Sunday Songwriter Showcase with Jeff Berkley

Sunday Songwriter Showcase with Jeff Berkley
Featuring Special guests Sara Petite & Alex Bergan

Jeff Berkley – Songwriter, Musician, Producer
Jeff Berkley is a native San Diego songwriter, musician, and producer who has left an indelible mark on the music world. Known for his soulful songwriting, masterful guitar work, and visionary production, he has collaborated with some of the industry's most revered artists, including Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Jim Messina, Ben Harper, Indigo Girls, Bruce Cockburn, Bob Weir, Tim Flannery, Steve Poltz, Arlo Guthrie, Jason Mraz, Pete Seeger, and many more.
As one of Southern California’s most prolific producers, Jeff has shaped countless records across multiple genres, elevating the voices of emerging and established artists alike. His ability to capture raw emotion and authenticity in the studio has made him a sought-after producer and mentor.
In 1999, Jeff won the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Songwriters award in Texas, joining the ranks of past winners like Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Lindsay White.
As a solo artist and with his bands, Berkley Hart and Jeff Berkley & The Banned, he has won multiple San Diego Music Awards (SDMAs), including Artist of the Year in 2023. In recognition of his contributions to the regional and national music scene, he was inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame.
Jeff Berkley continues to write, perform, and produce, always pushing the boundaries of creativity while staying rooted in the heart and soul of storytelling through music.

Sara Petite
Ten Time San Diego Music Award Winner | Fierce Americana Songstress
Raw, rebellious, and born to tell stories—Sara Petiteis a force of nature in the Americana world. With seven powerful albums, ten San Diego Music Awards, and a voice that can whisper you into tears or set a honky-tonk on fire, she’s one of the most compelling independent artists in roots music today.

-From Evergreen Roots to California Fire
Sara grew up in the rural town of Sumner, Washington, where wildflowers bloomed beside backroads and classic country crackled through the speakers. Raised on Loretta Lynn, gospel hymns, and front-porch storytelling, she learned early on that music wasn’t just entertainment—it was survival, healing, and rebellion.

That small-town grit followed her to San Diego, where she planted new roots and began carving out her place in the music scene. What started as late-night gigs and DIY records quickly evolved into a dynamic, critically acclaimed career that has taken her across the U.S. and Europe, stage by stage and song by song.

Alex Bergan
Iowa born songwriter, Alex Bergan first plunged into music at the young age of 15. Like many artists, he’s navigated through countless avenues trying to find the most honest and authentic version of his sound. Once a successful formula was found, it didn’t take long until he’d open for artists such as Nathaniel Rateliff, Terry Reid, Vintage Trouble, Todd Day Wait, John Butler, Riley Downing (The Deslondes), Clem Snide and Kenny Loggins, to name a few.

Now residing in San Diego, byway of a ten-year Naval career, Alex has made his mark within that scene. In 2023, he earned a nomination from the San Diego Music Awards for ‘Best Folk/Acoustic Album’ with nods to his EP, My Notebook. In 2024, Alex put another notch in the belt with a San Diego Music Award win for his acclaimed single, Unpromised Land. He landed a 2025 SDMA win for his tune, Ghost in the Addict. Alex has also been named San Diego Magazine’s 2025 Best Male Vocalist.

Alex’s debut album, “Undercover” is out now and features a wide array of friends and guest singers. Among that list are David Ramirez, Francis Blume, Ash Easton and Justin John Rodriguez.