Monday Spotlight: Aaron Rowan

Name: Aaron Rowan

Home base: Modesto

What you do: Presenting live music in a wide array of acoustic genres, from bluegrass to indie rock to world music, with both local and global talent. I host a weekend festival, the Modesto Unplugged Music Fest (MUMfest), held in multiple locations in the spring as well as many smaller showcases throughout the year.

How you knew: Early in 2012 I was looking at some of the acoustic fests happening around California and realized that there was no equivalent festival being offered in Modesto, despite our wealth of Americana and folk songwriters. I envisioned a string of showcases, each held at a different downtown venue – intimate listening, concert-style presentations rather than a large outdoor event with overlapping stages. The first MUMfest featured 20 acts, mostly from the immediate area, along with a couple of acclaimed songwriters from around the state.

Go ahead, brag: In my three years of producing concerts, I’ve featured close to 200 different artists from across the country and the globe. One of the more notable acts I’ve worked with is the award-winning, world-touring string ensemble Dirty Cello. Their bandleader, Rebecca Roudman, is easily the most insanely gifted instrumentalists I have ever met. I’ve featured them repeatedly, and even have the privilege of serving as a part-time tour booking agent for them.

I’ve been lucky enough to feature a few of my personal favorite songwriters. Brett Detar is one of my musical heroes; it was actually his first country/roots album that got me hooked on acoustic music to begin with. He was a headliner the first year of the festival. Other dream acts I’ve hosted include Mary Bue, an acclaimed pop/rock artist from Minnesota who crafts some of the most beautiful and poetic lyrics; and noted Hollywood actress and folk-rock songwriter Rebecca Pidgeon. She’s the most high-profile artist I’ve worked with thus far. One of her more recent albums received a Grammy nomination.

Earlier this month, I got to curate the evening concert on one of the stages at the San Francisco Free Folk Festival. This is my favorite musical event to attend every year. I like to think of MUMfest as a sister festival (little sister) to them. It was a great chance to introduce them to one of the brightest musical stars from our area – recent Valley’s Got Talent winner Alida McKeon, making her debut San Francisco appearance – as well as a couple other great acts. I hope to take part in assembling the Free Folk program again next summer and share some more of the valley’s musical gems with a new audience.

Check you out: At the Live In The Cellar series at Greens restaurant, 953 10th St., co-sponsored by ModestoView Magazine, all shows at 8 p.m. unless noted: July 24, D Henry Fenton & The Elizabethans (Americana/indie pop); Aug. 7, Vortex Tribe (acid jazz/world fusion); Sept. 19, Stringtown Ambassadors (Celtic, Appalachian folk); Oct. 16, Dennis Johnson & The Mississippi Ramblers (blues); Nov. 6, The Poor Valley Band (bluegrass/honky tonk) and Cottonwood Creek (Americana); and Dec. 6, 3 p.m., Megan Lynch (six-time national fiddle champion).

Online: modestounplugged.com

This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 6:32 AM with the headline "Monday Spotlight: Aaron Rowan."