YettiFest brings 12 bands to Bull and Bear in Monterey.

At a towering 6 feet 5 inches, Kevin Padilla can barely accommodate his lanky limbs within a normal bar chair. His sheer size and affable – albeit commanding – demeanor has earned him the nickname “Yetti” among friends.

He sits at the focal point of a round table in the back of The Bull and Bear Whiskey Bar & Taphouse, encircled by nine local artists, musicians and volunteers, each instrumental in organizing the YettiFest. That’s the brainchild Padilla conceived with popular local reggae musician Tony Miles, himself rather lanky, especially next to his miniature guitar: a four-day concert, art show, entertainment and crafts fair to be held at the Bull and Bear on Alvarado Street over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-7.

Yettifest’s intent is to address what Padilla describes as “a void in local exposure” for homegrown talent at concerts and festivals held in the area. It’s a concept he’s been incubating for months, even years.

“We’re colliding all this greatness together,” he says. “It’s an underground flood being released.”

The festival is organized by volunteers, and much has been donated by the local community. Any proceeds remaining after band payout will be used to finance a YettiFest sequel.

It clicks with owner Anthony Buich’s ongoing reinvention of the former Mucky Duck establishment – both in appearance and atmosphere. A big part of that has been live music or karaoke every day of the week, which has supplanted meat-grinder top-40 DJ dancefloors on the back patio.

The renovated patio includes new fire pits, seating and murals with local musicians featured next to legendary musician and Tony Miles-inspiration Jimi Hendrix.

“The YettiFest is a culmination of everything we’ve wanted to do here [at the Bull and Bear],” Buich says. “We’re hoping this becomes our coronation party.”

The scheduled lineup of rock, blues and reggae bands runs a dozen deep, with more artists to be announced (see schedule, this page).

Featured acts include Troy Oshann and YettiFest co-founder Miles, both respected Monterey Bay music scene veterans.

Miles’ resume remains impressive, with a couple of Weekly readers’ votes for Best Musician in Monterey County and spots spent playing guitar in or opening for seminal ’80s punk bands The Clash and Bad Brains, iconic southern rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival and even Bob Marley.

But his stage presence might recommend him more: He wears a smile as seemingly wide as he is tall. His heart clearly beats reggae blood, but his guitar dexterity defies genres, fusing rock, pop and even jazz. The Tony Miles Band is scheduled to play on Sunday at 4pm.

Oshann reveals his own range as well: One moment he’s playfully belting vocals by Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Pride, then he’s leading a backyard concert backed by local rockers Victory Lane. At every stop he teases each syllable of lyrics and flicks curls of his classic rock hair from his brow. Troy Oshann & Co. opens first day of the festival on Friday at 4pm.

More versatility awaits: Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat represents a crossover between blues, rock and reggae – think Santana guitar solos with a smooth, funky bassline and slightly nasalElvis Costello-esque vocals. It’s a marriage of genres that results in something accessible and draws comparisons to The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Sublime. Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat plays Sunday at 8pm.

In addition to the nine other groups (at least), YettiFest features a variety of other art forms and entertainment.

Nelson Basden of Lumiere Alchemical, whose technicolor trance screens are a staple at local psych rock shows, will display a multi-media, multi-dimensional presentation of oil colors and movie clips on large-format screens.

Sketch artists and painters will transcend the smartphone snapshot by capturing images on canvasses in real time.

Local fashion designers Mindi Harris and Melinda Collis will debut clever clothing collections. Harris presents her fashion line, “Chrome Couture,” on Friday at 8pm. Melinda Collis, proprietor of the beloved vintage clothing store The Cat’s Meow, debuts her own original designs on Saturday at 8:30pm.

Big Surcus, a collaboration between local dancers Jessica Cooper, Anna Sardina and Rosalia Webster, will intermittently contribute to the multi-faceted festivities with cabaret acts plus fire – and belly-dancing throughout the festival’s four days.

YETTIFEST. Friday-Monday, Sept. 4-7. The Bull and Bear Whiskey House and Taphouse, 479 Alvarado St., Monterey. $5/Fri; $10/after 8pm Sat, Sun; free/Mon. 655-3031.

YETTIFEST LINE-UP

Cover runs $5 Friday, $10 after 8pm Saturday and Sunday, and is otherwise free.

Fri, Sept. 4

4-8pm:Troy Oshann & Co.

8pm-midnight: Bobby Love & Sugar Sweet

Sat, Sept. 5

Noon-4pm: OuterEdge

4-6pm: Peter Jong Chang of Emerge

6-8pm: Al Frisby

8-10pm: Irietide

10pm-midnight: The Wheeland Brothers

Sun, Sept. 6

Noon-4pm: The Mojo Banditos

4-6pm: The Tony Miles Band

6-8pm: Pacific Grown

8-10pm: Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat

10pm-midnight: Guidance Band

Mon, Sept. 7

2-6pm:Eddie’s Open Mic,

6-10pm: LIVE from the BASSment “AllStar Jam”