Māh Ze Tār is a musical fusion project by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Maz Karandish. This project was propelled by the vision of fusing traditional Eastern music with modern electronic composition as a form of cultural preservation.

Described as Ethnic Persian Electronic Fusion, Mah Ze Tar explores the ways in which musical fusion, inspired by Indian Raga music and Persian melodies based in Radif and Maqam, combined with tasteful electronic additions, could create a deeper connection with non-traditional listeners.

Mah Ze Tar appear as a trio at Hexenfest.

Listen/Watch here: https://youtu.be/47wQWCnN4xM

Visionary songstress Wendy Rule has always carved a unique and individual path. Since the release of her first album Zero in 1996, she has defied categorisation, always walking to the beat of her own drum.

Combining elements of gothic, folk, world, ambient and cabaret music, and crossing over into Pagan and New Age catagories with her many mythological, esoteric, and ritual references, Wendy is as individual as she is prolific.

A dedicated live performer, Wendy has toured extensively since her first album’s release, starting in Australia, then branching out with her first international tour in 2001. Renowned for her extraordinary voice and live shows that blur the line between music, ritual and theatre, Wendy has gained a loyal following in Australia, the USA, Europe and the UK.

From the most intimate solo house concerts, to festival gigs with her band (featuring long term musical collaborator Rachel Samuel on cello), Wendy takes her audience on anotherworldly journey of depth and passion.

With the help of her loyal fanbase Wendy continues to maintain her musical independence, unbound by the confines of the mainstream. Two hugely successful crowdfunding campaigns have helped bring both Persephone, and her previous album Black Snake (2014) to life. In the past few years she has continued to grow her audience, not only with her dedicated touring schedule, but also with her performance as ‘La Llorano’ in the 2016 feature film Boys in the Trees by director Nicholas Verso (now screening on Netflix), and with her popular monthly Full Moon Magic Iive-streamed concerts.

In 2014 Wendy relocated from Australia to the USA, and is now living in the beautiful High Desert city of Santa Fe, New Mexico - allowing her an even stronger connection to her ever-growing fan base in the US.

Watch and listen to Wendy here:
https://www.wendyrule.com/film-clips/?v=7516fd43adaa

Siren & Seer is the new vision of producer/multi-instrumentalist saQi and vocalist/songwriter Diamonde. Hailing from the hills of Northern California, the duo gives a fresh take on live electronic music by merging traditional idioms of Americana, folk, gypsy and blues with cutting edge dance music genres. S&S tastefully reimagine sounds of the past for a modern context and create a multi-dimensional world where refinement of a Victorian era can co-exist with roots of Appalachia and rawness of the urban underground. A major goal of the project is to bring a realness and vulnerability to the dance floor while still bringing sound that is hot and heavy. Siren and Seer seek to represent the voices silenced, the cries unheard, the spirits searching for a way home.

“We want to help people heal with our music and have an amazing time doing it…” ~saQi

Hear their music on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCAYDUfAf0ah8TMdcUwBUG5w?si=NQIa1RFADP3S1k5F

Hear their music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1VLOgqRZgW3suY52UUpS9N?si=6agYY3GZSVu3b7pzZQf0kA

Festival Favorites Sharon Knight and Winter are internationally touring musicians in the mythic-Celtic vein. Their penchant for combining fierce and gutsy bravado with ethereal beauty, a hearty dose of fantastical lyrics, and an obvious love of storytelling has inspired their own style, “Neofolk Romantique”. This often sound less Celtic and more “Folktales that ran away with the Faeries at the turn of the century and took cover in an old trunk bound for the circus, which was then commandeered by pirates.” This suits them fine. 

They have shared stages with mythic music favorites such as Faun, Omnia, Corvus Corax, Wardruna, SJ Tucker, Tricky Pixie, Heather Dale, Wendy Rule, Stellamara, and many more.

Hear Sharon and Winter’s music on Bandcamp:
https://sharonknight.bandcamp.com

See Video:
https://sharonknight.net/video/

PHOTO CREDIT:
Paul Nordin, EMB-Films.

FAUN FABLES
Dawn McCarthy’s voice (which THE NEW YORKER described as “one of the more compelling instruments in contemporary music”) opens hearts and minds from a whisper to a rallying battle cry into her mythical world, animated by the adventurous musicality and vocals of partner Nils Frykdahl (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum).

