CURRENT SECTIONS, Acoustic Americana Music Guide, July 28, 2011

    
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                                     – Links to Current Sections / Updates –     
          ACOUSTIC
                    AMERICANA
                              MUSIC GUIDE
                                         
                                                       July 28, 2011
    
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    WOW, you've sent us a RECORD NUMBER of replies and comments on our story on the debt, the budget, and what it all means for funding for the arts, the sciences, green energy, and more – in short, what kind of future we are likely to have. You, our dear readers, have sent us so many astute, thoughtful, provocative ideas! Thank you! You can read ALL the comments at the link below (item b). Plus, FolkWorks magazine republished the original piece this week!     
    
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The List:
Here's what's current in The Guide...
    
~~~~~~~~~~~    
    
(a) our latest NEWS FEATURES (July 28 edition) – at     
    
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/acoustic-americana-music-guide-news_28.html    
    
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(b) our SPECIAL major feature on the Debt Debate, the future of the budget, and the implications for the arts, PLUS your comments (a record number!), all examining
“IS THE FUTURE OF ARTS FUNDING GONE IN AMERICA? – at     
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-future-of-arts-funding-gone-in.html     
    
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(c) the LATEST UPDATE to the Guide's SPOTLIGHT EVENTS, with chronological, day-by-day listings and descriptions of live acoustic and Americana performances, festivals, workshops
and more – at   
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana_28.html   
    
    
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(d) The Guide's SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK Picks, July 29 through August 6...
The SEVENTEEN shows we recommend this week, (grouped at the beginning of the Spotlight Evenets section) at –
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana_28.html  
    
    
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(e) REMEMBERING JOEL OKIDA: HIS WORK FOR THE GUIDE... the main reviews the late music journalist extraordinaire wrote for us – at
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/remembering-joel-okida-his-work-for.html    
    
PLUS, read our piece,
IN MEMORIUM: JOEL OKIDA, MUSIC JOURNALIST EXTRAORDINAIRE (by itself, reprinted as it appears in this week's NEWS FEATURES) at –
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/in-memorium-joel-okida-music-journalist.html  
     
        
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The Scoop:
Need a synopsis? Here are a few details....
    
(a) THIS WEEK’S NEWS FEATURES    
    
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FEATURES    
    
  1) Record Number of Reader Comments for Guide Story:
    The Debt Limit & Budget Battle: Politicians Playing with Dynamite –
    Is the Future of Arts Funding Gone in America?    
  2) Annual “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” Brings Lou'siana Music, Food, Dance,
    this Weekend    
  3) Annual “BIG BEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL” returns this Saturday Afternoon / Evening
  4) Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” Brings Free Music, Friday through Sunday
  5) JOHN FOGERTY's New Keyboard Player is Guide Fave BOB MALONE    
  6) Supergods: How Comicon Meets Heroes from History    
  7) We Spoke too Soon: Bye Bye Open Borders, too –     
    Venue's Last Show Is Sunday    
  8) In Memorium: JOEL OKIDA, Music Journalist Extraordinaire    
  9) BERKLEY HART Play their L.A. CD Release Show Saturday Night, July 30    
    
    Read these NEWS FEATURES at     
    
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/acoustic-americana-music-guide-news_28.html    
    
    
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b) IS THE FUTURE OF ARTS FUNDING GONE IN AMERICA?
    
    Complete with all your comments (a RECORD number!)...
    
    In a call to action for artists, the editor debunks the current fight over the Debt Limit and
what's really at stake – whether the current, at this crossroads moment, will change us and our
priorities forever. He digs into the future of public-sector support for accessible arts and arts
education. He assesses whether there will be any ability to find support for the arts again, given current politics, and what we can do to change things in our favor.     
    It's an in-depth piece that shows just how MANY things are connected, and how we are
gambling with our ability to be an innovative player in a globally competitive marketplace.
    There's plenty of context, history and perspective, and competing visions for the future.     
    You'll find quotes from Thomas Friedman, Larry Summers, Dwight Eisenhower, Bill Maher, Goldman Sachs, Jay Carney, Bruce Bartlett, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Abraham Lincoln, David
Ignatius, Dick Cheney, Ronald Reagan, Jon Stewart, Bob Schieffer, Fareed Zakariah, George W. Bush, Robert Reich, Ezra Klein, and more.    
    It's quite thorough, it's about now and the future.
    
    It's at     
    
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-future-of-arts-funding-gone-in.html    
        
    
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(c) SPOTLIGHT EVENTS – the LATEST UPDATE to the Guide's chronological, day-by-day
listings and descriptions of live acoustic and Americana performances, festivals, workshops
and more.     
    
    It's at   
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana_28.html   
        
    
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(d) The Guide's SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK Picks, July 29 through August 6...
The SEVENTEEN shows we recommend this week, (at the beginning of Spotlight Events) at –         
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana_28.html   
    
    
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(e) REMEMBERING JOEL OKIDA: HIS WORK FOR THE GUIDE...
    The late Joel Okida, music journalist extraordinaire, wrote some wonderful pieces for us. (In addition, he made many contributions with his hot tips on who to go see or what CD to find, things that never appeared in the Guide's pages.) Our readers can again savor the fine pieces he wrote here, compiled in one place. They're at     
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/remembering-joel-okida-his-work-for.html    
        
    
    In addition, you can read the Guide's celebration of the guy we knew –
“IN MEMORIUM: JOEL OKIDA, MUSIC JOURNALIST EXTRAORDINAIRE” - it's by itself, separate from the current edition of News Features, at    
        
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/in-memorium-joel-okida-music-journalist.html  
        
    
    
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Acoustic Americana Music Guide NEWS FEATURES, July 28 edition

        
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The latest News is right here. PLUS, remember to check out the Guide's SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK picks, AND the full abundance of acoustic music doins' – all in The Guide’s SPOTLIGHT EVENTS at
    
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/spotlight-events-acoustic-americana_28.html  
    
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        Welcome to the  
      
    Tied to the Tracks  
    
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          ACOUSTIC
                    AMERICANA
                              MUSIC GUIDE
                                        NEWS FEATURES
                                         
                                                       July 28, 2011 edition
    
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THIS WEEK’S NEWS FEATURES    
    
  1) Record Number of Reader Comments for Guide Story:
    The Debt Limit & Budget Battle: Politicians Playing with Dynamite –
    Is the Future of Arts Funding Gone in America?    
  2) Annual “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” Brings Lou'siana Music, Food, Dance,
    this Weekend    
  3) Annual “BIG BEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL” returns this Saturday Afternoon / Evening
  4) Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” Brings Free Music, Friday through Sunday
  5) JOHN FOGERTY's New Keyboard Player is Guide Fave BOB MALONE    
  6) Supergods: How Comicon Meets Heroes from History    
  7) We Spoke too Soon: Bye Bye Open Borders, too –     
    Venue's Last Show Is Sunday    
  8) In Memorium: JOEL OKIDA, Music Journalist Extraordinaire    
  9) BERKLEY HART Play their L.A. CD Release Show Saturday Night, July 30    
    
    
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       Here are these news feature stories...    
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
    
Our # 1 Story
    
RECORD NUMBER OF READER COMMENTS FOR GUIDE STORY:
THE DEBT LIMIT & BUDGET BATTLE: POLITICIANS PLAYING WITH DYNAMITE –
IS THE FUTURE OF ARTS FUNDING GONE IN AMERICA?    
    
    You've sent us a RECORD NUMBER of comments since it was published on July 19.
Now, FolkWorks magazine has re-published it, as the longest single feature in the magazine's history. You can read all the comments (and add yours!) It's all there, with the original story, at
    
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-future-of-arts-funding-gone-in.html    
    
What's it about?
    
    First, it shows that the Debt Limit and the Budget are two different things and one should not be used to hold then other hostage, because the long-term (permanent) consequences are too dire. Then, in a call to action for artists, the editor debunks the current fight over the Debt Limit and gets into what's really at stake – whether this one, current, moment will change us and our priorities forever. He digs into the future of public-sector support for accessible arts and arts
education. He assesses whether there will be any ability to find support for the arts again, given current politics, and what we can do to change things in our favor.     
    It's an in-depth piece that shows just how MANY things are connected, and how the zealots for cutting everything are gambling with our ability to be an innovative player in a globally
competitive marketplace.
    There's plenty of context, history and perspective – and competing visions for the future.     
    You'll find quotes from Thomas Friedman, Larry Summers, Dwight Eisenhower, Bill Maher, Goldman Sachs, Jay Carney, Bruce Bartlett, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Abraham Lincoln, David
Ignatius, Dick Cheney, Ronald Reagan, Jon Stewart, Bob Schieffer, Fareed Zakariah, George W. Bush, Robert Reich, Ezra Klein, and more.    
    It's quite thorough, it's about now and the future, and it's at     
    
       http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-future-of-arts-funding-gone-in.html    
    
Need some enticing samples that set-up the major discussion? Here ya go:    
    
    “The unique and vital perspective of the artist – to hold a mirror up to society to interpret
and define and challenge and dream and design and reach for things that exceed our grasp – should bring us all a seat at the table. Instead, we get musical chairs. The rich and powerful
corporations are the ones controlling the music. Our elected representatives, rather than
getting a chair for us, are complacent (or worse) running a loud and distracting room while
more chairs are removed. Do they all hope we're too beset by political Attention Deficit
Disorder to notice? ...    
    “Our message to them is, let's stop the noise and hyperbole and distractions and distortions
over the Debt Ceiling and stop claiming it's something that it's not...
    “All the rancor is ugly, and moreover, it's childishly annoying because it's incongruent,
unprincipled and delusional. But when is it time to fight? Has politics ever been so –
CONTRARIAN, without any legitimate regard for well-reasoned principles? Is there anything
Republicans won't fight to oppose? Is there anything this president finds worth fighting for?
Does he understand Ronald Reagan's basic popularity was based on the High Noon image of
the Hollywood gunfighter facing the bad guys, the strong and decisive character whose favorite
words were, “Well, no.” Does he understand, at all, that America wants a give-em-hell Harry
Truman, not a Harry Potter who thinks he can charm the demons with magic? Assessing this –
Intransigence vs. Obsession With Compromise – where no deal is possible would be only
political handicapping, were we not in an economic crisis reaching from the kitchen table to the
international money markets ...     
    “No one seems to be asking the most basic questions: if government budgets are cut and no
new revenues can be collected, is there any opportunity for comprehensive arts funding or
even enough money to sustain what little we have now? And why no new revenues? If the rich
must continue to receive massive tax breaks because they are job creators, where are the jobs? And why are big issues being held hostage by politicians on both sides before the nation's
outstanding bills are paid to prevent a default and what it would bring – higher interest rates,
and billions more from taxpayers for higher interest payments? ...    
    “There's an immediate need and a larger context. Politicians can't seem to separate them or
address either one effectively. And just as most of us can't imagine any future society worth
having unless it strongly supports and continuously celebrates the arts, neither could many of
us have foreseen other claustrophobic aspects of our supposedly infinitely networked times.
This was supposed to be a time of expansive opportunity. It's not, and the odds are running
against us. It is, necessarily, a call to action” ...    
    
    You can read all of it AND the many, many comments from readers (and add YOURS) – and even get inspired – at
    
