A benefit concert series supporting the OHF, the Pagan Band Jam (PBJ) is a monthly showcase of local bands where 10% of everything purchased at the counter (while the band is playing) is donated back to the DC Pagan Community Center Project. There is never a cover charge at the PBJ and all are welcome!

HANNAH SPIRO
Saturday, April 5, 2008. 8:00 p.m.

Taking part in her second Pagan Band Jam, Hannah Spiro is now in her senior year at Rockville's Richard Montgomery High School. While Hannah may be one of our youngest performers, she is by no means our least talented with a big voice, heartfelt guitar playing, catchy melodies, and intelligent, brutally honest lyrics.

A Washington, DC native, Hannah has previously appeared at Tommy Joes in Bethesda, the Grog and Tankard, the Music Matters Showcase, and the Jammin Java, you can find out more about Hannah at: http://www.hannahspiro.com.

SARAH FRIDRICH
Saturday, May 3, 2008. 8:00 p.m.

Making regular appearances at the College Perk as part of the Jazz Brunch Trio, Sarah Fridrich is known as an independant edgy singer-songwriter, jazz pianist and acoustic guitarist with sophisticated songs about cities where she has lived, the desert, and heartache.

For more about Sarah Fridrich see: http://www.sarahfridrich.com.

RED SAMMY
Saturday, May 3, 2008. 9:45 p.m.

In 2005, local Baltimore songwriter, Adam Trice, founded Red Sammy, the dark and menacing, graveyard country rock band when he partnered with local artist, songwriter, and former bassist for the band, Katie Feild. Red Sammy captures the hope in desperation, the beauty in imperfection with honest songwriting. Life, work, hard work, disapointment, love and loss are all themes entwined in their songs. For more about Red Sammy see: www.redsammy.com.

The Pagan Band Jam will be taking a break on June 7 because we're all going to be out having an amazing time at the Maryland Faerie Festival this weekend!

DAWN DINEEN
Saturday, August 2, 2008

An alumni of the Ouija Board School of Music (put hands on instruments and see what happens), Dawn is not only a great experimental musician, but also a dilligent collaborator working with Yarner Records, art collectives, and the Yarner Recording Studio; as well as friends Jennie Gundersen and the band Airport Boulevard to create truly beautiful music. Recently returning a successful completion of her Ghostly Apple Tree Tour, Dawn is now playing venues across the Mid-Atlantic. For more about Dawn see: www.dawndineen.com.

THE COLLATORS
Saturday, August 2, 2008

Bringing a unique Do-It-Yourself ethic to the stage as well as a wide variety of musical backgrounds, the The Collators are a relatively new ensemble who are in the process of writing more, learning covers, and playing new venues.

Often appearing in collarboration with Dawn Dineen, the Open Hearth Foundation is proud to feature this up-and-coming band as part of this year's All-Day-PBJ.

For more about The Collators see: http://www.myspace.com/thecollaters.

ACACIA SEARS
Saturday, August 2, 2008. 7 p.m.

Making an encore performance at the Pagan Band Jam, Acacia Sears creates a beautiful opening for this month's event with honest, evocative songwriting, straightforward, soul-baring delivery, and a repertoire of covers that will soon have you singing along (and meaning it).

A familiar face at the College Perk, the Brass Monkey, the Red House Tavern, and the other stops on the local music scene, Acacia is now working on the release of her debut album, Dialtones. For more information about Acacia Sears see: www.myspace.com/acaciasearsmusic

DIRTY MOTHERS
Saturday, September 6, 2008. 8:00 p.m.

Dirty Mothers are Anthony Scimonelli and Denise Cumor. Making music together for over ten years in Baltimore, MD, DM is a unique hybrid of folky organic trip hop, combining strong female lyrics/vocals with soulful acoustic bass, rap/spoken word, acoustic guitar and hand drums. With backgrounds in theater and film and a love of all things female, DM's perform live with projected video imagery, edited to compliment the lyrical and musical elements, weaving a powerful visual story of the Goddess shrouded in the darkness of the modern age. They have performed at the SOWEBO Arts Festival, Music Under the Moon, Starwood Festival, BSF's MayFaire, The Year of the Rabbit, 1614 Lounge, The Mojo Lounge, Fraziers, Gringada's, New Deal Café and The Stone Room. For more about the Dirty Mothers see: www.myspace.com/dirtymotherproductions

ORACLEYES
Saturday, September 6, 2008 9:45 p.m.

Oracleyes is th dreamy solo electronics project of local multimedia artist and firespinner Kelly Ann Richmond.

Previously appearing at Metro Galley, Oracleyes will also be appearing with the Dirty Mothers and several other artists at the Spiral Dance Womyn's Music Festival in Baltimore, MD on March 8, 2008.

For more about Oracleyes see: http://www.myspace.com/theoracleyes.

For more about the Spiral Dance Womyn's Music Festival see: www.thespiraldancebookstore.com.

SCOTT HELLAND AND THE TRAVELING BAND OF GYPSY NOMADS
Saturday, November 1, 2008. 8 p.m.

Scott Helland and the Traveling Band of Gypsy Nomads' brand of acoustic rock is inspired by medieval, celtic, metal and renaissance music. Live, Scott Helland, a veteran of the punk and hardcore music scene, plays acoustic guitar and performs with a chorus of his own rhythmic tape loops while French born Brit Samantha Stephenson accompanies him from the rack o' percussion. The Duo performs upwards of 80 shows per year across the US. Scott has appeared on over 25 records and several independent films.

Keep an eye out for Scott & Samantha's new all french sung CD Eternal Summer (Coming out this February) and their drumming/instrumentals CD coming out in this Spring! For more see: http://www.scotthelland.com

OVO
Saturday, November 1, 2008. 9:45 p.m.

OVO is a quartet, or sometimes a trio, or occasionally some other configuration, of musicians from Edgewood, Maryland; Ripley, West Virginia; and Allentown, Pennsylvania. Playing an unseemly mixture of prog, wyrdfolk, experimental, and interstitial music on instruments ranging from the traditional to the synthesized to the improvised, OVO's material material includes troubadouresque ballads, renfaire dark-folk drones, alt-prog improvisations, avant spoken-word pieces, and many other things besides and between. For more about OVO see: http://www.myspace.com/projectovo.

DRAGONSONG
Saturday, December 6, 2007. 9:45 p.m.

With a diverse cast and unique instrumentation, DragonSong weaves a rich, vibrant, musical tapestry that bridges the gap between tradition and innovation. Previously appearing as the opening performance for Persephone's Masquerade, the OHF is pleased to welcome DragonSong back to the PBJ stage. The seven members of DragonSong bring a shared love for stretching musical boundaries, driving rhythms, exotic percussion, four part harmonies, innovative songwriting, improvisation and cerebral lyrics to create a kaleidoscope of compositions which range from moments of tranquility to episodes of explosive musicianship. A sound as sure and satisfying as the ocean tide, DragonSong is manifested by Jeremy Zacherl, Sam Marsh, Melissa Mioni, Jay Ridgeway, Jeff Fleagle, and Jeff Shephard. For more about DragonSong see: www.dragonsongband.com