Hope to see you at a Songwriters Showcase, each one a terrific opportunity to hear a variety of live original music!
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Wow! Two newcomers to this Showcase will be LIANZI and Rocky Michaels. Scroll down for bios. Local fav David Thompson and FNF (fairly new face) David Kesler will round out the show. With whale watching in full gear, this show is a can’t miss!
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Thirty-minute shows in order of play: Erston Pearcey, Jonathan Pogorelskin, Ken Newman, Frances Ancheta, David Kesler, Anna Karney
An afternoon of original music in a variety of styles!
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Round-robin format. One or two sets, TBD
*Shows marked with an asterisk are OPEN to additional performers. Songwriters, please inquire about playing upcoming or future shows!
Musicians! Why not polish your craft at one of the many Open Mics we are fortunate to have by the Bay?
Chit Chat Cafe
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8/22/26
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1:00 - 3:00
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Chit Chat Cafe 〰️ 8/22/26 〰️ 1:00 - 3:00 〰️
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LIANZI approaches songwriting as a holistic art form. Her melancholic art-pop draws from traditional Chinese music, visual art, design, and poetry, weaving these elements into a singular aesthetic of intimate mythmaking. As a self-produced artist, she sculpts emotionally rich, candid songs that feel both personal and otherworldly.
Her track "Big Gulp" was recently recognized with the Grand Prize at the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the Electronic category — a humbling moment that's pushed her to keep going deeper into the work. New songs are on the way in 2026, continuing to explore longing, memory, and identity with the same unfiltered intensity that's become her signature. https://linktr.ee/lianzi
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Dave has been writing songs for 50 years plus. Born in New Jersey Dave was a Jersey surfer through college at Pratt in Brooklyn and graduate school at Columbia in NYC. Playing in clubs since his twenties he moved to Berkeley in 1996. Music is on Spotify under David Kesler and Dave Kesler since apparently, I’m a needle in a haystack :)
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Rocky Michaels is an indie folk, singer/songwriter, voting member of the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs and 4X Ironman Triathlon finisher. With four studio albums and forty-two officially released songs to his name, Rocky has built a catalog that reflects both depth and authenticity.
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/48RbT9rM5QbpsadUw0yagi
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rocky-michaels/1489089624
YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPz4OnrOePX0rw-FWu9Qshl3QtXU_rYGe&si=HWCtusJ0zAJX6tb4
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David Thompson characterizes his music as "A Dysfunctional Adult Contemporary Marriage of the Electric and Acoustic Blues Rock of the Doors and an Analysts Couch". “It's my abstract musical obsession reflecting the stories and fantasies of many years playing, writing and living music. It's What I Do!!”!
He has been involved in the music business as a singer/songwriter, guitarist / bass player, band leader / sideman for many years – solo and in a variety of combos. He has recorded and released 4 CDs of original songs: 'Rider', 'Ride On', 'Any Questions?!!' and 'Renegade Radio’. https://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/499045 https://www.youtube.com/user/ridermusicBMI https://www.facebook.com/david.thompson.984991/
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San Francisco born singer/songwriter, Erston Pearcy brings warmth, color and evocative imagery to songs about life’s most beautiful moments - the joys of love and intimacy, the passion and excitement of pursuing our deepest dreams, and his great love and endless source of inspiration, the magnificent city of San Francisco.
Blending classic singer/songwriters (Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Richard Thompson, David Gray) with eighties synth pop and modern electronica, Erston brings a Beatles inspired songwriting approach to provide a truly dynamic, original and haunting brand of alternative modern pop.
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Jon Pogorelskin is a Maryland born Blues/Americana singer songwriter. Jon has been entertaining audiences, large and small, here and in Europe for the better part of 50 years. His songs have been referred to as musical novelas, short movies due to their visual lyrics. Playing acoustic guitar as well as steel-bodied resonator guitar Jon can conjure up a tasteful array of musical moods to accompany his unique musical stories. If you get a chance to see Jon live, don't pass it up. He's guaranteed to please.
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Ken Newman came to songwriting later than many artists, after decades as a guitarist and performer. Based between San Francisco and Zihuatanejo, Mexico, he writes songs that ask difficult questions without pretending to have easy answers.
Blending Americana, folk, rock, and subtle flamenco influences, Newman's music explores the places where certainty begins to unravel—politics without slogans, love without clichés, and the complicated space where hope and disappointment often coexist.
His latest single, Who Are the Bad Guys, reflects that approach. Rather than choosing sides, it asks listeners to consider how blurred the line between innocence and complicity can become. Early reviews have described Newman as "a quintessential storyteller," praising his thoughtful writing and willingness to explore uncomfortable questions.
Whether performing with a full band or alone with an acoustic guitar, Newman believes the best songs don't tell people what to think. They invite listeners into the conversation and leave room for them to find their own answers.
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Frances Ancheta is a Filipina American singer/songwriter and Bay Area native, growing up and living in both San Francisco and San Mateo County. Her style can be described as thoughtful and eclectic indie folk/pop/rock with multi-cultural influences. She’s released 4 albums and had radio airplay in the US, Canada, UK, and Spain. Please visit: https://francesanchetasongs.com
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Dave has been writing songs for 50 years plus. Born in New Jersey Dave was a Jersey surfer through college at Pratt in Brooklyn and graduate school at Columbia in NYC. Playing in clubs since his twenties he moved to Berkeley in 1996. Music is on Spotify under David Kesler and Dave Kesler since apparently, I’m a needle in a haystack :)
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Throughout her storied music career, Anna Karney has performed across the country and released an incredible catalog of chart topping and critically acclaimed music. Always keeping her mind on social justice and positive messages, Karney explores a variety of instrumental configurations and a broad range of energy on her new full-length album ONE TRUE SONG, now available.
OCEAN ALEHOUSE SAN FRANCISCO 8/30 1PM-4PM
A Bazaar Cafe
Songwriter Circle …
the evening of September 19
TBD