         http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-future-of-arts-funding-gone-in.html    
     
    
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Our # 2 Story
    
ANNUAL “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” BRINGS LOU'SIANA MUSIC, FOOD, DANCE, THIS WEEKEND    
    
    Yep, it was only a few weeks ago that we were at the Long Beach Bayou Fest. This one's just as much fun, and Thibodeaux and Boudreau done tell us the music's gonna be tres bonne.
    
    There are performances Saturday by MARK ST. MARY LOUISIANA BLUES & ZYDECO BAND, ANDRE THIERRY & ZYDECO MAGIC, BLUESBOX BAYOU BAND, BENNIE & THE SWAMP GATORS, A.J. GIBBS - THE MYDECO KING, THE HIGH STEPPERS NEW ORLEANS BOOGIE BAND, plus dancing and children's activities.     
    
    Sunday brings STEP RIDEAU & THE ZYDECO OUTLAWS, LEROY THOMAS, BONNE
MUSIQUE ZYDECO, ROYALE GARDEN DIXIELAND BAND, A.J. GIBBS - THE MYDECO
KING, THE HIGH STEPPERS NEW ORLEANS BOOGIE BAND, plus more dancing and morechildren's activities.
    
    Of course, the main course is crawfish, in quantities fit for gluttony. There's entertainment
and activities for all ages, arts and crafts booths, ribs, chicken, Jamaican, Chinese, Thai and
other international foods and desserts, and adult beverages (beer, wine, liquor drinks including
"Screaming Crawfish" and margaritas). And lots and lots of Crawfish.
    More at www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com    
    
    It runs noon-10 pm both days at Rainbow Lagoon, Shoreline Village Dr, Long Beach 90802.
    
    
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Our # 3 Story
    
ANNUAL “BIG BEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL” RETURNS THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON /
EVENING
    
    Up in the cool San Bernardino Mountains, the Discovery Center in Fawnskin again plays
host this Saturday to a fine late afternoon / evening music festival with four splendid acts.
    
    Taking the stage at 4 pm are CHARLIE RAY & LINDA; at 5 pm is a favorite, SLIGO RAGS;
at 6:30 pm it's SCOTT GATES & THE SALTY SUITES, who played the main stage at the 51st Annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Fest earlier this year (to great acclaim); at 8 pm is the closer, BRIAN LYNN JONES & THE MISFIT COWBOYS.
    
THE SALTY SUITES are mandolin wunderkind SCOTT GATES, plus CHUCK HAILES,
CHELSEA WILLIAMS, & ELAINE GREGSTON, performing progressive bluegrass and roots
music with a collective edge. SLIGO RAGS returns with their award-winning Celtic folk music with a bluegrass attitude. A new hot country duo from the Victor Valley, CHARLIE RAY &
LINDA WASHINGTON, will debut this year offering their audience traditional country and
classic rock with a country twist.
    
    It's one ticket for the whole shebang. Adults are $20; teens ages 13-18 are $10; children age 12 and under are admitted free. Dogs on a leash are welcome. Parking opens at 3 pm. The
Big Bear Discovery Center in Fawnskin is located at 40971 North Shore Drive (at Highway 38) and your GPS will show it as Big Bear 92408. There's more, including advance tix, at
www.NationalForestAssociation.org.    
    
    
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Our # 4 Story
    
ANNUAL “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” BRINGS FREE MUSIC, FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
    
    So, it's really FOUR days of screenings, salon discussions, art installations, parties,
workshops, and MUSIC. Jewels & Johnny of the delightful acoustic band CITY FRITTER tell
us they have “put together a terrific line up of local and not so local talent on a sweet outdoor
stage” at Ribbit Tree & Plant Nursery, 301 Old Topanga Canyon Rd (at Monte Vista).
    
    Access to the music stage is free and does not require a festival pass or ticket. And they'll
see to your needs, with a wine and beer bar, soft drinks, and gourmet food trucks offering
victuals and libations for sale.
    
    CITY FRITTER plays Friday at 2 pm and Saturday at 3 pm. Here's the complete schedule.
Friday, July 29:
Noon-1 pm Joee Corso; 2-3 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm Preston Smith; 6-7 pm Susan James.
Saturday, July 30:
11 am-Noon Bryan Titus; Noon-1 pm Honeyheart; 1-2 pm Tess & Maya; 2-3 pm Christopher
Hawley; 3-4 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm The Blue Dolphins (Victoria Scott & Zachary Crocker).
Sunday, July 31:
1-2 pm Terin Ector & Friends; 2-3 pm Philip Boone; 3-4 pm Annemarie Solo; 4-5 pm I-Star.
    
    
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Our # 5 Story
    
JOHN FOGERTY'S NEW KEYBOARD PLAYER IS GUIDE FAVE BOB MALONE
    
    We love it that we can report this. Los Angeles based keyboardist, singer and songwriter
BOB MALONE is now playing keyboards with roots-Americana/rock legend JOHN FOGERTY.
    
    A veteran of the main stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival and many, many festival and major concert venue stages worldwide, Bob is a major talent and a guy who can play the keyboard or piano with lightning fast precision, superb musicality, and an inherent sense of roots jazz, blues, honky-tonk, swing, and – you name it.
    
    Bob joined the Fogerty band just one month ago and has already played shows in Russia, Canada, and the Midwestern U.S. In addition to his new duties playing and singing with the former CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL founding frontman, Bob will be continuing his long and prosperous solo career. A new Bob Malone CD is in the works, and fall and winter Bob Malone Band tour dates are booked in the UK, Italy, Northeastern US, California, France, Germany and Switzerland. There's complete tour info, a video of Bob taking the solo on “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” at Crocus Hall in Moscow, Russia, and lots more at www.bobmalone.com.    
    
    Bob's career has been similar to other top L.A.-based musicians. He plays festivals worldwide, gets big venue bookings everywhere else, but it's tough to catch him in L.A. because he just doesn't get that many opportunities to perform here. He earned “Listener Favorite” honors on radio's “Tied to the Tracks” and he's a featured member of the stellar house band every year at Dylanfest, but his L.A. shows are rare. Of course, we'll keep you posted when you can catch him in Southern Cal. Meantime, all you venue people and other bookers, Bob is tops. To book Bob, contact Karen Grossman at KVision Entertainment, 310-613-2061 or karen@kvisionevents.com    
    
    The Guide adds our congratulations on his latest achievement!
    
    
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Our # 6 Story
    
SUPERGODS: COMICON MEETS HEROES FROM HISTORY, LESSONS FOR TODAY
     
     Comic book writer turned book author GRANT MORRISON, a featured speaker at the recent COMICON convention in San Diego – the gathering of all-things comic book / illustrated novelettes – had a fascinating conversation with DYLAN RATTIGAN on the latter's MSNBC show Thursday. Morrison is the author of the new book, “Supergods.” The central theme in discussing the book was the values of enduring comic book heroes as coherent models for behavior by all of us. Morrison cites that as the key to understanding why comic book heroes provide the basis for blockbuster movies and endure as part of our culture.
     
     The discussion centered on the proper and ethical use of power, not as a tool for the powerful to wield to increase their own wealth and power, but as an equalizer to be used in behalf of those who lack empowerment to help them get a break, a fair deal, a chance to better themselves.
     
     If that sounds familiar, turns out that has been a recurring theme throughout the myths and folk tales of many cultures. Read anything by the late JOSEPH CAMPBELL, and you'll see what we mean. (Or read HOMER. How many times did the gods help Odysseus during his long quest, in return for his courage and fortitude?)
    
    The TV discussion ranged from MALLORY's ancient portrayal of King Arthur – where you had to be pure of heart to pull the sword from the stone – to the 1938 arrival of the Superman character as a champion of the downtrodden when most of society was downtrodden. That was contrasted with the behavior of the rich corporate manipulators of our time.
    
    It brought the editor back to a book he read earlier this summer. It's the 2006 New York Times bestseller, “Revolutionary Characters” by Pulitzer Prize winning historian GORDON S. WOOD. It's subtitled, “What Made the Founders Famous,” and therein is the key to Wood's theme.
    
    In examining and weighing the motivations and contributions of America's key Founding Fathers, Wood cites the way each agonized over remaining “disinterested.” That word doesn't mean the same thing today. In their time, it meant that one sacrificed his own opportunity to pursue wealth and power during the time he gave his talents for the public good. When you acted as a public servant, you offered policies, programs, and legislation that would benefit the people while being careful NOT to benefit your own personal interests. (No wonder the book sold so well during the GW Bush administration.)
    
    Back to TV. We didn't expect to hear a thesis that would cast comic book superheroes in the same light as America's pantheon of founders while tuned to a show focused on the debt / budget stalemate. But the lesson from both places and both authors is surprisingly similar.
    
    Another example of how art, in its myriad forms – even comic books – brings valuable lessons we can cite and emulate to shape our own behavior, our motivations and aspirations, and the expectations we should have for our wannabe leaders.
     
    
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Our # 7 Story
    
WE SPOKE TOO SOON: BYE BYE OPEN BORDERS, TOO     
VENUE'S LAST SHOW IS SUNDAY
    
    We were just getting used to the fact that their press notices were always for something wonderful. Now there's just one more chance to go there. A last tango at Open Borders happens this Sunday, July 31.
    
    The last Open Borders show, Sunday at 7 pm, is a good one. They're going out in style. It stars I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. and AMILIA K. SPICER as shared headliners, with an opening set by DAVE MORRISON, in Marilyn Babcock's “Four Friends Acoustic Music Series.” The first 100 guests will enjoy dinner with the price of their admission; 6:30 pm dinner at “Marilyn's Famous Taco Burrito Bar,” plus a no-host bar is available. Tix (including all that for the first 100) are $15.
    
    Last week, we celebrated the survival of the former Borders bookstore as the delightful live music venue called Open Borders, which opened in late spring in Thousand Oaks. That news was poignant, set against the sad news of the closing last week of the entire Borders Bookstore chain of 199 stores with the loss of 11,000 jobs. Borders was once a bastion of live acoustic music from coast-to-coast, and Open Borders seemed to be the sole survivor to carry that legacy.    
    
    It seems there's no silver lining after all.     
    
    Open Borders, playing on its former name and operating as an impressive concert / festival / performance venue presenting substantial folk-Americana concerts, has lasted less than three months.
    
    Last week, it presented concerts by a pair of Grammy-winners, the PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND and the following night, THE KLEZMATICS, plus a show by MEIKO & TOM FREUND. (All were featured in the Guide's News and in our Spotlight Events section.)
    
    Open Borders hosted a festival on June 11, the HOMAGE TO WOODY GUTHRIE with COUNTRY JOE McDONALD & RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT, ROCKY NECK, and THE GET DOWN BOYS. (Featured in advance in the Guide's news.)     
    
    The kid-friendly, wheelchair accessible venue will be much missed, especially in the West Valley / inland Ventura County areas. We hardly knew ye. Details and tix for the last show and more are at www.openborders2011.com; their email is openbordersmedia@gmail.com or call them at 805-497-1018. Open Borders is located at 125 W Thousand Oaks Bl, Thousand Oaks 91360.     
    
    
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Our # 8 Story
    
IN MEMORIUM: JOEL OKIDA, MUSIC JOURNALIST EXTRAORDINAIRE     
    
    A quiet but vital presence will be absent this weekend at the annual return of the Long Beach Crawfish Festival. Just one year ago in the Guide's coverage of that event, we wrote, “As Joel Okida observes in his page-one story in the [2010] summer print edition of FolkWorks, only in Southern California do we celebrate Mardi Gras more than once a year, and in the summer, instead of February.”    
    
    Now, the Second Line parade must march for him (July 30, just before STEP RIDEAU takes the stage at 7 pm). Joel Okida is gone, lost to a massive heart attack.    
    
    Joel was an artist, a writer, a journalist, and an astute observer who helped us all to see things at their essence or in dimensions we might have missed altogether. And he enjoyed signing his emails with playful quotes and quips, like “ 'How many people here have telekinetic powers? Raise my hand.' - Emo Philips.”
    
    Joel was a prolific writer for FolkWorks and a contributor here in the Guide. When the editor was recovering from his initial eye surgery in October 2009, Joel covered events for our readers. He wrote a pair of concert reviews for us then. One was on the all-star ensemble WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (aka WPA) and their show at Largo in L.A., the other on BOULDER ACOUSTIC SOCIETY, that virtuosic ensemble from the Centennial State who played the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. Both are still good reads that make you feel like you were there or help you remember the time you saw either of these fine bands perform.
    
    He reviewed for us the Greek Theatre performance of “THREE GIRLS AND THEIR BUDDY, the ensemble of EMMYLOU HARRIS, SHAWN COLVIN, PATTY GRIFFIN, & BUDDY MILLER.
    
    Joel was a consummate writer. He knew how to turn a phrase with effect and purpose.    
