Esplanade Presents: Craft Spells

One California winter in 2009, Justin Paul Vallesteros holed himself up in his bedroom away from the cold and began working on something that would change his life forever. What started as musical notes played in experimentation transformed into guitar chords laced with pulsating synth melodies and drum rhythms. This was the creation of the dreamy nostalgic pop music that is Craft Spells.

Now based in Seattle, Craft Spells is the epitome of recent uprising of the DIY music scene. Coming from a place not known for its musical history or impact on music culture it seemed destined for Craft Spells to stay as a bedroom pop project with no final destination in sight. But soon the shear amount of blog volume generated was unimaginable. Websites like Weekly Tape Deck, Pasta Primavera, No Modest Bear and Pitchfork’s Forkcast took notice and thus began the never-ending worldwide posting and reposting of Craft Spells on blog after blog.

Craft Spells released their single Party Talk and their debut album Idle Labor in 2011. Led by Justin’s blissful voice and backed by a live band put together by Justin himself, the Craft Spells’ heady pop sounds have toured America and Europe and now make their way to Mosaic Music Festival.

(1hr, no intermission)

$40, $48*
(*For ticket purchased on day of performance)