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Sunday October 10, 2021 
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Jam Pak Blues ‘N Grass (Youth Blues and Bluegrass) 
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Sophia Rankin and the Sound (Pop / Folk Rock)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Eric Ramsey (Blues) 
3:15 PM - 4 PM | Cobalt Sunset (Folk / Americana)
  
About the Performers
​Jam Pak Blues ‘N Grass
Youth Blues and Bluegrass
Performing Saturday and Sunday 10 AM - 11 AM

​With twenty-five years performing and teaching in the bluegrass world of Arizona, many folks know the story of Jam Pak. Somehow, some way, enfolded in the love of music, community, food, travel, and love itself, this unique band of all ages, races, and walks of life makes bluegrass music. In the home of Anni Beach of Chandler, they teach each other, gather twice a week, practice, dance, entertain, and at the center, maintain the singular goal to make themselves and others happy with their music. The band is ever grateful for the wonderful venues, the donations of instruments and other needs, and the constant encouragement from the bluegrass community of Arizona. Learn more about this group at www.jampak.com.  
The Tirebiters
Singer-Songwriter Rock
Performing Saturday 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
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The Tirebiters are a new trio featuring seasoned veterans Lex Browning (Guitar, Vocals), Gray Mackender (Drums), and Steve Grams (Bass). The trio perform original songs and familiar classics rooted in Blues, Country Rock, and Americana. Frontman Lex Browning is a current member of the country rock band Poco, past band member of Great Plains, and has toured playing fiddle for Tanya Tucker, Pam Tillis, and Trace Adkins.  
Kevin Pakulis Band
Americana
Performing Saturday 2 PM - 4 PM
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Americana singer-songwriter Kevin Pakulis is a master musician and storyteller. His award-winning edgy, guitar-driven compositions, delivered with plenty of raw energy, first earned him national attention with his debut release of Yeah Yeah Yeah. No Depression Magazine described the album as the "best of a genre.” Kevin’s songwriting ranges from introspective and reflective to satirical and political, rocking blues anthems to quiet acoustic pieces. Tempered by time, Pakulis' latest record, Holliday, released summer 2018 focuses on themes of life in the Sonoran desert, love, and social disparity. Pakulis has opened for numerous major acts including Billie Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Leon Russell, Dwight Yoakam and Merle Haggard. https://www.kevinpakulis.com/
Zach Farley & Friends
World / Folk
Performing Saturday 4:30 PM - 6 PM

When Patagonia musician and instrument maker Zach Farley was 8 years-old, one event changed the course of his life. He took up guitar at a young age, that helped to fill the void in his life. Decades later, he's a musician, artist and craftsman making flutes, drums and guitars from gourds harvested in the field. “From seed to song,” he says. Learn more about this group here.    
Sophia Rankin & The Sound
Folk Rock / Pop
Performing Sunday 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Sophia Rankin is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter with a diverse repertoire that spans the musical genres of folk, pop, rock, and Americana. Her two first solo CDs, released while attending the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music, were positively received by press and promoters alike. Born and raised in Tucson, she debuted her musical talents at the Tucson Folk Festival Young Artists Stage at the age of fifteen. Her meaningful original songs have won her first-place awards at both the 2017 Tucson Desert Song Festival and the 2018 Stefan George Songwriting competition.

She now leads her own band, Sophia Rankin & The Sound, with members Connor Rankin (drums), Eli Leki-Albano (bass), and Noah Weig-Pickering (lead guitar). Her latest album, Too Close to the Riptide is set for release August 2021. Recorded and produced by Dominic Rischard of Nocturnal Theory, Rankin’s new album was composed over the past three years since her sophomore release SOLACE, where it found its greatest inspiration during the 2020 pandemic from the loss of loved ones and human connection. With songs venturing deeper into classic elements of rock, pop, and folk music alike, Too Close to the Riptide encourages Rankin’s creative wanderlust while staying true to her roots as a songwriter as she jumps between themes of love, mourning, new beginnings, and acceptance.  www.sophiarankin.com. 
Eric Ramsey
Blues
Performing Sunday 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

With soaring vocals and blues-infused organic arrangements, Eric Ramsey writes from experience about the human condition - at times sensitive, at times humorous, always thought-provoking. His arrangements and delivery encompass a spectrum of styles from delicate fingerpicking to raucous, bluesy bottleneck slide. Eric's captivating live performances, as well as his workshops on slide guitar techniques, have made him a favorite on the Blues and Folk Festival circuits.

Among other things, Eric Ramsey is two time champion of the Phoenix Blues Society's Blues Showdown; a semi-finalist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN; and a Finalist in the Telluride Blues Challenge. He’s a past winner of the Stefan George Memorial (Tucson Folk Festival) Songwriting Competition and a featured performer in the Tempe Center for the Arts Songwriter Showcase filmed for PBS distribution. He has four albums released, including his latest, “Road Of Man”, released in 2018. https://www.ericramsey.net/
​Cobalt Sunset
Folk / Singer-Songwriter
Performing Sunday 3:15 PM - 4 PM

Corbyn Cleveland (14 yrs. old) and Adrian Negrete (15 yrs. old) created Cobalt Sunset in 2019. They have diverse interests in music, blending an eclectic mix of Blues, Rock, and Americana. They play unique acoustic covers and are working on original songs. They have performed at Monterey Court, The South Tucson Street Fair, The House of Bards and were featured performers in The Tucson Folk Festival Young Artist Showcase. They were 2019 Finalists in The Colby Olsen Foundation's, Tucson's Got Talent.
 
Corbyn is a Freshman Honors student attending Tucson High Fine Arts Magnet where she primarily studies dance and theater.  She has studied dance locally for 12 years, first with Barbea Williams and currently at Ballet Rincon Academy.  Her studies of the Arts have continued with Oklahoma City Ballet, Broadway Artists Alliance NYC and voice and guitar at Allegro School of Music in Tucson.  She is also a member of NHSDA (National Honor Society for Dance Arts).
 
Adrian is a Sophomore Honors student at Tucson High Fine Arts Magnet. He studies Orchestra, Guitar, Steel Drums, Piano and Music Theory. He plays guitarron in the THMS Mariachi performance group, Rayos del Sol. At 11 years old, he played upright bass with the Tucson Jazz Institute.  At 13 years old., he started the rock band, Znora that is currently a finalist in the 2021 Tucson Weekly's Best Cover Band contest.  Adrian was recognized as the Tucson Youth Musician of the Year in 2020 by the Tucson Musician's Museum.
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