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    In his review for the Guide of a 2009 all-star phenom, he wrote, “WPA, aka WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION, is a superb conglomerate of ace musicians who have put together a collection of songs that are all as rich as they are varied. This band can stretch out across several genres like they are the house band for all things Americana. The musicianship is solid as a rock (and roll) and they let each other shine in both songs and solos.”    
    
    Then he got meaningfully expressive: “The core members of sibs SARA & SEAN WATKINS (of NICKEL CREEK), GLEN PHILLIPS (TOAD THE WET SPROCKET), and LUKE BULLA (LYLE LOVETT) are a quartet of solid singers who can back up the vocals with some sharp instrumentals. At the Largo show, semi-regulars GREG LEISZ (Bill Frisell, Joni Mitchell, Dave Alvin), massaged out some very spot-on lapsteel riffs, BENMONT TENCH (Tom Petty) played the hell out of the house upright piano, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG (Soul Coughing) punctuated the rhythms on bass, and local skin spanker DON HEFFINGTON, rocked each number like this could be his old band. The interplay was tight and each song was ripe with melodies juicy and soulful.”    
    
    He wrote more, but can you visualize the essence of that night? So can we.    
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Here are some examples from his other reviews for the Guide:
    
    Subtitled “Getting Bolder by the Minute,” his play on words with the band's name set the stage for what followed. He wrote, “The name BOULDER ACOUSTIC SOCIETY may sound like a monthly gathering of Colorado audio engineers, but, in fact, is the moniker of four lively musicians who come together on stages across the country to entertain many a sell-out audience.” He cited them as a “multi-faceted music machine.” He detailed their charm and ability, “With a sharp jab or subtle irony, they can get you grinning broadly to any number of rollicking up tempo numbers and then cut you off at the knees with a lament like accordion / keyboard player SCOTT McCORMICK’s 'Take My Hand.' From there, they take that lump out of your throat and boost you up with an inspired gospel hymn.”
    
    Yes, Joel always captured the feel of every note, and he reveled in it. In his full review, he covers the specific key contributions of each band member. He always did that, recognizing the reason each musician was on stage, and what they brought. From the same review:
    
    “Not many bands can be everything to everybody, but BAS touches upon so many musical areas that if they did a show comprised of early music lullabies, bird calls of the Pacific Northwest, Paganini violin concertos and the Star Spangled Banner on ukulele, you would only be mildly surprised, but not shocked at all by how well they do it.”
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Joel's output was consistently bright, punchy, and thoughtful, all at the same time. We savored what he wrote, as did many others whose concert ticket purchases followed his guidance.
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    He once sent us an alliterative piece he did on VAGABOND OPERA. It's vintage Joel Okida:
    
    “As the traveling ensemble Vagabond Opera makes its way up and down the west coast, they will soon park here and bring an entertainment to our fine but fickle and financially-strapped city; an evening which promises to be filled with tongue-in-cheekiness, cheery chicanery, and perhaps a skosh of the scoundrel. Performing selections from the their last recording, ‘The Zeitgeist Beckons,’ as well as offerings from two previous CDs, the staunchly acoustic Vagabond Opera brings thrills and chills in their ‘opera in four acts, maybe even five.’ A tantalizing tango, a tarantella tarriance, a wandering waltz, and who knows, maybe even a triple-measured mazurka will be performed with full operatic interpretation and expert instrumental-attended accompaniment.”
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Writing for the Guide about “THREE GIRLS AND THEIR BUDDY,” Joel expressed, “Hey, EMMY LOU is the grand dame of iconic folk/no wig country music so what's not to love?” He celebrated “Voices sparkling with varying degrees of twang and quiver, three sopranos and BUDDY MILLER's distinct and forceful delivery provided for an evening of defining Americana prose-like singing.”
    
    Meanwhile, Joel found “... PATTY GRIFFIN to be near transcendent in her songwriting and elocution of her evening's song selection.”
    
    You always learned when you read Joel's reviews. Sometimes, it was what he already knew:
    
    “Admittedly, I have been a BUDDY MILLER fan for a long time, both in his smart and stylish guitar playing but also his singing and songwriting. Truly an underrated performer outside of the folk/country/roots genre where he is known and well-respected. His 'Shelter Me' and 'All My Tears' etched into the night, counterpoint to the sweet vocals of the womanly takes on tales of woe.”
    
    Sometimes, Joel introduced us as he learned himself:
    
    “I was not a SHAWN COLVIN fan before, not because I didn't like her music, but because I just never really got around to listening to a lot of her book although she enjoyed many a hit in the genre several years ago. She was spot on when her turn came around and no slouch on guitar either.”
    
    (The Guide ran reviews of that show by eight different writers. Read them all at
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/three-girls-their-buddy-emmylou-harris.html.)    
    
    Joel's “Three Girls” review continued, “I think the youngster in the group at 45, Griffin, would win my honors for charismatic readings of her material. 'Heavenly Day' and 'Mary' really stood out and I also liked that deadpan novelty tune, which for lack of not knowing the unrecorded title, must be something like, 'It's a Dud' (one of the two 'love' songs that she's ever written, according to her).”
    
    When you read that, you know what to look for when you see her perform. That's what Joel gave us, every time he wrote for the folk-Americana music community. That, and his quiet, comfortable presence that somehow was just challenging enough that you always wanted to know what he thought, and you reveled in it whether or not you agreed with him.
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Joel tipped us to a show that we put in the Guide for March 10, 2008. He called SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB (playing that night at Safari Sam's in L.A.) “Colorado psychobilly gospel sweathogs.”
    
    Joel Okida gave you enough detail to build your own cognitive framework, whether or not you were there, but never so much minutiae that it became esoteric or limited to those who saw the show.
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    As a prominent member of a multifaceted community of always-struggling writers with rich resumes, Joel could speak in many of the same subtleties of nomenclature and tech jargon with us, exploring still more aspects of how everything is connected to everything else. It was always fun to talk shop about any of many shops with Joel.
    
    The Guide's editor remembers Joel riding to the rescue when an overdue CD review ran up against recovery from one of the editor's several eye surgeries and its prohibition of computer use. A phone call to Joel, and FolkWorks got the review on time – Joel's review – to the benefit of the very deserving roots-jazz-Americana artist LAWRENCE (“Don't Call Her Larry”) LEBO. Yep, Joel was a good guy.    
    
    And he was an unassuming guy. Despite being an influential writer, and one with a devoted following, Joel rarely sought media privileges. He won tickets from the Guide to see CHRIS HILLMAN at the Grammy Museum, competing just like our other readers, rather than asking if we had a ticket for him. When the editor hosted the annual Cowboy Christmas Concert in the Autry Museum's Wells Fargo Theatre, Joel was humbled that we put him on the guest list. Joel's unassuming humility often limited how many shows he could afford to attend, and once we discerned that, we always made it a priority to get him tickets when we hoped he might write for us.    
    
    Joel loved the more kinetic forms of folk dance, especially Cajun / zydeco dance. He journeyed to Louisiana for immersion when he could, and he was a reliable presence on the local dance scene where he was universally known and loved. It was while taking part in a dance that he was stricken with the massive heart attack from which he never recovered before dying three days later.
    
    After years of caring for sick and aging parents who finally passed, Joel was just beginning to enjoy a new found freedom and planning more ambitious travels. He had a long hit list of festivals before him, across many states. We will surely catch ourselves looking for him at old haunts and new ones for a long time to come.
    
    We will miss our conversations with Joel most of all. Always quick on his feet, things he said nonetheless sounded thoughtful and reflective. That's rare and notable. It came with a humor that was deadpan dry and witty and occasioned brow-raising hilarity. The guy was wise, and anyone aspiring to wisdom wanted him around. We miss him. A lot.
    
    You can read a compilation of Joel's reviews for The Guide at     
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/remembering-joel-okida-his-work-for.html.     

    In addition, FolkWorks has a tribute and links to his many features and reviews that graced their pages, both paper and cyber. That's available on page one at www.folkworks.org.     
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    There is a memorial service for Joel Okida on August 7, from 3-8 pm. Here are the details:
    
    “IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOEL OKIDA,” a gathering in memory of our friend. (Open invitation to everyone who knew Joel.) Includes an opportunity for those who would like to share their thoughts and for those who would like to play music in tribute to Joel, so bring your instruments. Hosts are asking for those who have an art piece made my Joel to bring it for a group installation and appreciation of his work. They say, “We think he'd have liked that.”
    
    This is a potluck, so all food / drink contributions are greatly appreciated. It's at Warren & Wendy's, 1001 N. Cedar Street, Glendale 91207. Email, warrencasey@wickedtinkers.com; Warren's phones, 818-548-4566 or 818-219-3346; Wendy's phone, 818-246-2124. They need help setting up on Friday, August 5; Warren has a WICKED TINKERS show on Saturday (in Ojai, in the Spotlight Events section) and will be out of town, hence the Friday set-up. Please call or email the hosts if you can be there Friday to help for Sunday's event.
    
    
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Our # 9 Story
    
BERKLEY HART PLAY THEIR L.A. CD RELEASE SHOW SATURDAY NIGHT, JULY 30
    
    That fabulous San Diego-based acoustic duo BERKLEY HART (JEFF BERKLEY & CALMAN HART) are releasing their 6th studio album, “Crow,” with a show at the Coffee
Gallery Backstage in Altadena this Saturday evening.
    Not to be confused with the Grammy-winning STEVE MARTIN album, “The Crow,” the new BERKLEY HART CD, “Crow,” has already been nominated in the “Best Americana Album”
category for this year's San Diego Music Awards.
    The promo is clever, saying, “In some cultures, the crow symbolizes despair and darkness, while in others it is a harbinger of hope and light. This contrast fits the yin and yang of the
songs on 'Crow,' both musically and lyrically, and thus inspired the title.”
    Among other songs, listeners will find the playfully dark cover, “Little Boxes,” as well as the moody “Barn Sour Horses,” which serves as a sequel of sorts to some of the characters you’ve already met in previous Berkley Hart songs. Longtime fans acclaim Berkley Hart at their best
on this album, while new listeners understand why this incredible duo is so admired.
    How's this for a venue-supplied testimonial by concert-goers: “We have seen close to one
hundred shows at The Coffee Gallery Backstage over the last few years. Berkley Hart is in our top five shows. I have never seen a group charm an audience like Jeff Berkley and Calman
Hart. Excellent musicians, original songs, mellow harmonies make them an amazing act. The
sound of the Backstage gives this great act the venue they deserve. Thanks so much for
booking them .” - Kerry and Pat Bower.
    Venue impresario Bob Stane says, “Over their more than 10 years together, San Diego’s
Berkley Hart have proven time and again they are worth the price of admission or the cost of a CD.” Go to www.berkleyhart.com for more.
    Bob Stane calls them “A big winner.” We heartily concur. The show is Saturday, July 30,
7 pm, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; more info at www.coffeegallery.com; reservations are highly recommended at 626-798-6236.Tix, $20.
    
    
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MORE STUFF >>>>>>> Resources, etc
    
Our recently updated VENUE DIRECTORY    
  
...with OVER 500 acoustic-music-friendly venues in Southern California, is available at   
  
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/venue-directory-from-guide-updated.html   
  
  
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RECENT EDITIONS of The Guide's NEWS FEATURES are still available!  
  
Just check our archive! Read the contents bar on the left side of the page at www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com and click the appropriate month.   
  
The MOST RECENT past editions (last 30 days) are archived and easy to find.
    
July 19 edition is available at
      
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/acoustic-americana-music-guide-news_19.html     
                       and the stories are:
  
  1) Is the Future of Arts Funding Gone in America?
    (a major, in-depth feature, with analysis beyond Washington's maddening politics that     
    debunks the Debt Limit, spending cuts and budget battles)  
  2) KCSN Cancels “TWANG;” Nic Harcourt Gets Time Slot for New Non-Folk-Friendly    
