The Kelley House Museum is bringing back the boogie with a community-curated heartfelt love letter to local musical legends, Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys. Beginning on June 2nd and running through August 28th, the exhibit includes original albums, posters, flyers, newspaper articles, ticket stubs, and more, some of which were donated by community members who remember the Cat Mother years fondly.
Cat Mother was a NYC band that lived in Woodstock, toured with Jimi Hendrix, and played a hand in inspiring the infamous Woodstock Music and Art Fair. In late 1969, the band relocated to Mendocino and ushered in an era of crowd-pleasing music, celebration, and collaboration that is still echoing through the coast today. Cat Mother has a rich history and looms large in the memories of longtime locals, but even if you don’t know a single song from this eclectic band, the exhibit opens a window on an era of good vibes and inspired creativity.
The exhibit was first conceived by Phil Hildenbrand, who has exhaustively researched every iteration of the band and curates a comprehensive collection of posters, albums, oral history interviews, and other ephemera. Phil initially approached the Kelley House and suggested we keep several binders of his research for fellow enthusiasts. This request blossomed into a full-fledged exhibit that now encompasses live music, a panel discussion of cannabis culture, and other community events.
In addition to Cat Mother memorabilia, the exhibit will also showcase the artwork, photographs, and books from prominent local artists Nicholas Wilcon, Mervin Gilbert, Chuck Hathaway, and John Chamberlin. The exhibit runs from June 2nd – August 28th.
Join us at the Kelley House for the opening event, Saturday June 4.
Live Music outside from 1:00 to 3:00 PM featuring a number of musicians:
- Frannie Leopold, Deb Dawson and Bruce Laks
- Bruce Laks and Marcus McCallen
- Marcus McCallen, John Bush and Morgan Daniel
Panel Discussion: “Cat Mother Music, Memories, and Cannabis Culture” at 3:30 PM
- Moderated by Mark Gauche with panelists Nicholas Wilson, Karl Schoen, Mark Hughes, and special guests. Co-sponsored with the Mendocino Film Festival.
The Kelley House Museum is located at 45007 Albion Street, Mendocino. For more information, visit our web page at www.kelleyhousemuseum.org, or email [email protected].