If you’re in the SF Bay Area, check out GO! OHANA tonite. Held every month at the historic La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, GO! OHANA is RAMA’s monthly APA music and art show celebrating the pan-Asian family. Emceed by Ryan Takemiya, the event spotlights independent artists of every genre and style. It offers artists an intimate space that immerses you in the performances in an inclusive and welcoming community.
Here’s this month’s line up:

Featuring performances by:

::::|||| Edwin Li ||||::::
Edwin Li began working as a comedian at the age of 16, barreling through five minute open mike sets and hanging in the wings of the Punchline, picking the brains of any funnyman that would talk shop. His earnestness and shameless curiosity have made him a favorite with comedy veterans and club owners alike. Edwin is developing his half-hour set in preparation for a heavy tour schedule. His rambunctious new set is a portrait of the wild, untamed energy of an American young man.

Edwin Li jokes

::::|||| Miena Yoo ||||::::
Miena immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1992, and now she creates music that mixes Korean language phrases and imagery with English. In 2006, Miena released her 1st album “At the River Again”, and in 2008, her 2nd album “A Little Stone On the Sidewalk”. Miena’s songs are inspired by her childhood, family members, and the forests, river, and wildlife of her Korean home. Her folk-driven sound carries influences from American songstresses Tracy Chapman and Lucinda Williams.

::::|||| Sonia Rao ||||::::
Sonia Rao is a singer/songwriter in San Francisco. She is currently performing around the Bay Area. You can find her music on iTunes and http://www.facebook.com/musicsoniarao. From soniarao.com: “…So now here I am in San Francisco, so freaking joyful with it all….writing in my room, drinking insane amounts of coffee in the process, my neighbors loving (aka hating) me, introducing my classical violin to the blues and country, collaborating with musicians who impress, influence, and intimidate the hell out of me, and putting my little song babies out there for the world to love or hate. I am just trying to move with it all and I am humbled every day by this city and the music. Friends’ love lives, the nightly news, my family, people who walk by my window in North Beach, your conversation with me last night…it all goes into my songs and I hope that my lyrics and music reach some part of you.”

::::|||| Rich Tran ||||::::
RICH TRAN is a Bay Area rapper and social activist rising from poverty and social injustice. The goal of his music is to inspire social change and progress in under-represented, marginalized, and disenfranchised communities. Over the past four years, he has performed at events in Los Angeles, Orange County, Atlanta and Boise, Idaho. He has also performed at colleges such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, UC Irvine, and UC San Diego. RICH TRAN’s social activism has also led him hold down the mic on the steps of the California State Capitol and San Jose City Hall.

Rich Tran performance footage

GO!OHANA
Thursday, September 16, 2010
7:30pm
La Pena “Cool-tural” Center
3105 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA

Admission $8
Doors open at 7:00pm
Food and Drink!
Free Raffle!