    “Eclectic” Show  
  3) RIDERS IN THE SKY to Play “DAY OF THE COWBOY & COWGIRL” FESTIVAL     
    at the Autry this Saturday    
  4) July 23 & 24 Weekend: More Festivals, Concerts, Tough Choices  
  5) Bye Bye Borders – Except One    
  6) Full Evenings of Quality Music Programs, New on Fridays on L.A. TV    
  7) THE SYNCOPATHS Play a Pair of Events at Caltech this Weekend    
  8) MOLLY’S REVENGE to Play Culver City's free SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL, July 28  
  9) Annual “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” Arrives July 30 & 31    
 10) Inaugural VENTURA FOLK FESTIVAL Brings Stars in August  
    
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July 11 edition is available at
      
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/acoustic-americana-music-guide-news.html    
                       and the stories are:
  
  1) Silent Movie Classics with Live Music, Just Five Bucks, Monday, July 11  
  2) Dulcimers, Anyone?  
  3) Texas Music Star CAROLYN MARTIN in Town for Thursday Show  
  4) FUR DIXON & STEVE WERNER's CD Release Show is Friday at McCabe's    
  5) Boulevard Music Summer Festival, Free, Sunday, July 17    
  6) Pershing Square Summer Lunchtime Concert Series Starts Wednesday    
  7) Camarillo Café Concert Series Brings Fine Music to Ventura County  
  8) July 23 & 24 Weekend: Festivals, Concerts, Tough Choices    
  9) Skirball's Sunset Concert Series for 2011 – What Happened?  
 10) Good Music Films in Skirball's Summer Offerings    
 11) Artist's Suicide Brings Thoughts that May Prevent Another Tragedy  
    
    
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Questions? Comments? Contact us at   
  
                          tied to the tracks (at) Hotmail (dot) com  
  
(We're trying to cut-down spam. Please help – just remove all the spaces and type the "@" and the ".")  
  
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The LATEST EDITION of THE GUIDE, the NEWS FEATURES, THE SCENE, SPOTLIGHTED EVENTS, & THE VENUE DIRECTORY– what it takes to bring you the world of current acoustic music happenings, including "heads up" notices to buy advance tickets for shows likely to sell-outc   
  
Plus VENUES TO HEAR MUSIC OR CONTACT TO GET GIGS, and lots more   
  
    – is available 24/7 (& frequently updated!) at ~  
  
             www.acousticmusic.net or at   
             www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com    
  
- or follow any of the links in the fifteen web sites and web groups that carry the Guide’s weekly News Features.  
  
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IN MEMORIUM: JOEL OKIDA, MUSIC JOURNALIST EXTRAORDINAIRE

    
    A quiet but vital presence will be absent this weekend at the annual return of the Long Beach Crawfish Festival. Just one year ago in the Guide's coverage of that event, we wrote, “As Joel Okida observes in his page-one story in the [2010] summer print edition of FolkWorks, only in Southern California do we celebrate Mardi Gras more than once a year, and in the summer, instead of February.”    
    
    Now, the Second Line parade must march for him (July 30, just before STEP RIDEAU takes the stage at 7 pm). Joel Okida is gone, lost to a massive heart attack.    
    
    Joel was an artist, a writer, a journalist, and an astute observer who helped us all to see things at their essence or in dimensions we might have missed altogether. And he enjoyed signing his emails with playful quotes and quips, like “ 'How many people here have telekinetic powers? Raise my hand.' - Emo Philips.”
    
    Joel was a prolific writer for FolkWorks and a contributor here in the Guide. When the editor was recovering from his initial eye surgery in October 2009, Joel covered events for our readers. He wrote a pair of concert reviews for us then. One was on the all-star ensemble WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (aka WPA) and their show at Largo in L.A., the other on BOULDER ACOUSTIC SOCIETY, that virtuosic ensemble from the Centennial State who played the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. Both are still good reads that make you feel like you were there or help you remember the time you saw either of these fine bands perform.
    
    He reviewed for us the Greek Theatre performance of “THREE GIRLS AND THEIR BUDDY, the ensemble of EMMYLOU HARRIS, SHAWN COLVIN, PATTY GRIFFIN, & BUDDY MILLER.
    
    Joel was a consummate writer. He knew how to turn a phrase with effect and purpose.    
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    In his review for the Guide of a 2009 all-star phenom, he wrote, “WPA, aka WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION, is a superb conglomerate of ace musicians who have put together a collection of songs that are all as rich as they are varied. This band can stretch out across several genres like they are the house band for all things Americana. The musicianship is solid as a rock (and roll) and they let each other shine in both songs and solos.”    
    
    Then he got meaningfully expressive: “The core members of sibs SARA & SEAN WATKINS (of NICKEL CREEK), GLEN PHILLIPS (TOAD THE WET SPROCKET), and LUKE BULLA (LYLE LOVETT) are a quartet of solid singers who can back up the vocals with some sharp instrumentals. At the Largo show, semi-regulars GREG LEISZ (Bill Frisell, Joni Mitchell, Dave Alvin), massaged out some very spot-on lapsteel riffs, BENMONT TENCH (Tom Petty) played the hell out of the house upright piano, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG (Soul Coughing) punctuated the rhythms on bass, and local skin spanker DON HEFFINGTON, rocked each number like this could be his old band. The interplay was tight and each song was ripe with melodies juicy and soulful.”    
    
    He wrote more, but can you visualize the essence of that night? So can we.    
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Here are some examples from his other reviews for the Guide:
    
    Subtitled “Getting Bolder by the Minute,” his play on words with the band's name set the stage for what followed. He wrote, “The name BOULDER ACOUSTIC SOCIETY may sound like a monthly gathering of Colorado audio engineers, but, in fact, is the moniker of four lively musicians who come together on stages across the country to entertain many a sell-out audience.” He cited them as a “multi-faceted music machine.” He detailed their charm and ability, “With a sharp jab or subtle irony, they can get you grinning broadly to any number of rollicking up tempo numbers and then cut you off at the knees with a lament like accordion / keyboard player SCOTT McCORMICK’s 'Take My Hand.' From there, they take that lump out of your throat and boost you up with an inspired gospel hymn.”
    
    Yes, Joel always captured the feel of every note, and he reveled in it. In his full review, he covers the specific key contributions of each band member. He always did that, recognizing the reason each musician was on stage, and what they brought. From the same review:
    
    “Not many bands can be everything to everybody, but BAS touches upon so many musical areas that if they did a show comprised of early music lullabies, bird calls of the Pacific Northwest, Paganini violin concertos and the Star Spangled Banner on ukulele, you would only be mildly surprised, but not shocked at all by how well they do it.”
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Joel's output was consistently bright, punchy, and thoughtful, all at the same time. We savored what he wrote, as did many others whose concert ticket purchases followed his guidance.
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    He once sent us an alliterative piece he did on VAGABOND OPERA. It's vintage Joel Okida:
    
    “As the traveling ensemble Vagabond Opera makes its way up and down the west coast, they will soon park here and bring an entertainment to our fine but fickle and financially-strapped city; an evening which promises to be filled with tongue-in-cheekiness, cheery chicanery, and perhaps a skosh of the scoundrel. Performing selections from the their last recording, ‘The Zeitgeist Beckons,’ as well as offerings from two previous CDs, the staunchly acoustic Vagabond Opera brings thrills and chills in their ‘opera in four acts, maybe even five.’ A tantalizing tango, a tarantella tarriance, a wandering waltz, and who knows, maybe even a triple-measured mazurka will be performed with full operatic interpretation and expert instrumental-attended accompaniment.”
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Writing for the Guide about “THREE GIRLS AND THEIR BUDDY,” Joel expressed, “Hey, EMMY LOU is the grand dame of iconic folk/no wig country music so what's not to love?” He celebrated “Voices sparkling with varying degrees of twang and quiver, three sopranos and BUDDY MILLER's distinct and forceful delivery provided for an evening of defining Americana prose-like singing.”
    
    Meanwhile, Joel found “... PATTY GRIFFIN to be near transcendent in her songwriting and elocution of her evening's song selection.”
    
    You always learned when you read Joel's reviews. Sometimes, it was what he already knew:
    
    “Admittedly, I have been a BUDDY MILLER fan for a long time, both in his smart and stylish guitar playing but also his singing and songwriting. Truly an underrated performer outside of the folk/country/roots genre where he is known and well-respected. His 'Shelter Me' and 'All My Tears' etched into the night, counterpoint to the sweet vocals of the womanly takes on tales of woe.”
    
    Sometimes, Joel introduced us as he learned himself:
    
    “I was not a SHAWN COLVIN fan before, not because I didn't like her music, but because I just never really got around to listening to a lot of her book although she enjoyed many a hit in the genre several years ago. She was spot on when her turn came around and no slouch on guitar either.”
    
    (The Guide ran reviews of that show by eight different writers. Read them all at
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/three-girls-their-buddy-emmylou-harris.html.)    
    
    Joel's “Three Girls” review continued, “I think the youngster in the group at 45, Griffin, would win my honors for charismatic readings of her material. 'Heavenly Day' and 'Mary' really stood out and I also liked that deadpan novelty tune, which for lack of not knowing the unrecorded title, must be something like, 'It's a Dud' (one of the two 'love' songs that she's ever written, according to her).”
    
    When you read that, you know what to look for when you see her perform. That's what Joel gave us, every time he wrote for the folk-Americana music community. That, and his quiet, comfortable presence that somehow was just challenging enough that you always wanted to know what he thought, and you reveled in it whether or not you agreed with him.
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    Joel tipped us to a show that we put in the Guide for March 10, 2008. He called SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB (playing that night at Safari Sam's in L.A.) “Colorado psychobilly gospel sweathogs.”
    
    Joel Okida gave you enough detail to build your own cognitive framework, whether or not you were there, but never so much minutiae that it became esoteric or limited to those who saw the show.
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    As a prominent member of a multifaceted community of always-struggling writers with rich resumes, Joel could speak in many of the same subtleties of nomenclature and tech jargon with us, exploring still more aspects of how everything is connected to everything else. It was always fun to talk shop about any of many shops with Joel.
    
    The Guide's editor remembers Joel riding to the rescue when an overdue CD review ran up against recovery from one of the editor's several eye surgeries and its prohibition of computer use. A phone call to Joel, and FolkWorks got the review on time – Joel's review – to the benefit of the very deserving roots-jazz-Americana artist LAWRENCE (“Don't Call Her Larry”) LEBO. Yep, Joel was a good guy.    
    
    And he was an unassuming guy. Despite being an influential writer, and one with a devoted following, Joel rarely sought media privileges. He won tickets from the Guide to see CHRIS HILLMAN at the Grammy Museum, competing just like our other readers, rather than asking if we had a ticket for him. When the editor hosted the annual Cowboy Christmas Concert in the Autry Museum's Wells Fargo Theatre, Joel was humbled that we put him on the guest list. Joel's unassuming humility often limited how many shows he could afford to attend, and once we discerned that, we always made it a priority to get him tickets when we hoped he might write for us.    
    
    Joel loved the more kinetic forms of folk dance, especially Cajun / zydeco dance. He journeyed to Louisiana for immersion when he could, and he was a reliable presence on the local dance scene where he was universally known and loved. It was while taking part in a dance that he was stricken with the massive heart attack from which he never recovered before dying three days later.
    
    After years of caring for sick and aging parents who finally passed, Joel was just beginning to enjoy a new found freedom and planning more ambitious travels. He had a long hit list of festivals before him, across many states. We will surely catch ourselves looking for him at old haunts and new ones for a long time to come.
    
    We will miss our conversations with Joel most of all. Always quick on his feet, things he said nonetheless sounded thoughtful and reflective. That's rare and notable. It came with a humor that was deadpan dry and witty and occasioned brow-raising hilarity. The guy was wise, and anyone aspiring to wisdom wanted him around. We miss him. A lot.
    
    You can read a compilation of Joel's reviews for The Guide at     
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/remembering-joel-okida-his-work-for.html.     

    In addition, FolkWorks has a tribute and links to his many features and reviews that graced their pages, both paper and cyber. That's available on page one at www.folkworks.org.     
    
~~~~~~~    
    
