BAND BIOS
RADIOHEAD
TAME IMPALA
MARK MURPHY’S MUSIC STUDENT BAND
Arushi - Vocals & Keyboards
Cal - Guitar
Shane - Guitar
Susannah - Bass
Gabe - teacher not pictured on drums
MARK MURPHY’S MUSIC STUDENT BAND
Vocals: Hannah
Drums: Alex
Guitar: Ella
Guitar: Nathan
Teacher: Ricardo playing bass
BOB DYLAN & band
MAPLEWOLF
Maplewolf is country-rock-type dad band in and around Maplewood and South Orange, New Jersey. We play country and folk arrangements of all manner of songs, written by us and by others.
On covering Bob Dylan & The Band: “We’re a country-rock band, and The Band is the well from which all country-rock springs. We’re also loud and we like to be raucous, and it’s easy to forget — or to walk through life never having learned — that the Dylan and the Band live recordings were pretty punk. They were in a totally different register from what most people think of when they think of Bob Dylan or The Band — energetic, propulsive, and ramshackle.”
BAND MEMBERS (UCMF Edition)
John Cook: Guitar, vocals.
Matthew Galkin: Drums, vocals
Evan Fleischer: Guitar, mandolin
Dave McKnight: Bass
Mark Litwin: Fiddle
Matt Giger: Organ
Dave Shields: Piano
BEYONCÉ
CHAANCE BARNES
Chaance Barnes has been singing and performing for over 20 years. She currently directs the middle school choir at Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts in East Orange. Since her time as director, Chaance' has led the choir to winning 1st Place at the Music In The Parks Competition for two years consecutively. They have also won best overall choir against other junior high choirs in New Jersey.
Chaance also performs professionally throughout the tri-state area. Primarily singing Jazz, R&B and Gospel. Chaance has performed on some of the New Jersey's best stages including New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Prudential Center, South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), WBGO 88.3 FM, and Paper Mill Playhouse, Smalls Jazz Club, Newark PorchFest, Kaufman Music Center, Kean Stage and many more.
On covering Beyoncé: “As a Black woman who grew up in the 90s, I have been a Beyoncé fan since Destiny’s Child. Beyoncé’s music has always identified with me as a strong, outspoken women who respects herself. Beyoncé’s artistry and vocal ability is unmatched and I have always strived to express myself with the power and confidence that she does. I can’t wait to cover her music at the Under Cover Music Fest this year!”
TAYLOR SWIFT
SADE
AUTUMN JONES
Autumn Jones is a singer-songwriter from Maplewood, New Jersey, and an alumni of Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. The soulful R&B she creates is an expression of her life experiences as told through her stories and in each of her songs, which are available on all major platforms.
In 2023, Autumn released her debut EP called "4.4.4" with a visual short film that encompasses the three songs. The lead single on the song "In The Rain" has garnered attention from Notion magazine who describes the piece as " a neo-soul-style song with full and effusive vocals reminiscent of blues veteran, Corinne Bailey Ray”. This year she was asked to join “The Life and Music of George Michael” North American Tour as a featured sing. This would be her first ever fully fledged Tour!
On covering Sade: “When I was in high school and finding my voice, brought me to the garage and said I have a vision for you. “This is one of the most poised artist that ever lived and I can so see her in you!”. He pulled up the Sade: Live from San Diego in 1993 and he changed my whole view of myself. I loved everything about her soulfulness; her grace; her voice. I’ve been a fan ever since.”
THE LOCAL HEROES
The Local Heroes band hails from South Orange and Maplewood, NJ. Featuring the powerhouse vocals of stars of stage and screen, Charlie Pollock and Diane Davis, the band typically performs a rousing mix of Americana, country and rock music and can be seen at various New Jersey venues throughout the year.
In addition to their regular performances, The Local Heroes are the backing band for SOMA Rocks -- A Singer Showcase. For each SOMA Rocks event, The Local Heroes band invites its talented neighbors and members of the SOMA community to be guest vocalists. All proceeds benefit the Columbia High School Music Parents Association (CHSMPA).
On covering Taylor Swift: “The band’s choice to play a Taylor Swift set is driven by Diane Davis, one of the band’s two lead singers. Diane chose Taylor “because my three daughters and I all love her — we love her melodies, her lyrics, her storytelling …. and I love the fact that my girls are growing up with an independent, kind, fiercelysmart female pop star that they can look up to. I wanted to create a set of music that my daughters would love, and it’s an added bonus that I completely love the music too!!”
BAND MEMBERS:
Charlie Pollock (vocals)
Diane Davis (vocals)
David Diamond (bass and guitar)
David Pohl (guitar)
Dave Shields (keyboards)
Mark Litwin (violin and viola)
Matt Katz (drums and percussion).
