The Dirt Rakers Trio playing on Saturday, July 16, with folk singer-songwriter Nomad opening. The Dirt Rakers Trio blends a high octane, cask-fermented feel, mighty purdy harmonies, and a deep love of all rootsy genres of music. Rock, country, bluegrass, blues, jam band and folk all swirl together in their inventive musical brew. They mix original songs with covers of artists ranging from Tom Petty and Neil Young, to alt-Americana staples like Wilco and Devil Makes Three, to old school country classics like Hank Williams, The Carter Family and Marty Robbins.

The show will be available both in-person and live streamed. For those unable to experience the concert live, the high-quality multi-camera recording will also be available On-Demand for two weeks following the show. Single tickets for each show are $10 for General Admission and $15 for reserved Cabaret seating. Proof of vaccination is required for in-person patrons. Vaccine cards will be checked at the door. Masking is encouraged but not required.

The Dirt Rakers Trio is an acoustic subset of the Santa Cruz Mountains Americana band Dirt Rakers. Based in Boulder Creek, California, a “twisted version of Mayberry,” the Dirt Rakers Trio features Erik Rozite (acoustic guitar and vocals), Jayne Williams (mandolin and vocals), and Sean Woodward  (lead guitar). The Dirt Rakers are a proudly home-brewed group that draws their sound from the redwoods and the mountains that they love and the music they grew up listening to, from their own collections and their parents’ and grandparents’ stacks of vinyl.

“A bunch of good-time friends playing good-time music,” the Dirt Rakers were formed during the first dark winter of COVID, rehearsing outdoors in the chilly fog and dreaming of venues reopening and people dancing to live music again. Erik’s mountain band history includes Acoustic Shadows and the Droolpigs; he also produced ten Droolpigs Fest all-day events. Sean Woodward has also been a staple of the Santa Cruz Mountains music scene for many years, most recently anchoring One Country with his twangy Telecaster. He also plays with the Lost Coast Duo. Jayne Williams writes songs, plays mandolin, and performs her own songs as a solo artist. The Dirt Rakers perform around the Santa Cruz and San Mateo County coast and mountains, with occasional forays into urban areas.

Dave “Nomad” Miller has been performing solo-acoustically around the country for over 25 years. His travel-worn, heart-on-sleeve singer-songwriter originals offer perspective from his many years traveling the interstates and back roads, as well as his journey through life. Born Amish and raised Mennonite in the Midwest, Nomad’s unique roots have also nourished his growth and informed his songwriting.

His 1996 solo debut “Full Circle” was recorded in true DIY style on a small 4-track recorder that he traveled with. It was released on cassette only and featured guitar and vocals. In 2001, he released another solo album, titled “Trails to Hear and Now,” featuring a full band sound on which Nomad played all the instruments.

In 2007, Nomad formed a full band called Drifting Compass in Santa Cruz, CA. Based around his original songs, the band has been performing their Alternative-Rock and Grungy-Americana music throughout the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas ever since then. Drifting Compass released an album in 2015, titled “Grains Of Sand”, and another album in 2016, titled “Grit.”

Nomad calls the Santa Cruz, CA area his home now and performs regularly, doing engaging solo acoustic performances as Nomad and high-energy full band performances with Drifting Compass. Both acts feature his original songs and interpretations of cover songs from across the genre map, mixing it up and turning it all into the sound of Rock & Roll, Americana, and Alt-Country.