    There is a memorial service for Joel Okida on August 7, from 3-8 pm. Here are the details:
    
    “IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOEL OKIDA,” a gathering in memory of our friend. (Open invitation to everyone who knew Joel.) Includes an opportunity for those who would like to share their thoughts and for those who would like to play music in tribute to Joel, so bring your instruments. Hosts are asking for those who have an art piece made my Joel to bring it for a group installation and appreciation of his work. They say, “We think he'd have liked that.”
    
    This is a potluck, so all food / drink contributions are greatly appreciated. It's at Warren & Wendy's, 1001 N. Cedar Street, Glendale 91207. Email, warrencasey@wickedtinkers.com; Warren's phones, 818-548-4566 or 818-219-3346; Wendy's phone, 818-246-2124. They need help setting up on Friday, August 5; Warren has a WICKED TINKERS show on Saturday (in Ojai, in the Spotlight Events section) and will be out of town, hence the Friday set-up. Please call or email the hosts if you can be there Friday to help for Sunday's event.
    
~~~~~~~    
    
Read the reviews that Joel wrote for the Guide, collected in one place, at
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/remembering-joel-okida-his-work-for.html     
    
Read much more of Joel's work in the current memorial retrospective in FolkWorks, online at www.folkworks.org.     
    
Return to finish reading the current edition of The Guide at www.acousticmusic.net or www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com.     
    
    
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Spotlight Events: Acoustic Americana Music Guide, UPDATE July 28, 2011

     
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               SPOTLIGHT EVENTS
     
                         from THE ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE
     
                                                                                          July 28, 2011 edition
     
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Need something FAST?
     
Check the list below, for The Guide's SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK Picks, July 29 through August 6 – the SEVENTEEN shows we recommend this week!
        
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PLUS, there's LOTS more here!
     
    This is SPOTLIGHT EVENTS – the LATEST UPDATE to the Guide's chronological, day-by-
day listings and descriptions of live acoustic and Americana performances, festivals,
workshops and more. Welcome! We cover festivals and concerts indoors and out, across and around L.A., from the north border of Santa Barbara County to the south border of Orange County, and inland to the deserts. It's tthe region with the most live acoustic music of anyplace in the world.
    
    And remember to check-out the Guide's other fresh content – our current (July 28) edition of the Guide's NEWS FEATURES at
    
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/acoustic-americana-music-guide-news_28.html     
    
and...
    
Our separate and SPECIAL major feature on the Debt Debate, budget cuts, public funding, and implications for artists.
    
    ***THAT ONE has brought a RECORD AMOUNT of reader comments(!) and has been re-published in FolkWorks magazine.
    
It examines the Debt and Budget Debate and many alarming implications, focusing on
“IS THE FUTURE OF ARTS FUNDING GONE IN AMERICA?”
The feature AND the comments are at    
    
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-future-of-arts-funding-gone-in.html     
    
    
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QUICK STUFF:
The Guide's SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK Picks, July 29 through August 6...
     
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SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK picks,
FRIDAY, JULY 29:
1 pm-6 pm Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” brings free music outdoors, Friday through
Sunday, in Topanga Canyon.
+     
8 pm CONJUNTO LOS POCHOS at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena
     
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SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK picks,
SATURDAY, JULY 30:
Noon-10 pm Annual “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” at Rainbow Lagoon, Long Beach. (Runs Saturday & Sunday, July 30 & 31)
+     
11 am-5 pm Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” brings free music outdoors, Friday through
Sunday, in Topanga Canyon.
+     
3 pm RUTHANN FRIEDMAN & special guest JEB LIPSON play a matinee at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena.
+     
4-9 pm Annual “BIG BEAR MOUNTAIN TWILIGHT MUSIC FESTIVAL” with SLIGO RAGS,
SCOTT GATES & THE SALTY SUITES, CHARLIE RAY & LINDA WASHINGTON, & BRIAN
LYNN JONES & THE MISFIT COWBOYS, at Big Bear Discovery Center, Fawnskin (Big Bear).
+     
7 pm BERKLEY HART play their L.A. CD RELEASE SHOW for “Crow,” their 6th studio album, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena.
+     
7 pm KEN O'MALLEY & THE TWILIGHT LORDS play the “Concerts in the Park” series in Central Park, Santa Clarita.
+     
8 pm CLIFF WAGNER AND HIS OLD #7 at Boulevard Music, Culver City.
     
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SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK picks,
SUNDAY, JULY 31:
Noon-10 pm Annual “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” at Rainbow Lagoon, Long Beach. (Runs Saturday & Sunday, July 30 & 31)
+     
Noon-6 pm Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” brings free music outdoors, Friday through
Sunday, in Topanga Canyon.
+     
7 pm I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. and AMILIA K SPICER plus DAVE MORRISON play the final show at Open Borders, Thousand Oaks.
+     
7 pm LOS LONELY BOYS and LOS LOBOS play Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay, San Diego.
     
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SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK pick,
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3:
8 pm LISA HALEY & THE ZYDECATS play the “Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival” series in the Redlands Bowl, Redlands.
     
SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK pick,
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4:
7 pm 17th annual CULVER CITY SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL brings rock and rockabilly from guitar legend ALBERT LEE, backed by the CARL VERHEYEN BAND in the palm-lined courtyard of Culver City's City Hall.
     
SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK pick,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5:
8 pm “ARTISTRY OF THE GUITAR” with American fingerstyle guitarists KEN BONFIELD and STEVE DAVISON at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena.
     
SHOW-OF-THE-WEEK picks,
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6:
7 pm THE TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS, top Western music award winners, plus an opening set by STEVE DEMING at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena.
+     
7:30 pm THE WICKED TINKERS perform at Dancing Oak Ranch, near Ojai.
+     
8 pm SNAP JACKSON & THE KNOCK ON WOOD PLAYERS at Boulevard Music, Culver City.
+     
8 pm THE UNTOUCHABLES plus ZOOT SUIT REVUE play the outdoor summer concert series at Pershing Square, downtown Los Angeles (ride the Red Line subway).
     
     
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KEEP GOING into The Guide's SPOTLIGHT EVENTS section for all the details of these shows AND MORE.
     
~~~~~~~~~~~    
    
