BillyRay Sheppard is a jazz saxophonist who has lived in San Antonio Texas for many years. He is a proud graduate of Fox Tech High School and St. Mary’s University. Soon after academic life, he pursued many different avenues in the field of music. He has been performing since the 80's, and his musical roots run deep; having his earliest musical experiences in Blues, R & B, Reggae, Latin, Tejano and Country bands. It's his love for music that has kept him grounded and his love for jazz that keeps him performing. BillyRay is a first-call smooth jazz performer, having shared his talents on stage with notable genre stars such as Steve Oliver, Peter White, Adam Hawley, Will Donato, and Darryl Williams. He's also performed with Roy Hargrove, Johnny Bush, Julio Iglesias, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and many more. With his saxophone's rich, warm, soulful tone, he has made a name for himself on both the local and national music scene.
Larry Natwick is a jazz pianist and composer with over fifty years of performance experience in jazz clubs, concerts and festivals. Originally from Northern California, Larry studied piano and music theory at San Francisco State University. Larry moved to the Texas Hill Country in 2004 and currently lives in Blanco, Texas. He performs regularly in Austin and San Antonio and also travels around the state for festival and club dates. Larry periodically travels to the West Coast and performs in California and Oregon. In the last few years, he has recorded two CDs and has written a film score for a documentary short.
BexarBrass is here to bring you the sounds of San Antonio, Texas blended with New Orleans, jazz, funk, and rock.
Shannon McIntush, Friday Coffee Roasters
Explore the journey of a coffee bean – so many hands have brought forth this sacred delicacy - from a seedling on a coffee farm in the Coffee Belt to your lips. An exceptional opportunity to discover the changes a coffee berry encounters while observing a hand-crafted roast on an Ikawa coffee roaster.
Sylvia Miller, San Antonio Barista Academy
Why do coffee aficionados treasure the espresso experience so much? Discover expert tips & tricks on mastering the art & science of pulling that perfect shot. Harness the power of a moka pot (aka stovetop espresso). Hands-on opportunities for participation are one of Sylvia's many specialties in teaching San Antonio coffee-lovers and aspiring baristas!
Andrea Ley, Olla Express Café
Isela Hernandez, HERNÁN
Immerse yourself at the intersection of coffee and culture with this round-up of two beloved culinary coffee recipe traditions from Mexico: Café de Olla and Mexican Hot Chocolate "Con Cafe" c/o two beloved San Antonio entrepreneurial coffee connoisseurs.
Inspired by the legends and icons of yesterday, The Muñoz Brothers Band is a Soul, Funk, and R&B Band that is the latest in a long line of musicos from San Antonio. Brothers Isaac Muñoz and Fernando Muñoz Jr have been raised and bred in the culture of the San Anto sound… Keeping our Music Alive!
Wendy Krabbe, Weight Loss with Wendy
Soak up the long list of health benefits of drinking coffee, offering you all the more reason to get brewing! Deep-dive into scientific research highlighting: Enhanced energy levels, reduced body fat, enhanced heart health, increased focus and clarity, reduced risk of: diabetes, liver disease, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.
Corina Guillory, CoffeeSock
Brewing with the CoffeeSock: Organic Fabric, Rich, Clean, Honest, Economical, Organic Environmentally-Friendly, Rewarding Ritual - sewn and packaged by happy human beings making a fair and living wage. A special love for the beach and commitment to a world with less trash is the inspiration for this remarkably impressive filter.
Lakandon is a Roots Reggae dub band that is committed and rooted in the foundation sound of Jamaica. Founded as Dub Gideon in 2009, Lakandon is part of a greater evolution of The central Texas Reggae scene, and is maintaining a tradition of high quality Roots Reggae Music as a self contained unit, and as a backing band for some of the world's top Reggae artists. Lakandon provides a solid uncompromised heavyweight sound to any stage show rooted in the ultra tight drum and bass team of Ras G and Nico, who have been playing together for 10 years now, and who provide the backbone for Lakandon.
Linda Brewster, Texas Coffee Trail
The founder of the San Antonio Coffee Festival and the "Texas Coffee Trail” showcases the art and science of brewing coffee using a Chemex and a Clever. Come experience craft coffee brewing at its finest here in the San Antonio coffee scene - with gratitude and mindfulness.
Laurel Winslow, Wicked Voodoo Espresso
Share the thrilling journey of a career in coffee....a cauldron of love and a whole lot of magic! Celebrate the power of “Living Life Boldly” and making the most of opportunities imbued with coffee. With a keen commitment to team members and a fanatical focus on the highest quality ingredients and consistency, Laurel strives to offer an uplifting and satisfying experience for each customer every time. Look forward to a lively and engaging time with this popular expert motivational speaker who will delight you with tales and behind-the-scenes ways to embrace coffee as a reminder to enjoy and appreciate life!
Ska, Reggae, Jazz fusion group. Vet members of San Antonio’s scene since ‘95. There’s no us w/out y’all,ever.
Stephanie Thornton, Finlays
An extraordinary guided sensory workshop: focusing on the variety of processing methods featured in the exploding "ready-to-drink"' coffee segment. Enjoy an exceptional interactive opportunity to participate in an extraordinary guided tasting extravaganza, highlighting varied sensory components. Your tastebuds will come alive - enjoying products from Finlay's expansive San Antonio manufacturing facility, led by a tenacious technical scientist skilled in the science of product development and adept at developing and commercializing international products targeting at increasing customer engagement.
Don Counts, KIVA Coffee Roasters
Embark on an adventure to witness the joyful transformation of coffee beans roasting c/o the Fresh Roast SR800, followed by brewing into precious "liquid gold". Just as a grape’s origin drives a wine’s taste profile, coffee beans from around the globe offer a wide-range of tasting notes. Discover the elements of coffee: aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and aftertaste.
A band of Texans, influenced by the sounds of south Texas, MC & the Mystyx Band can play it all – from Blues to Rock and Americana, and have their own spin on Texas music from the region.
James Mireles, Pulp Coffee Roasters
Greg Brewster, Valhalla Vodka
Discover "What's so special about specialty coffee?" then plunge into relishing an espresso martini crafted with Valhalla Vodka: Lava rock from Iceland's sacred Fagradalsfjall volcano filters this Swedish wheat vodka via a patent-pending process yielding an unfathomable "velvety-smooth" profile. Heavenly concoctions of coffee and liquors is far from new, but the spike in growth of coffee cocktails continues to be remarkable. Come share the passion for craft cocktails - a divine mixture of coffee to quicken one's pace swirled with sumptuous liquors to relax and soothe. Makes for a perfect blend to infuse spirited intellectual conversations swi rled with refreshing quiet moments for savoring special moments. Let us gather to wrap-up the 10th annual 2023 San Antonio COFFEE Festival with a heart-warming: "Skål!”