AMERICANA GUEST HOUSE

Americana Guest House brings folk & song to the VIP Lounge, hosted by Dede Ondishko & Jason Powell + guests.

AMERICANA GUEST HOUSE

Hosted By Dede Ondishko and Jason Powell

Americana Guest House brings together the best of singer-songwriter and Americana traditions, with special guests joining each show.

Email: americanaguesthouse@gmail.com

Entry is $20/per person*

VIP Lounge Opens: 5 pm

Show starts at 5:30 pm

Full Bar, Small Plates- Arrive Early and Put Your Order In!

*Cash Accepted At Door

HOSTS

DEDE ONDISHKO, Ph.D. (fiddle, keys and vocals) started playing piano at the age of seven at the Peabody Conservatory and went on to Carnegie Mellon University and Eastman School of Music (Ph.D.). Dede is a retired music teacher and continues to enjoy writing concert music. She plays fiddle with a local group of Irish musicians, hosting a Traditional Irish Session. Dede also hosts the weekly Bluegrass Jam in the desert. Reach out through her website if you want to be a part of the folk music community! Her favorite thing about music: it connects us heart to heart. Website: www.deniseondishko.com

JASON POWELL, Ph.D. is our only true local leprechaun. In disguise during the day hours as a music teacher, musician, author, artist, woodworker, and family man; you can occasionally catch him sneaking about in his true form performing Irish music as "Plastic Paddy's Midlife O'Crisis" or his Irish Duo, "Paradox in Clover" with Dr. Dede Ondishko. ¨Music is the only true magic we have. It brings cultures together, evokes emotions, brings back memories, helps us physically work better, challenges our mental capacities, enhances our faith, brings us genuine happiness, and always meets us right where we are.¨— Dr. Jason Powell

Mar 5
Michelle Giacopuzzi

Michelle Giacopuzzi is a veteran of the Southern California music scene and a respected member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (GRAMMYs). A multi–award-winning vocalist, she is celebrated for her engaging voice, versatility, and dynamic stage presence.

Michelle has performed the National Anthem on numerous high-profile occasions, including events for the Los Angeles Lakers, George Foreman, and HBO. Along with her group, the L.A. Party Dolls, she has been interviewed on several television shows, including NBCs Today Shows. Her professionalism and vocal excellence have made her a sought-after performer for major sporting, entertainment, and televised events.

Throughout her career, Michelle has opened for and shared the stage with legendary artists including Eddie Money, Frankie Avalon, Darlene Love, Lou Christie, The Crystals, Leslie Gore, The Del-Vikings, The Diamonds, and Gary U.S. Bonds. Her long-standing contributions to live music continue to solidify her reputation as a respected and influential performer.

Michelle Giacopuzzi website

Michelle G - YouTube Channel

Michelle G - The Bash Booking

Michelle G w/ L.A. Party Dolls

Michelle G w/ Retro Station Band

Ryan Schindler

Ryan Schindler - the founder and face of The Guesthouse Band, grew up in upstate New York playing in rock and jazz bands. Ryan studied Sound Recording under David Fridmann (Tame Impala; Flaming Lips; MGMT) and went on to engineer at various recording studios throughout New York City (Sear Sound; GSI Studios; John Marshall Media).

These days, Ryan lives in Los Angeles, serving as the Regional Director for the California Bluegrass Association, and runs the largest weekly Bluegrass jam in North America. Due to Ryan’s leadership and inviting nature; the musicians of this event have become more of a community than a ‘jam.’ Ryan Schindler is more than a musician; he’s a storyteller, a innovator, and a true believer in the power of music

APR 2 — Songwriter Shuffle!

Lowkey Groove: Susan Thoen & Steve Mayer

Susan Thoen grew up in Show Business, the daughter of a gifted Jazz Musician. Her background is both rich and diverse. She studied Classical music, reads, writes and uses these influences to bring out the best tones and tempo of every tune and genre played. Influenced early on, by the music of Mose Allison, and Duke Ellington, then as a teenager the era of Hendrix and The Beatles, these cemented rhythm and soul into her heart. As an adult, she studied with classical guitarist Ruben DeAnda, performed covers and her Original songs and has recorded local studios in San Diego. She plays the Double Bass as well as Guitar and Piano. and continues writing the stories of Life and Love!

