The East Santa Clara Street Farmers Market is expanding its offerings beyond food with local bands starting this afternoon with “Music & Market.”

According to Laura Salcido, event organizer and agriculture program manager of Fresh Approach, this is the first year that the farmer’s market has collaborated with bands to create an event not solely centered around food and community but music as well.

“Most farmers markets focus just on the food, but we knew that with such a great community space, we had to do something more,” Salcido says. “The community members here expressed a strong desire to connect with one another in addition to connecting with the farmers, so we introduced the concept of the Music & Market series as a way to interest people in sticking around after they’ve purchased their kale and strawberries.”

Music and Market will host different bands each month this summer. Tonight’s event will feature a free performance by appropriately named band Autumn Pie.

“We’re trying to prioritize San Jose bands especially, because we really want to showcase all the talent our local community has to offer,” Salcido says.

The program is sponsored by the E. Santa Clara St. Business Association, as well as many community members who contributed to a Kickstarter campaign.

Everything from the market comes from California farms within 150 miles of San Jose. Produce available at the market now includes plums, nectarines and peaches as well as a variety of organic vegetable.

“We also have Rosa’s Bakery there, who does tasty baguettes, pastries, cannolis, and fruit pies,” Salcido says. “Tailgate Seafood who has fresh caught filets, scallops and shrimp, and Achidinia Cheese Company out of Petaluma makes several varieties of award-winning goat cheeses.”

The program is sponsored by the E. Santa Clara St. Business Association, as well as many community members who contributed to a Kickstarter campaign.

Everything from the market comes from California farms within 150 miles of San Jose. Produce available at the market now includes plums, nectarines and peaches as well as a variety of organic vegetable.

“We also have Rosa’s Bakery there, who does tasty baguettes, pastries, cannolis, and fruit pies,” Salcido says. “Tailgate Seafood who has fresh caught filets, scallops and shrimp, and Achidinia Cheese Company out of Petaluma makes several varieties of award-winning goat cheeses.”

The “Music & Market” series continues on August 7 and September 4.