Three stalwarts of the local songwriting scene bring their stellar originals to the Freight.

Berkeley resident Clyde Leland grew up in San Francisco and has been writing songs to entertain friends and family with his guitar and banjo for the last fifty years. Clyde's songs are sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, sometimes political commentary, and almost always in the key of C. His songs have won awards from the West Coast Songwriters Association and wild acclaim from his family and friends.

Kress Cole drove her red guitar to West Coast Songwriters competition stages in eleven cities and brought home eight "Best Song" titles for her efforts. Kress writes emotionally honest and memorable songs like her latest favorite, 'Jesus Was a Lonely Girl.' Kress has been called "a total quirk monster" and "the next Ani Difranco" and her grandma says she is good looking.

Max Newton (aka Carson Trucks, Rufus Lee King & The Rafters and Shay Kinbake among others) has been playing open mics off and on at the Freight since 1979 and hoping someday someone would let him do more than just one or two of his songs. Seems hoping works sometimes. A longtime member of the West Coast Songwriters, he currently co-hosts the First Saturday Hippie Gypsy Cafe Open Mic with Freight stalwart Jim Carter, aka JC Tourbillion, and emceed Country Joe’s Open Mic a few years back.

Max hopes you wear dancin’ shoes and says, "The chopsticks are yours to keep."

Listen to a track from Clyde Leland: