The Standard

Gather ‘round little cowpokes, it’s time for another toe-tapping installment of The Standard, Hollywood’s Desert Nights! This Wednesday’s line-up is aimed to please, so sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Jules Larson: Indie rock artist and songwriter Jules Larson has come a long way since deciding to take the solo route in 2009. Let’s Stay Young is Jules’ first full-length album, which hit digital shelves on May 29. It is currently featured in the “Discover This” section of iTunes in the Singer/Songwriter category. This album encompasses the range that Jules has to offer as a songwriter and allows an in-depth look into two different sides of Jules. It tells a story of growing up and growing apart, innocence lost and freedom gained. Jules has been described by Yahoo! as “the alternative girl with soul.” Her songs have been featured in National ad campaigns, as well as TV shows such as PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, CASTLE, and GREY’S ANATOMY. Her light-hearted folk song “You Know It’s True” was recently on the soundtrack for the film THE LUCKY ONE, starring Zac Efron, which debuted as the #2 movie and soundtrack in the U.S. Jules is currently a featured artist at ABC.com. She has released 2 EPs, Strangers (produced by Ethan Allen) in 2009, and A Lot Like You in 2010.

Song Preservation Society: Song Preservation Society is an alt-folk acoustic trio known for their stirring vocal harmonies, prolific songwriting, and charismatic live performances. Often compared to Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, SPS delivers a sound that is organic and timeless. Bandmates Trevor Bahnson, Ethan Glazer, and Daniel Wright met at Berklee College of Music in Boston. They currently reside in Los Angeles, CA, where they have amassed a following on the indie circuit, having recently performed at Sunset Strip’s House of Blues, Hotel Café, The Mint, Bootleg Bar and Silverlake Lounge. Past highlights include opening for Brett Dennen and playing to a sold out audience at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. The band is expected to release their upcoming second EP “Ready Room” in September 2012.

Aura Bakker: Raised in both California and the Netherlands, Aura took early life lessons in Indian music and jazz. After completing a BA in music at the Maastricht Conservatory in Holland, she moved to London for two years where she performed regularly and found her voice in songwriting. Aura has toured around the world to places like Malta, where she sang at the renowned Teatru festival, Fiji, Hawaii, and the US. She recorded and produced her debut EP ‘Glow After Illumination’ in 2010 while living in Amsterdam. Her US tour to promote this release incorporated live looping, samples and woodwinds by Adam Weiss. Aura is currently based in Los Angeles California where she has also begun to colaborate with other artists such as Daisy McCrackin for whom she plays percussion. Aura’s music is innate and authentic. The depth and tacit honesty of her lyrics are striking, and they draw on themes uncommon in popular music. Her voice has a warmth that has been compared to Norah Jones’ timbre and a sincerity that evokes Joni Mitchell.

What is Desert Nights?

Desert Nights is a weekly gathering at The Standard, Hollywood, hosted by KCRW’s DJ Valida. Every Wednesday, Valida curates three acoustic musical acts to perform a set in the Cactus Lounge. The vibe is warm and intimate, evoking an impromptu jam in a musician’s living room. The music begins at 7:30pm, it’s always free and always a good time. Guaranteed.

For added fun, make sure you check out our Desert Nights Summer Playlist here!