Steve Mayer started playing piano at age 7. After years of studying classical repertoire, he found joy in learning songs by ear (think Elton John and David Bowie) and writing and improvising new music. He studied contemporary music and computer science at Mills College, where his Master’s thesis featured a duet performance with Steve on piano and a computer responding in real-time using machine learning techniques. Since then, he has focused entirely on acoustic music, writing and arranging songs for piano, guitar and mandolin. His most recent collaboration with Susan Thoen began with a dare to write and perform original music at open mic night, and has grown into a steady pursuit of making great music as an acoustic duo.

Better Think Twice (Lagoon Sessions)

Wade in the River (Lagoon Sessions)

Cara Cormier

Cara Cormier is a San Diego-based singer-songwriter who flings lyrical spaghetti into the universe to keep herself sane, help people laugh, and create a more just and compassionate society. Drawing from her rural Kansas Mennonite upbringing, Cara uses her love of folk and Americana styles to craft cheeky, heartfelt story-songs using acoustic guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, and spoons. From hysterical dating accounts to mischievous protest songs to tender confessionals, Cara writes the songs you never expected to hear. www.caracormier.com (website), @caracormiermusic (instagram), and Cara Cormier (facebook).

Cliff McGoon

Cliff says his contribution to this event will be to prove that it's never too late to start writing music. He produced his first album at age 72—then did one each year for 10 years. You can hear them on Spotify and Soundcloud; they include about 20 of his own songs, along with dozens of covers.

Cliff started and managed several bands, including —"Earth, Wind & Fiber,” which performed at assisted living centers in the Coachella Valley. “We received numerous sitting ovations.”

Prior to writing music, Cliff wrote and published three mystery novels. He has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Illinois, served four years as an Information Officer in the Air Force in the US and Southeast Asia, and spent 20 years in corporate communications.

www.cliffmcgoon.com

https://open.spotify.com/track/1H6o1sUbt8hVXM2LYtQJAa?si=68d6bd0c381146a9

https://soundcloud.com/cliff-mcgoon/im-much-too-old?si=3e5b205486764bf79a1aa14e2724f0dd&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=092fvmyRCYY

APRIL 23

KIM HALTER

Kim has spent a lifetime teaching and performing everything from folk-rock, wedding band gigs, lively duets and for the past 20 years leading and performing with Vocal Jazz ensemble groups similar to the Manhattan Transfer. He regularly entertains here in the valley as a Duo, Kim 'n Michelle at Nick's Bistro and The American Legion. He's looking forward to singing some Dylan, Lightfoot, Withers and playing a spellbinding piece by Pat Methany.

THREE TOGETHER

Was formed in early 2025. Pamella Consoli, Rosanne Yu and Karen Blinkinsop, (left to right) first met each other while singing with the Coachella Acappella Chorus in the Palm Springs area. Discovering that their voices blended beautifully, they began exploring many of their favorite songs together. The trio made their debut in April 2025 and continue to sing together to share their love of music and the joy of creating the richness of 3 part harmonies.

CHRISTIE FISHER

Award winning singer-songwriter, Christy Fisher began her musical journey at the age of 15, writing protest songs in the 60s, designing and sewing stage clothing for well known bands (Clapton, Zappa, Zevon, etc), singing background vocals and playing in local bands ...her first solo original release was a B side to a single release from Jesus Christ Superstar in 1970. She continued in the fashion design industry for 50 years, designing "clothing for everyday rock stars" , owning retail stores, and continuing  to play and write music through it all. She has released three albums of original material , and her "Mixed Signals" album received an "album of the year" award from the International Singer and Songwriters Association in 2022. She has now retired from the fashion industry and focuses full time on touring and recording , playing over 150 shows a years .

Website: www.christyfishermusic.com

UPCOMING GUESTS!

APR 2 — Songwriter Shuffle! Lowkey Groove: Susan Thoen & Steve Mayer, Cara Cormier, Cliff McGoon

APR 23 — Kim Halter, Three Together, Christy Fisher

We love local song writers and acoustic players! If you would like to perform a number in our show, please reach out to grab a "community musician" spot on a date of your choice!

LARGE GROUPS

If you are planning on attending with a large group please call ahead to make special arrangements and purchase your block of tickets.