With the energy and theatrics of a French cabaret, the Bay Area’s own Rupa and the April Fishes entranced and entertained the Stern Grove audience on June 28. Founder Rupa Marya pens the group’s melodies, which are based on her experiences as a part of a nomadic family and the people she meets in her work as a physician. The results are passionate songs and performances that speak to mortality, love, and the arbitrary nature of manmade divisions.

Featuring a guitar, an accordion, a trumpet, and a cello, the group infuses Marya’s lyrical base with the influences of tango, French chanson and musette, and Gypsy swing. The inspirations for the group’s music is evident at their live shows, which often take on a “circus-like atmosphere,” showcasing local performance artists, stilt-walkers, live painting, and infusing energy in to any venue. Their debut album, eXtraOrdinary Renditions, was released in 2008 to wide critical acclaim, and has been featured on BBC, NPR, and in publications worldwide.