You can always find everything via the main site at
    
www.acousticmusic.net     
or go directly to the latest Table of Contents post at     
www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com     
    
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Now, let's get to ALL the details of ALL the wonderful possibilities!   
    
    
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The last days of July, 2011...    
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Thu, Jul 28:
6-9 pm: HORSEPLAY, the band of STEVE LINSKY, GORDON ROBERTS, PETER TE & TJ ZEILER, plays the world famous Ojai Deer Lodge, 2261 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai 93023; info, 805-910-7560. The band says, “Come on out for a great reasonably priced meal, a drink or two and good entertainment. Mention this Horseplay invite and order the discounted chef’s chicken special! There will be special guest appearances! or email Horseplay.band@gmail.com, more at www.horseplay.yolasite.com.”     
     
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Thu, Jul 28:
7 pm Acoustic Celtic band MOLLY’S REVENGE with special guest vocalist CHRISTA BURCH (The Syncopaths) plays the 17th annual Culver City Summer Music Festival series (8 Thursdays, different acts) in the palm-lined courtyard of Culver City's City Hall, 9770 Culver Bl (at Duquesne Av), downtown Culver City.
     Molly's Revenge is a dynamic, acoustic Celtic band with the classic combination of bagpipes, whistle, fiddle, and song – set against a backdrop of guitar, bouzouki, and mandola accompaniment. Singer and bodhrán player Christa Burch possesses a singular voice that's warm, supple, expressive and intimate.
     This popular series is curated by producer Gary Mandell of Culver City’s Boulevard Music (home of a fine year-round acoustic concert series.)
     Parking is free underneath City Hall; additional parking is free for the first two hours in designated structures in the downtown area (parking on streets can get you ticketed, so be careful). The courtyard opens at 4:30 pm. No glass containers or alcoholic beverages allowed. More info, call 310-253-5716. Free.
     
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Thu, Jul 28:
7-8:30 pm I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. play the Whittier Summer Concert in the Park series in
Parnell Park, 15390 Lambert Rd, Whittier. Free outdoor concert sponsored by the City of
Whittier.
     
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Fri, Jul 29:; Thu-Sun, Jul 28-31:
Noon-6 pm Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” brings free music, Friday through Sunday, “on a sweet outdoor stage” at Ribbit Tree & Plant Nursery, 301 Old Topanga Canyon Rd (at Monte Vista), Topanga Canyon. (Note: times vary each day.)
    
    So, it's really FOUR days of screenings, salon discussions, art installations, parties,
workshops, and MUSIC. Jewels & Johnny of the delightful acoustic band CITY FRITTER tell
us they have “put together a terrific line up of local and not so local talent.” Access to the music stage is free and does not require a festival pass or ticket. And they'll see to your needs, with a wine and beer bar, soft drinks, and gourmet food trucks offering victuals and libations for sale.
    
    CITY FRITTER plays Friday at 2 pm and Saturday at 3 pm. Here's the complete schedule.
Friday, July 29:
Noon-1 pm Joee Corso; 2-3 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm Preston Smith; 6-7 pm Susan James.
Saturday, July 30:
11 am-Noon Bryan Titus; Noon-1 pm Honeyheart; 1-2 pm Tess & Maya; 2-3 pm Christopher
Hawley; 3-4 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm The Blue Dolphins (Victoria Scott & Zachary Crocker).
Sunday, July 31:
1-2 pm Terin Ector & Friends; 2-3 pm Philip Boone; 3-4 pm Annemarie Solo; 4-5 pm I-Star.
     
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Fri, Jul 29:
7:30 pm LOS LONELY BOYS and LOS LOBOS at the Greek Theatre, , 2700 N Vermont, Griffith Park, L.A. 90027; 213-480-3232.
     
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Fri, Jul 29, festival on the Central Coast:
7:30 pm 11th Annual REDWOOD DULCIMER DAYS begins tonight with a faculty concert at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, 125 Canterbury Dr, Aptos. Suggested donation $15 general; $12 student/senior.
     Main festival is Saturday and requires separate tickets; see that listing. Reservations and info, www.redwooddulcimerday.com    
     
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Fri, Jul 29:
8 pm CONJUNTO LOS POCHOS at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236. Is it possible to be unhappy when
there's an accordion in the room? While steeped in traditional Tex-Mex Conjunto music, they
are not quite your typical Tex-Mex group. Los Pochos have traversed the folk scene fusing
country and blues, serenading crowds from museums to concert halls, and providing the
mystical, musical ambience for theater productions throughout the United States and Canada.
     The two co-founders of the group met at CalArts and parlayed their degrees in Visual Arts
and Jazz Piano into a lucrative career of banging out traditional Mexican music.
     The group includes Grammy winner Lorenzo Martinez, and the renowned Ernesto Molina, who comes from a lineage of Mariachi royalty. With a punchy accordion and seriously catchy
tunes, Conjunto Los Pochos has brought the traditional conjunto and norteno sounds into
L.A.'s music scene - from East L.A. to the Westside, throughout Southern California and
across the country. They have performed regularly at the Grassroots Music Festivals and the
Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio, Texas and have shared the stage with legendary
musicians Poncho Sanchez, Los Dos Gilbertos, and the renowned Flaco Jimenez.
     Now in their 13th year of performing, Los Pochos delivers a genuine expression of traditional northern Mexican music to a steadily growing roots-music audience that also loves to dance!      Los Pochos lays-down a foot-stompin' polka, dives into whimsical Cumbia, and finesses a
romantic Bolero. Whether singing in English or in Spanish, their music transcends language.
It's a rare intimate opportunity to experience the band in a cabaret-style performance space.
     Tix, $18.
     
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Sat, Jul 30; Thu-Sun, Jul 28-31:
11 am-5 pm Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” brings free music, Friday through Sunday, “on a sweet outdoor stage” at Ribbit Tree & Plant Nursery, 301 Old Topanga Canyon Rd (at Monte Vista), Topanga Canyon. (Note: times vary each day.)
    
    So, it's really FOUR days of screenings, salon discussions, art installations, parties,
workshops, and MUSIC. Jewels & Johnny of the delightful acoustic band CITY FRITTER tell
us they have “put together a terrific line up of local and not so local talent.” Access to the music stage is free and does not require a festival pass or ticket. And they'll see to your needs, with a wine and beer bar, soft drinks, and gourmet food trucks offering victuals and libations for sale.
    
    CITY FRITTER plays Friday at 2 pm and Saturday at 3 pm. Here's the complete schedule.
Friday, July 29:
Noon-1 pm Joee Corso; 2-3 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm Preston Smith; 6-7 pm Susan James.
Saturday, July 30:
11 am-Noon Bryan Titus; Noon-1 pm Honeyheart; 1-2 pm Tess & Maya; 2-3 pm Christopher
Hawley; 3-4 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm The Blue Dolphins (Victoria Scott & Zachary Crocker).
Sunday, July 31:
1-2 pm Terin Ector & Friends; 2-3 pm Philip Boone; 3-4 pm Annemarie Solo; 4-5 pm I-Star.
     
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Sat & Sun, Jul 30 & 31:
Noon-10 pm Annual “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” with performances today by MARK ST. MARY LOUISIANA BLUES AND ZYDECO BAND, ANDRE THIERRY & ZYDECO MAGIC, BLUESBOX BAYOU BAND, BENNIE & THE SWAMP GATORS, A.J. GIBBS - THE MYDECO KING, THE HIGH STEPPERS NEW ORLEANS BOOGIE BAND, plus dancing and children's activities.
+     
On Sunday, Noon-10 pm, performances by STEP RIDEAU & THE ZYDECO OUTLAWS, LEROY THOMAS, BONNE MUSIQUE ZYDECO, ROYALE GARDEN DIXIELAND BAND, A.J. GIBBS - THE MYDECO KING, THE HIGH STEPPERS NEW ORLEANS BOOGIE BAND, plus dancing and children's activities.
    
    It's all at Rainbow Lagoon, Shoreline Village Dr, Long Beach 90802.
    
