Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band

Formed from the most talented deadbeats and drifters that could be rounded up, this group of raucous and rambunctious musicians will honk, wail, blow, beat, bounce, scream and serenade their way into your hearts. Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band combines the rich musical history of the circus and the vagabond peoples of Europe with the raw energy of avant-garde jazz and the irreverence and fun of today’s Vaudeville for a sound that is somehow familiar yet like no other. Label them anyway you like!

The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library

TEDxSomerville’s House Band, The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library, is the world’s only male-fronted, all-female, librarian-attired, downtempo, indie, ensemble-pop act featuring intricately constructed, tongue-in-cheek tortuous songs with an emphasis on narrative. The band released their first album, Volume One, nationally last May with some help from a grant from the Passim Iguana Fund and has recently collaborated with BalletRox to create and perform a three-song indie rock ballet.

Keith Fullerton Whitman

Keith is a musician & composer based in Cambridge, MA. His work explores the link between the “analogue” tools & techniques of the “studio” electronic music composers of the 60′s & 70′s & contemporary digital technology & working methods. His performances are largely improvised, utilizing a custom-assembled, multi-channel modular synthesizer incorporating elements from virtually every major era of electronic instrument design. He currently records for the Vienna-based Editions Mego label, and has released dozens of recordings for Pan, Kranky, Planet-µ, and many others.

Marcus Santos and Grooversity

Grooversity is an innovative and creative drumming project envisioned by Brazilian percussionist Marcus Santos to promote music as an educational resource, entertainment and as a catalyst for social change. Grooversity is based on community outreach for positive outcome while targeting global diversity awareness. Seven communities in seven different states from Los Angeles, CA to Somerville, MA currently are using the Grooversity Project concept.

Jenee Halstead

Jenee Halstead’s debut album, The River Grace, received a fantastic response from music critics and peaked at No. 8 on the U.S. Folk Radio playlist in 2008. Last year, the album received excellent reviews in the UK and Europe based upon its European release. In 2010, Jenee released the EP Hollow Bones featuring a host of her musician friends including David Wax of the David Wax Museum. Jenee is currently finishing her second full-length album Raised by Wolves with Producer Evan Brubaker.