Oceanside’s 8th Annual Music Festival presents “Americana Country,” an evening sponsored by New Vision Theatre, at 7:00 p.m. Wed., Oct 21, Sunshine Brooks Theatre, 217 North Coast Highway, Oceanside. The evening will offer the audience three diverse styles of Americana music from Cherish Thayer, "J&B On The Rocks," and the San Diego Music Awards Best Country Artist – Sarah Petite. The money will go towards scholarships for students in North County.

“Cherish” is a country group featuring Cherish Thayer, a 21 year old currently living in San Clemente who started singing when she was 8. Her family lived in Hesperia, CA, which is mainly desert. “So when we would go down to get the mail about a mile down the road we would open the sun roof of our little Nissan and my mom would blare the radio and I would stand and sing all the back home! Fun!” At 15 she was given the opportunity to open for Billy Ray Cyrus. She has since opened for country stars Buddy Jewel, Neil McCoy, and Heartland. In 2007 she married her husband who is currently deployed in Afghanistan. With her band, “Cherish” she plans to continue her pursuit of a country music career.

"J&B On The Rocks" / “The Villagers” is a contemporary folk trio, which traces its beginnings to 1965, when Jim George and Bill Ims were stationed in the desert community of Boron, California, with the Air Force. One year later, Jim Desatoff was transferred to Boron and the three troubadours, Jim, Bill and Jim developed their trademark theme of harmony and comedy as they performed hundreds of ballads to audiences in various states throughout the nation. Because of the popularity of folk music and the desire to sing-a-long, The Villagers often performed the songs of popular groups, including, the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul and Mary, the Chad Mitchell Trio. They also developed their own styles of traditional folk music. In 1966 The Villagers recorded their first album, “The Villagers Live at the Etcetera”. Since there will only be the two performing Oct 21, they do not call ourselves by the group name, as a professional courtesy to the remaining artist. For the performance on Wednesday, October 21st, they would prefer to be known as "J&B On The Rocks".

Sara Petite calls herself a traveling independent musician. "I never planned to do this. I don't know if I will make it or not, whatever 'making it' means, but, I think I will be able to look back and say 'I had a good ride.' Petite has performed everywhere from the Netherlands to Nashville, and has become a favorite throughout San Diego County. Her songwriting has earned her honors in the "American Songwriter Magazine", the West Coast Songwriter's Competition, and the Great American Songwriter's Competition. Sara was a semi-finalist with “Coming Home” and “Shine Some Heaven” in the 2005 International Songwriting Competition. She was also named one of five finalists in the Great Waters Folk Festival Song Contest. Sara’s song “Coming Home” earned the Grand Prize in the 2006 Portland Songwriting Contest. This song is also featured in Universal Music Group of France’s recently released “Country” compilation album in Europe with artists including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Lucinda. Sara returned from her third European tour in March 2007, and won 2009 Best Country Artist for the San Diego Music Awards.

Concert Admission: $15 adults, $10 children, $12 students, military, seniors, $25 family. Tickets may be ordered by emailing to 1ndrwmn@sbcglobal.net or calling the OCAF message center 760-433-3632.

More info on the entire festival and schedule is found on the OMFest website (www.ocaf.info/OMF/index.html).

Location: Sunshine Brooks Theatre, 217 North Coast Highway, Oceanside. Get Directions (MapQuest)