    Of course, the main course is crawfish, in quantities fit for gluttony. There's entertainment
and activities for all ages, arts and crafts booths, ribs, chicken, Jamaican, Chinese, Thai and
other international foods and desserts, and adult beverages (beer, wine, liquor drinks including
"Screaming Crawfish" and margaritas). And lots and lots of Crawfish.
    More at www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com    
    
     
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Sat, Jul 30, festival on the Central Coast:
9 am 11th Annual REDWOOD DULCIMER DAYS with performances by LEO KRETZNER, PETER TOMMERUP, NEAL HELLMAN, & RON BEARDSLEE at "Boomeria," 60 Verde Dr, Bonny Doon, CA, in the hills above Santa Cruz, approximately 20 minutes from town. It's an “enchanted outdoor setting among majestic redwood forest. Features a three story castle, catacombs, a swimming pool and a massive working pipe organ.” Reservations and info, www.redwooddulcimerday.com    
     In addition, there's a faculty concert on Friday, July 29, at 7:30 pm at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, 125 Canterbury Dr, Aptos. Suggested donation $15 general; $12 student/senior.
     It's a full day of instruction, jam sessions, socializing and outdoor relaxation with some of most inspiring instructors available anywhere. Loaner instruments are available at no extra charge. Instruction this year covers a wide variety of styles, including Italian, Scandinavian, early music, French waltzes, Celtic, and American blues. Registration now open, $45 in advance, $55 at the door.
     
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Sat, Jul 30:
1-4 pm FREE COMMUNITY JAM - ALL ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS, co-sponsored by The Living Tradition and Southern California Dulcimer Heritage, at Mo's Music, 121 N Harbor (at Amerige), Fullerton; info, 714-267-4567. Organizers say “Stop by! Bring an instrument! Fretted & hammered dulcimer players welcome!”
     
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Sat, Jul 30:
3 pm RUTHANN FRIEDMAN & special guest JEB LIPSON play a matinee at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
     She wrote “Windy,” the big hit for THE ASSOCIATION, and Ruthann Friedman remains, as venue impresario Bob Stane says, “an enduring gem, a jewel in the headband of '60s culture.”
     Stane adds, “She radiates a particular color in the rainbow arc and, with a serious clutch of songs, defines an exact space and time. As a determined musician – her smooth and
undulating vocal line is combined with polished stone-washed lyrical poetry. Her legend starts with 'Windy.' The Association took it on and pushed it to the top of the charts in 1967.
     “For Ruthann, Windy was a guy. For The Association, it was Ruthann. Lots of guys really
got it about Ruthann. Some really got it about guys with stormy eyes.”
     Other salty reviews: "Ruthann Friedman wrote the early bubble-pop anthem 'Windy' for The Association while crashed out on Crosby's couch, swung with Zappa's crew, and she almost
got that Jefferson Airplane vocalist slot before bitch goddess Grace slunk in. Ruthann's 1970
LP, 'Constant Companion,' is a recording of sublime beauty and abstract folky ruminations
which should've sent ol' Joni running to Essra Mohawk and Judee Sill for consolation (and
inspiration!) -- but sadly recognition was a long time in coming. Friedman's lone 45, 'Carry On (Glittering Dancer)' is another bit of genius, fleshed out by captivating Van Dyke Parks
arrangements a la 'Smile' or 'Song Cycle.'”
     Guest artist JEB LIPSON joins her. He was “born in the suburbs surrounding a dying auto
industry and subsequently self-educated in the Arizona desert.” Jeb Lipson's style of acoustic music is unique, raw, very real and inviting. An accomplished songwriter and guitar player; Jeb Lipson has been playing on, producing and engineering records for over 20 years. He is
currently writing for and producing Solomon Burke Jr., among others. His original songs are to the point, thought-provoking and often personal. Bob Stane adds, “His solo live show seems to go by way too fast and leave you wanting more.” Tix, $15.
     
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Sat, Jul 30:
4-9 pm Annual “BIG BEAR MOUNTAIN TWILIGHT MUSIC FESTIVAL” with SLIGO RAGS,
SCOTT GATES & THE SALTY SUITES, CHARLIE RAY & LINDA WASHINGTON, & BRIAN
LYNN JONES & THE MISFIT COWBOYS, at Big Bear Discovery Center, 40971 North Shore Dr / Hwy 38, Fawnskin (Big Bear) 92333.
    
    Up in the cool San Bernardino Mountains, the Discovery Center in Fawnskin again plays
host to a fine late afternoon / evening music festival with four splendid acts. Taking the stage at 4 pm are CHARLIE RAY & LINDA; at 5 pm is a favorite, SLIGO RAGS; at 6:30 pm it's SCOTT GATES & THE SALTY SUITES, who played the main stage at the 51st Annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Fest earlier this year (to great acclaim); at 8 pm is the closer, BRIAN
LYNN JONES & THE MISFIT COWBOYS.
    
THE SALTY SUITES are mandolin wunderkind SCOTT GATES, plus CHUCK HAILES,
CHELSEA WILLIAMS, & ELAINE GREGSTON, performing progressive bluegrass and roots
music with a collective edge. SLIGO RAGS returns with their award-winning Celtic folk music with a bluegrass attitude. A new hot country duo from the Victor Valley, CHARLIE RAY &
LINDA WASHINGTON, will debut this year offering their audience traditional country and
classic rock with a country twist.
    
    It's one ticket for the whole shebang. Adults are $20; teens ages 13-18 are $10; children age 12 and under are admitted free. Dogs on a leash are welcome. Parking opens at 3 pm. The
Big Bear Discovery Center in Fawnskin is located at 40971 North Shore Drive (at Highway 38) and your GPS will show it as Big Bear 92408. There's more, including advance tix, at
www.NationalForestAssociation.org.    
    
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Sat, Jul 30:
7 pm BERKLEY HART play their L.A. CD RELEASE SHOW for “Crow,” their 6th studio album, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
    That fabulous San Diego-based acoustic duo BERKLEY HART (JEFF BERKLEY & CALMAN HART) are releasing their 6th studio album, “Crow,” with a show in Altadena. Not to
be confused with the Grammy-winning STEVE MARTIN album, “The Crow,” the new
BERKLEY HART CD, “Crow,” has already been nominated in the “Best Americana Album”
category for this year's San Diego Music Awards.
    The promo is clever, saying, “In some cultures, the crow symbolizes despair and darkness, while in others it is a harbinger of hope and light. This contrast fits the yin and yang of the
songs on 'Crow,' both musically and lyrically, and thus inspired the title.”
    Among other songs, listeners will find the playfully dark cover, “Little Boxes,” as well as the moody “Barn Sour Horses,” which serves as a sequel of sorts to some of the characters you’ve already met in previous Berkley Hart songs. Longtime fans acclaim Berkley Hart at their best
on this album, while new listeners understand why this incredible duo is so admired.
    How's this for a venue-supplied testimonial by concert-goers: “We have seen close to one
hundred shows at The Coffee Gallery Backstage over the last few years. Berkley Hart is in our top five shows. I have never seen a group charm an audience like Jeff Berkley and Calman
Hart. Excellent musicians, original songs, mellow harmonies make them an amazing act. The
sound of the Backstage gives this great act the venue they deserve. Thanks so much for
booking them .” - Kerry and Pat Bower.
    Venue impresario Bob Stane says, “Over their more than 10 years together, San Diego’s
Berkley Hart have proven time and again they are worth the price of admission or the cost of a CD.” Go to www.berkleyhart.com for more.
    Bob Stane calls them “A big winner.” We heartily concur. Reservations are highly recommended at 626-798-6236. Tix, $20.
     
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Sat, Jul 30:
7 pm KEN O'MALLEY & THE TWILIGHT LORDS play the “Concerts in the Park” series in Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita 91350.
     
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Sat, Jul 30:
8 pm CLIFF WAGNER AND HIS OLD #7 at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City; www.boulevardmusic.com; 310-398-2583. Venue’s web site has a helpful local dining guide.
     Their sizzling sound that utilizes bluegrass, blues, and honky tonk combined with modern lyrics preserves the "High Lonesome Sound" of traditional music. Combine that with great harmony singing and exciting instrumentals done with electrifying fiddle, banjo, mando, guitar & bass and you have The Old #7. More at www.oldnumber7.net   
     Tickets at Blvd Music or by phone with a major credit card. A $1 service charge per ticket is added on phone orders. Doors at 7:30 pm for the best seats; those with advance tix get in first. Tickets $15, on sale Jul 16.
     
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Sat, Jul 30:
8 pm THE DUO TONES, play "Acoustic Surf Duo" at The Fret House, 309 N Citrus Av, Covina; 626-339-7020; frethouse@earthlink.net; www.frethouse.com. More at www.pjmoto.com/specialty/duo_tones.php. Tix, $15.
     
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Sun, Jul 31 (Sat & Sun, Jul 30 & 31):
Noon-10 pm Annual “LONG BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL” with performances today (Sunday) by STEP RIDEAU & THE ZYDECO OUTLAWS, LEROY THOMAS, BONNE MUSIQUE ZYDECO, ROYALE GARDEN DIXIELAND BAND, A.J. GIBBS - THE MYDECO KING, THE HIGH STEPPERS NEW ORLEANS BOOGIE BAND, plus dancing and children's activities.
    
    It's all at Rainbow Lagoon, Shoreline Village Dr, Long Beach 90802.
    
    Of course, the main course is crawfish, in quantities fit for gluttony. There's entertainment
and activities for all ages, arts and crafts booths, ribs, chicken, Jamaican, Chinese, Thai and
other international foods and desserts, and adult beverages (beer, wine, liquor drinks including
"Screaming Crawfish" and margaritas). And lots and lots of Crawfish.
    More at www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com    
    
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Sun, Jul 31; Thu-Sun, Jul 28-31:
1 pm-6 pm Annual “TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL” brings free music, Friday through Sunday, “on a sweet outdoor stage” at Ribbit Tree & Plant Nursery, 301 Old Topanga Canyon Rd (at Monte Vista), Topanga Canyon. (Note: times vary each day.)
    
    So, it's really FOUR days of screenings, salon discussions, art installations, parties,
workshops, and MUSIC. Jewels & Johnny of the delightful acoustic band CITY FRITTER tell
us they have “put together a terrific line up of local and not so local talent.” Access to the music stage is free and does not require a festival pass or ticket. And they'll see to your needs, with a wine and beer bar, soft drinks, and gourmet food trucks offering victuals and libations for sale.
    
    CITY FRITTER plays Friday at 2 pm and Saturday at 3 pm. Here's the complete schedule.
Friday, July 29:
Noon-1 pm Joee Corso; 2-3 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm Preston Smith; 6-7 pm Susan James.
Saturday, July 30:
11 am-Noon Bryan Titus; Noon-1 pm Honeyheart; 1-2 pm Tess & Maya; 2-3 pm Christopher
Hawley; 3-4 pm City Fritter; 4-5 pm The Blue Dolphins (Victoria Scott & Zachary Crocker).
Sunday, July 31:
1-2 pm Terin Ector & Friends; 2-3 pm Philip Boone; 3-4 pm Annemarie Solo; 4-5 pm I-Star.
     
