The emerging hip-hop artist Matthew Osivwemu, aka Oke Junior, has announced his first solo show in his adopted hometown of Napa, on Saturday, April 20, at The Garden, located at 1500 First St.
“This is going to be a big night for me and all my supporters,” Osivwemu said. “I have played BottleRock, but this is the first time I will be headlining my own show in Napa, which is the town where I grew up. We’ll be featuring an amazing live band, and I am excited to be able to share my music in my adopted hometown.”
The Napa High School grad recently signed a partnership deal with United Masters and his music has been heard in connection with national brands including ESPN, the NFL, Wingstop and AT&T.
Osivwemu is gearing up to release a new album this year called “The Revamp," which follows his highly acclaimed “I Don’t Follow I Lead,” released in 2020. His music has been creating waves throughout California, according to a news release, catching the attention of Too $hort, Mistah FAB, Sway Calloway and Marshawn Lynch.
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The April 20 show is for attendees 21 and older. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/oke-junior-420-show-at-the-napa-garden-tickets-871274654947. Due to the intimate size of the venue, advance tickets are strongly recommended.
Napa nonprofit hosts free screening of 'Come Back Home'
The Michael Leonardi Foundation hosts the screening of "Come Back Home," a compelling half-hour film that sheds light on the devastating impact of fentanyl on young individuals and their families, on April 4 at Hatt Hall at the Napa River Inn, 500 Main St. in Napa.
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the screening alongside their teens and young adults, as the film offers an opportunity for intergenerational dialogue and understanding, according to a news release.
By fostering open conversations within families, the foundation hopes to empower individuals to recognize the signs of substance misuse and seek help when needed, according to Mark Leonardi, co-founder of the Napa-based Michael Leonardi Foundation.
"We believe that 'Come Back Home' has the power to spark meaningful conversations with young people and inspire positive change in our community," said Mark. "By coming together to confront the realities of the fentanyl crisis, we can work towards building a safer and more supportive environment for everyone.”
In the midst of an ever-growing illicit fentanyl crisis reshaping American life, "Come Back Home" serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for awareness and action. Through personal narratives and raw emotions, the film, by Dominic Tierno and Christine Wood, navigates the complex terrain of grief, addiction and resilience, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by younger generations in the wake of this epidemic.
The screening will take place at 6 p.m. Admission is free, and a question-and-answer session will follow the screening, providing attendees with the chance to delve deeper into the issues raised by the film and engage in meaningful discussion.
For more information about the Michael Leonardi Foundation and its initiatives, visit michaelleonardifoundation.org.
'Artists' Trellis' collaboration to make public debut
Artist Nancy Willis hosts “The Artists’ Trellis” pop-up exhibition at Willis Studio, 1830 Soscol Ave., Suite D, Napa, on Sunday, April 7 and Monday, April 8.
Willis describes the event as “a collaborative printmaking project to bring awareness to the arts.”
“'The Artists’ Trellis' project began from what I see as an existential crisis for artists like myself, who live and work in Napa Valley,” Willis said in a news release. “ Affordable studio space, dedicated exhibition venues, meeting places and connecting to viewers are critical to artist practices. So is having a seat at the table where civic planning and policy are being determined.
“After years as a longtime advocate for the arts and not feeling heard, I decided to create my own table. I invited artists and local leaders to my studio to make monotypes together. The six sessions that spanned one year were small and intimate and filled with fruitful conversations and the bond of artmaking.”
Participants included Napa City Councilmember Liz Alessio, Maira Ayala-Calderon, Napa County Supervisor Anne Cottrell, Susan Dix-Lyons, Dawnine Dyer, Kimberly Howard, Jeni Olsen, Jennifer Owen, Napa Valley College President Torence Powell, Ruby Rose Lyons, Annette Shafer, and U. S. Rep. Mike Thompson.
“In this fractured world, I want to remind others that art can be a bridge to connect us,” Willis said. “I invite the public to view this beautiful array of 30 prints that collectively creates a portrait of our community.”
“The Artists’ Trellis” will be available for viewing April 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. and April 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit nancywillis.com/blog.
Sing Napa Valley presents memorial concert Mozart’s 'Requiem'
Sing Napa Valley presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Requiem” on Sunday, April 21, at Napa Methodist Church, 625 Randolph St., Napa, at 3 p.m.
The concert will feature soprano solos by Christina Howell, director of vocal studies at Napa Valley College; alto solos by countertenor Kory Reid, currently director of Fog City Singers in San Francisco and formerly with Chanticleer; tenor solos by Chester Pidduck of San Francisco Opera Chorus; and bass solos by Harlan Hays, also of San Francisco Opera Chorus.
For this performance, Sing Napa Valley will welcome members of Pacific Union College’s chamber choir, Vox Pro Musica, and their director, Ronnie Zanella, to perform. Sing Napa Valley’s artistic director Jan Lanterman will conduct the performance, and Travis Rogers, organist and choir master at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Napa, will preside at the 13-rank Wicks pipe organ.
This memorial concert is dedicated to the memory of former members of Sing Napa Valley: basses Charlie Kampton and Bob Theisen and soprano Kathleen Hevenor. The performance is also dedicated to the memory of professional advisers who served on Sing Napa Valley’s Honorary Advisory Board: Tom Illgen, former executive director of the Napa Valley Symphony; Louis Magor, former San Francisco Symphony Chorus director; Alice Parker, well-known associate of Robert Shaw, arranger, composer, former conductor of Melodious Accord, New York City; Tom Serene, baritone soloist, former teacher at New Technology and Vintage high schools in Napa; and the Rev. Dr. Carlton Young of Nashville, Tennessee, composer, arranger, conductor, editor of the two most recent editions of the United Methodist Hymnal.
Tickets are $35 and are now available online at singnapavalley.org.
Share your arts news with the Napa Valley Register. Send press materials to Samie Hartley at shartley@napanews.com.