It’s isn’t hard to find a new music series popping up somewhere. What’s unusual is when it takes hold, thrives even, and successfully shuffles in a mix of out-of-town performers with well-loved local artists. Case in point: The every-other-Wednesday series at The Ugly Mug in Soquel is creeping up on its two-year mark. It’s put together by Dick Brundle (of Fiddle Cricket Productions) and Marky Starks (of the Canyon Acoustic Society) and always features a nifty poster from Sandy Frye Design. It’s just a great place to be on a Wednesday night.

This week’s performer is Michael McNevin, another of my local favorite storyteller/songwriters. (Yeah, it’s a big list.) He sort of straddles that out-of-towner and well-loved local notion at the same time. Born and raised in Niles, just east of Fremont, McNevin is proof that bay area small towns still exist. And if you make it down to the Mug on Wednesday, he’ll sing a song or two about it.

Click for full-sized poster

As a songwriter, McNevin has won honors at Kerrville, he landed the “Song of the Year” award from West Coast Songwriters five times, and although he regularly tours, he rarely makes it down our way. Plus, he has a black Lab (a rescue dog, no less) named Clancy. What more do you need to know about the guy?

The Ugly Mug is at 4640 Soquel Drive. Show starts at 7:30 pm. $10.00 cover.