Winter means time to jam at Cuyamaca College music fest 

Winter Wonder Jam - Cuyamaca College's homegrown music fest put on by students in the Music Industry Studies program and featuring four local bands and musicians playing pop, rockand folk music - is set for

7-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, in the

performing arts theater.

Open to the public, admission is $5 or a donation of three canned goods to the San Diego Food Bank. Ample free parking will be available at the college at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego.

The event will showcase four bands rocking one of the most acoustically sound venues in East County: 

• Mockingbird, an Americana, pop group consisting of a family trio of mother Tara Alvarado playing snare and hi hat drums; father Diego Alvarado on Telecaster guitar and vocals; and their son Diego on bass guitar. They give a unique spin to covers that span everything from Johnny Cash to the Violent Femmes.
• Barrie Dempsey, an Americana folk musician and BMI member who has been involved in the music industry since the late '60s. He recorded in the same New York studio as John Lennon and Yoko Ono and music legend Lou Reed.  He also wrote a song called "Safe and Sound," which earned him a semi-finalist spot in the 2014 Song of the Year contest.
• Feelgood, an indie rock band whose vocalist and guitarist have been friends since they were 15. They moved to California from a small farming town in northern Illinois and recently performed at the Battle of the Bands at the House of Blues in September and October.
• Little Heroine is a three--member rock band whose musicians Michael Shannon, Adam Sisco and Jonny Beamer have played venues all over San Diego and just released a 12-song record through Ursa Polaris Records.

 The fifth annual holiday bash is an all-ages event with food, refreshments, and always eclectic performances.