Their daughters- growing up alongside the writing, recording and touring since infancy- now join them with vocals, flutes, keyboard, bass, percussion & dance.  Guitarist/singer Arild Hammerø joins them from Norway with his elemental guitar work that is featured on their new album ‘COUNTERCLOCKWISE’.

Troubadours of animist, avant-folk since 1998, FAUN FABLES are known for exquisite, visceral adventures in songwriting, live shows, and theater.

Their work became internationally widespread by 2004 with their Drag City Records debut ‘FAMILY ALBUM’ (2004).  For over two decades, the group has seasonally toured grass roots, night club, theater & festival circuits in the USA and Europe (including stints in the UK & Oceania.)  Their new album ‘COUNTERCLOCKWISE’ marks their eighth release with Drag City;  the songs and production offer the most encompassing, richly lived-in sonic world of all their releases. Their timeless ‘songtelling’ practice is entwined with a holistic view of a life in music – celebrating the mundane details of home and family, elevated by a mystical and fantastical perspective. FAUN FABLES are currently based in Nevada County, California.

“The only way to experience a group this vast, colorful, and earthbound is to simply just listen. An excessive use of adjectives seems unjust. FAUN FABLES  seamlessly draw from a spiritual and mythological realm to convey world sounds that are entrancing.”   ~Sam Femino, PHOENIX NEW TIMES

“The main instrument here is McCarthy’s astonishing voice which she uses to build up layers of fantastic imagery pulled from the gigantic storybook inside her head. Echoes of ‘The Incredible String Band’ and even ‘The Great Society’ are present, but the wolf-haunted world that FAUN FABLES invites you to explore has been solely invented by McCarthy.”   ~ THE WIRE (UK)

“One of the few people who have managed to carry magical thinking into adulthood, McCarthy writes songs that capture the terror and wonder of the natural world. . . I can’t think of a single act that’s done what Faun Fables does–not just sing about nature but actually sound like nature, in all its howling, beautiful ferocity.”     ~ Monica Kendrick, CHICAGO READER

Hear their music at https://www.dragcity.com/artists/faun-fables

Originally from San Francisco, Rene Collins has been involved in music and magick his whole life. He started learning piano at age ten, studying vocals at 11 years old, and was writing original songs at 12. His voice was forged while playing with a variety of acts through high school and college.

In his early rock years in California he became lead singer with Trump Loliel, High and Outside, and dancer for The Nation Funktasia produced by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy (creators of Toni Toni Toni and En Vogue).

Once moved to New York, he recorded two albums with “Blue Ceiling” before branching out on his own to record “Aphromystic”. His music history combined with a decades- long career of theatre acting and dancing formed the charismatic and intelligent artist he is today.

Listen to Rene’s music here: https://youtu.be/RxeecNxEqAQ

Hexenfest is pleased to introduce the Donner Party Crashers; a punk band to shake your fist at capitalism with!

The Donner Party Crashers kick off the music Friday afternoon so that you can shake the world out of your system and settle into festival space.

(Parents take note: Some of these songs are NSFW. Raging against the machine sometimes requires swear words).

OFFICIAL BIO:
The Donner Party Crashers are a Punk/Ska/Alt Rock band based in the Bay Area. They formed when Fred and Chris met and continued to run into each other within the Bay Area pagan community, and discovered they had similar musical tastes and ambitions, and similar grievances with the current state of the country. They use their music to level critique at a government that does not seem to care about the people it claims to serve, and as a cathartic outlet for those out there feeling disillusioned and frustrated at the path our nation finds itself on. Their first full length album, Oops All Demos: Hate Songs to Capitalism, was released in March of this year to all major streaming platforms. As frequent attendees of Hexenfest, Donner Party Crashers are truly excited to be taking the stage at the festival for the first time! And in keeping with this year’s theme remember, one cannot rise from the ashes without having first walked through the fire.

Listen to DPC on Apple Music here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/oops-all-demos-hate-songs-to-capitalism/1803761526

Content Warning: This set will contain strong language and overt political themes. It is left to the discretion of parents whether it will be suitable for your children. For those with sensory processing issues please note that there will be amplified electric instruments often played at fast tempos.