Singer Songwriter Circle Cast

Free range misfit folk superheroes, rosebud and Scott Ireland, met while each fronting their popular San Diego punk bands (Night Soil Man, Pulltoys) during the height of San Diego's underground punk scene. One evening, they got out their acoustic guitars to jam, and a magical connection was made. After a serious accident left Scott temporarily paralyzed, their bands broke up. What followed was a long, intense, but successful recovery, after which they picked up their guitars again, as a primarily acoustic duo. 
 Bug Guts has released five albums, and Scott and Rosebud have won numerous songwriting awards. 
 Their live show features intoxicating harmonies, mind expanding lyrics, and intricately dancing guitars known to deliver a spontaneously joyous and often raucous ride. Above all, a Bug Guts performance wields kindness at its core… and from a combined height of twelve and a half feet~ will charm you with their playfully provocative style.

Cara Cormier grew up on a small farm in Kansas singing folk songs, four-part acapella hymns, and musical theatre soundtracks. Her love for music and playwriting eventually merged into a whimsical storytelling/songwriting style reminiscent of John Prine and Gillian Welch channeling Bonnie Raitt at a bluegrass jam. She enjoys turning her personal humiliations into songs and sharing them with the world.

Christopher Bourque is a dedicated singer-songwriter based in Canada. His music is not simply his craft but a direct reflection on his life's journey For many years, the road was his home, and music was the key to surviving and navigating life while hitchhiking across North America. The fleeting connections, the quiet small towns, and the constantly shifting scenery were all fundamental to the stories he now tells in his songs.

Jeff Berkley is a native San Diego songwriter, musician, and producer who has left an indelible mark on the music world. Known for his soulful songwriting, masterful guitar work, and visionary production, he has collaborated with some of the industry's most revered artists, including Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Jim Messina, Ben Harper, Indigo Girls, Bruce Cockburn, Bob Weir, Tim Flannery, Steve Poltz, Arlo Guthrie, Jason Mraz, Pete Seeger, and many more. As one of Southern California’s most prolific producers, Jeff has shaped countless records across multiple genres, elevating the voices of emerging and established artists alike. His ability to capture raw emotion and authenticity in the studio has made him a sought-after producer and mentor. In 1999, Jeff won the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Songwriters award in Texas, joining the ranks of past winners like Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Lindsay White. As a solo artist and with his bands, Berkley Hart and Jeff Berkley & The Banned, he has won multiple San Diego Music Awards (SDMAs), including Artist of the Year in 2023. In recognition of his contributions to the regional and national music scene, he was inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame. Jeff Berkley continues to write, perform, and produce, always pushing the boundaries of creativity while staying rooted in the heart and soul of storytelling through music.

Originally from East Tennessee and growing up in Southern California, Tony began playing very bad guitar at age ten. Time and life moved forward, stories were born from living, songs were born from stories, guitar improved, and some enjoyed listening. As mostly a casual hobby, Tony has written over one hundred songs, recorded two albums, performed at various venues, charitable events, on the radio, and played at the Merlefest after placing third in the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition. Tony still writes and plays, and performs very occasionally, for as he says, “you can retire from a job, but how the heck do you retire from a hobby”?