Before a show, after a show or between Winter Fest shows, Mama Kin is the perfect place to have some delicious food, a great artisanal cocktail and a great “hang.” We’ve worked with Mama Kin to provide great music each Thursday (Free) and Friday (just $10) during Winter Fest.  Tonight’s artist is pianist / vocalist / composer Mike Blankenship and a killer band featuring “Tiny” Lindsay on bass, Dame Drummer on drums and vocals, Jon Monahan on guitar and Omega Rae  on vocals.

Mike Blankenship has built a career of dream gigs and collaborations, recording and touring as a keyboardist for Lauryn Hill, Sheila E, Ledisi and Michael Franti. Fluent in jazz, R&B, hip-hop and gospel, Mike uses music as a way to make powerful human connections.

His debut album Living for the Future is a musical journey that draws on his commitment to love, fatherhood, community, culture and the pursuit of a better tomorrow. Mike’s latest project, a musical trio named BLACKLONDON, aims to bring Oakland music back to its roots, giving Black musicians creative and financial opportunities in the increasingly gentrified Bay Area arts scene.

Mike is the co-founder and music director of Yeah, Art!, an arts educational non-profit aimed at making art education inclusive, accessible and relevant to a new generation of youth with emphasis on nurturing creativity within youth of color.

The SoFA entertainment district’s newest venue, Mama Kin offers the perfect trifecta of food, drinks & live entertainment in the former Cafe Stritch space, a storied location for live jazz. Enjoy a full bar and cuisine that’s a fusion of American classics and modern Mexican culinary flourishes. Leave boring behind with a selection of offerings that rises to the level of Mama Kin’s diverse musical performances in San Jose’s most interesting business district, where creativity and social life thrive.