GRATEFUL DEAD
HARRY STYLES
ALEXA BARCHINI & THE MMM FACULTY BAND
Alexa Barchini is a vocalist, composer and educator based in New York City. She is the head of the vocal department at Mark Murphy’s Music. Alexa has toured both within the U.S. and in Europe, where she has had the opportunity to perform on stages such as Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, the Blue Note, National Sawdust, Cornelia Street Cafe, Smalls, Smoke Jazz Club, The Kimmel Center of Philadelphia, the Regatta Bar in Boston, and many others.
For the UnderCover Music Fest she is going to be leading the MMM Faculty Band as they play the electrifying music of Harry Styles!
Put on your ”Harry Boa” and sing and dance with Alexa and the MMM crew!
On covering Harry Styles: "I love the music of Harry Styles because it's the perfect balance of groove and good song writing! I also love to see all the young students in the audience singing along!" - Alexa Barchini
DEADFUL GREATS
The Deadful Greats is composed of musicians who share a love and passion for the music of the Dead, especially between the years of 1973-1978, where the Dead were at the peak of their musical prowess - thus, our slogan "All the Dead You're Grateful For". This music is a slurry of R&B, blues, psychedelic rock, all enveloped by improvisational jams and tight vocal harmonies.
On covering The Grateful Dead: “Our connection with this music is based on our individual paths that found this music, as haphazardly as we found each other. We each have separate musical endeavors (other bands, other recording projects), but the music of the Grateful Dead seems to have brought us together, as it has for millions of people over 6 decades.”
BAND MEMBERS:
Bill Pearsall (drums/vocals)
David Gomberg (guitar)
Nathaniel Knight (guitar/vocals)
Chris Dinardo (bass)
Mark Madonna (keys/vocals)
Tarquin Learned (vocals/guitar/percussion)
allman brothers
DAVID PRESSEL & FRIENDS
Cardon Raquet – Lead Guitar / Vocals. Cardon has been heavily influenced by The Allman Brothers while honing his guitar skills. His soulful, bluesy vocals are a natural fit for any band focusing on the music of the Allman Brothers. Cardon has appeared at Mountain Jam, The Brooklyn Bowl & has also opened for the Meters, as well has having shared the stage with Robert Randolph & George Porter.
Scott Hogan – Bass. Scott studied under renowned bassist John Patitucci and was the touring bass player for the pop group Hanson, backing them on multiple tours as well as performing with them on Late Night With David Letterman. Scott was also the bass player for The Bernie Worrell Orchestra.
Lee Finkelstein – Drums Lee is one of the most sought after drummers in the music industry. He has held the drum chair for The Original Blues Brothers for the last 20 years. Lee has played with or been a member of Blood Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Grover Washington, Saturday Night Live
Perry Paletta – Guitar. Perry has been in a fixture in the North NJ / Hudson Valley NY music scene for decades and was lead guitarist with The Lost Boys, a fantastic band that shared the stage with BB King, The Band & Hot Tuna
Dave Pressel – Keyboards. Dave has been a fixture in the NJ/NY music scene having played with such artists as Gil Parris, Bernie Williams as well as current/former members of The Blues Brothers & Blood Sweat & Tears. He has played with multiple Allmans-inspired bands for many years.
On Covering The Allman Brothers: “The first band I ever played with I had to learn multiple Allman Brothers songs. It was then I was first exposed to Eat A Peach, Brothers & Sisters, and Live at the Fillmore East. I don’t think there are many jam bands out there that have not gotten some form of inspiration from The Allman Brothers. They are a tough band to classify – they can be rock, funk, soul, blues, and everything in between. Part of my appreciation of the Allmans was their continuous voyage into uncharted ground. They could hit you hard with in-your-face blues, and then take you on a wonderful journey with a 15 minute funk-filled jam featuring every band member in a variety of ways. They were one of those bands that had the distinction of making really fun studio albums, and yet their live performances were met with eager anticipation by their fans. Not many bands get to sell out 10 dates in a row at the Beacon Theatre in NYC – the Allmans did it every March for 25+ years.”
MC Eric de Picciotto
Eric de Picciotto (E.d.P) For the last ten years, EdP has been living in Maplewood with his wife and two children. Having lent his voice to countless campaigns, products and networks, EdP is one of the top voice over artists in the country. Also an accomplished event host, for the last 20 years he has hosted The Big Quiz Thing Live Trivia Spectacular as well and MC'ing the Town Hall Deli Sloppy Joe Eating Contest and The Congregation Beth El Hamantaschen Eating Contest here in South Orange. Eric is proud to be a part of the bustling local live music scene in South Orange and is looking forward to a great day of music!
DJ Thomas Schmid
Daytime job: animation director in brooklyn. Nighttime job : dj'ing esoteric dance tracks in the basement and bars! Hosts a monthly residence at King Tai in crown heights Brooklyn, and DJs local parties in SOMA.
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