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Sun, Jul 31:
5:30 pm GRAND OLE ECHO brings delightful Americana acts every week through October on stages indoors and out, at The Echo, 1822 Sunset Bl, Echo Park. Free, full bar, BBQ out back, all ages.
     
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Sun, Jul 31:
7 pm I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. and AMILIA K SPICER are co-headliners, plus an opening set by DAVE MORRISON, play Marilyn Babcock's “Four Friends Acoustic Music Series” for the final show at Open Borders, 125 W Thousand Oaks Bl, Thousand Oaks 91360; www.openborders2011.com; email openbordersmedia@gmail.com; 805-497-1018. This new, kid-friendly, wheelchair accessible venue is closing, after a short run of booking first-rate talent.
     First 100 guests will enjoy dinner with the price of their admission; 6:30 pm dinner at “Marilyn's Famous Taco Burrito Bar,” plus a no-host bar is available. Tix (including all that for the first 100) are $15.
     
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Sat, Jul 30:
8 pm LOS LONELY BOYS and LOS LOBOS play the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio 92203.
     
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Sun, Jul 31:
7 pm LOS LONELY BOYS and LOS LOBOS play Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego.
     
     
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August, 2011...
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Wed, Aug 3:
8 pm LISA HALEY & THE ZYDECATS play the “Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival” series in the Redlands Bowl, 25 Grant St, Redlands 92373.
     
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Thu, Aug 4:
6-9 pm “LUCILLE BALL AT 100 & ‘I LOVE LUCY’ AT 60,” a gala reception and special exhibit spotlighting the “Queen of Comedy” and the genius of Desi, with an appearance by LUCIE ARNAZ, sponsored by the Hollywood Museum and CBS, at The Hollywood Museum, 1660 N. Highland Av, Hollywood 90028. The reception launches a new exhibition at the museum, on display August 4 to November 30 (part through Dec 31), showcasing memorabilia saluting the careers and romance of Hollywood’s most famous lovebirds.
Museum hours, 10 am-5 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. $15 adults; $12 seniors and children under 12. Info, www.thehollywoodmuseum.com; 323-464-7776. Reception requires reservations.    
     
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Thu, Aug 4:
7 pm 17th annual CULVER CITY SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL brings rock and rockabilly from guitar legend ALBERT LEE, backed by the CARL VERHEYEN BAND in the palm-lined courtyard of Culver City's City Hall, 9770 Culver Bl (at Duquesne Av), downtown Culver City.
     Guitar legend Albert Lee has been voted Guitar Player magazine's “Best Country Guitar Picker” five times and he is the recipient of two Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental (2002 and 2009). Lee has been a member of The Crickets and Emmylou Harris' Hot Band (and others), and he tours on a regular basis with Gerry Hogan’s Hogan’s Heroes and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. Backing Lee tonight is the Carl Verheyen Band. Carl became lead guitarist for the band Supertramp in 1985 and is one of L.A.’s top session guitarists and a guitar virtuoso who tours throughout the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK. The other band members performing tonight are Carl's regulars, Dave Marotta on bass and Walfredo Reyes, Jr on percussion.
     This festival is a series (8 Thursdays, different acts) curated by producer Gary Mandell of Culver City’s Boulevard Music (home of a fine year-round acoustic concert series.) More info, call 310-253-5716. Free.
     
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Thu, Aug 4:
8 pm BYRDS COLLECTIVE TRIBUTE BAND at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
    The Byrds Collective, a five-man band of veteran Los Angeles-area musicians and singers, share a collective passion for the music of The Byrds, the first and greatest folk-rock group of the 1960s and the originator of the "L.A. Sound" that dominated popular music for decades. In addition to playing Byrds’ classics with amazing fidelity to the originals, the Byrds Collective gives a multimedia show that immerses the audience in the heady days of the mid 1960s.
    It was an era of incredible innovation and creativity in popular music and in our whole culture. said Dave Michaels, who portrays singer-guitarist David Crosby in the Collective. Along with the Beatles, the Byrds were one of the driving forces of that era. Those heavenly harmonies, that jangly guitar and those fantastic songs sound just as fresh and vital today as when they were first created.
    Besides Michaels, the Collective includes Mark Miraglia, who portrays the Jim / Roger McGuinn role and plays the signature Rickenbacker 12-string guitar so vital to the Byrds’ sound; Ken Hearn, who portrays the soulful singer-composer Gene Clark; Pat Hayes, who fills the shoes of the innovative bassist Chris Hillman; and drummer David Denk, who drives the band with the snap and verve of Michael Clarke. All are veterans of the Southern California music scene (see attached band member bios). We’re not the typical tribute band in that we don’t try to exactly copy the look of our counterparts. Miraglia said. But we do try to evoke the Byrds and the times in our dress, our overall manner, and above all in our playing and singing. We use the original instruments and amps to recapture that classic mid-60s sound.
    The original Byrds were trailblazers in three distinct pop music genres – Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock and Country Rock, and the Collective covers each phase of their varied career. Set One covers the Byrds’ Folk Rock years of 1965 to early ’66, including their smash hit debut "Mr. Tambourine Man" and the timeless classic "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Tix, $20.
     
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Fri, Aug 5:
8 pm “ARTISTRY OF THE GUITAR” with American fingerstyle guitarists KEN BONFIELD and STEVE DAVISON at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
    Artistry of the Guitar is about the guitar and guitarists, but more importantly, they tell us, it's about “the music one can make with this often humble yet incredibly diverse instrument. Capable of making any style of music, the guitar compares only to the piano when it comes to stylistic potential - of course, we like guitars more; you can't put a piano on your back and carry it with you around the world.”
    Steve is without a doubt one of today's finest composer's on 12-string guitar. He's both rhythmic and melodic, and that's no easy feat given the nature of the instrument.
    At an Artistry of the Guitar concert you will hear exquisite guitar music ranging from country blues, ragtime, and folk, to traditional Celtic, jazz, classical, contemporary, and even rock inspired guitar slapping! Is FoCeltazzical a genre? We hope not because it's mighty hard to pronounce, but surely Ken, Peter, Steve and their special guests cover the gamut of acoustic guitar styles.
    Bonfield and Davison have been featured performers at such venerable rooms as Caffe Lena, the oldest coffee house concert venue in the country, Club Passim in Cambridge MA, Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, and The Mozaic Room, Blackstone River Theatre, Kent State Folk Festival, Newport Guitar Festival, Montreal Guitar Show, and the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. And they've shared the stage with acoustic artists of all stripes including popster Jahn Mayer, folk icon Arlo Guthrie, guitar luminaries Alex de Grassi, Adrian Legg, Ed Gerhard, Dakota Dave Hull, Bill Mize , Larry Coryell and more... More than a few Grammy's on that list! Tix, $15.
     
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Fri–Sun, Aug 5-7, in the Gold Rush Country:
37th Annual KINDRED GATHERING is, this year, in Fair Play, CA, near Placerville, as close as it’s likely to be in 2-3 years. Headliners are “A bunch of wonderful players! You!”
    This legendary mountain dulcimer event welcomes hammered dulcimers and all other instruments with open arms. We know of a fretted / hammered / tuba jam a few years back. This is described as “a wonderful, loose, under-the-radar event, which moves to a different site up and down the west coast every year.” Google it or check www.scdh.org for info.
     
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Sat, Aug 6:
7 pm THE TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS plus an opening set by STEVE DEMING at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
    THE TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS are a TOP award-winning group. Since their performing debut on this very stage six years ago, they have gone on to capture the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Award for Western Music Group of the Year and the Western Music Association Crescendo Award for Most Promising Talent and were recently nominated for the 2010 WMA Outstanding Entertainer-Group Award. They were named one of the Top 10 Live Acoustic Acts in Southern California by the Guide's editor, writing the annual feature for FolkWorks Magazine.
    “Great Harmony, creative arrangements, keeping the tradition alive!” - Douglas B. Green, The Riders In The Sky (multiple Grammy winner).
    “These guys are shooting stars and such fun. Will sell out, as always. Be warned.” - Bob Stane, venue impresario.
    Their new song "California" is currently #1 on the "Top Ten Western Songs" chart in Rope Burns Magazine.
    Formed in 2005, the multiple top award-winning Tumbling Tumbleweeds are celebrating their sixth anniversary with a return to the very stage where they started in little ol' Altadena.
    Their debut album, “The Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” hit #1 on the Top 10 Cowboy / Western Music CD Charts and their new CD, “Blaze Across the West,” is currenlty #2 on the Top 20 Cowboy / Western CD chart in The Western Way Magazine.
    The core founding members are vocalists “Tumbleweed Rob” Wolfskill, “Big Daddy Cade” Parenti and Chris Acuff, with “Babyface” R.J. Mills on guitar and vocals. The band features Dan Dungan on upright bass.
    As their name suggests, The Tumbling Tumbleweeds are a tribute to the era that gave us those icomic singing cowboys – Roy Rogers, Gene Autry ,and the great swingtime cowboy band, The Sons of the Pioneers. There's more at www.thetumblingtumbleweeds.com    
    Opening for The Tumbling Tumbleweeds is STEVE DEMING, accomplished cowboy poet and leader of the CALIFORNIA COWBOY BAND. Steve has a nomination for Poetry Album of the Year from the Western Music Association for his latest CD, "Poems from the Trail."
    "Steve not only creates a rhapsody of pastoral images with his words but he also delivers them with skill and an intensity that snatches you right from wherever you are and keeps you dwelling in the heart of the world he has created!" Tix, $20.
     
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Sat, Aug 6, in Ojai:
7:30 pm THE WICKED TINKERS perform at Dancing Oak Ranch, on Hwy 150, 6 miles
from Hwy 101 (4585 Casitas Pass Rd, Ventura, for GPS locating) Prepare yourself for a wild ride with WICKED TINKERS. Pioneers of the growing Tribal Celtic movement, the
Wicked Tinkers play haunting, heart-pounding bagpipes, Australian didgeridoo & bronze-age Irish horn. Sit back and be transported to an earlier time in Scotland & Ireland when battle cries filled the air and strange, unheard-of creatures roamed the night. Or better
yet, get on your feet and let your body move to ancient rhythms and forgotten sounds.
Tix are $18 in advance or $20 at the gate (under age 16, free).
     
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Sat, Aug 6:
8 pm SNAP JACKSON & THE KNOCK ON WOOD PLAYERS at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City; www.boulevardmusic.com; 310-398-2583. Venue’s web site has a helpful local dining guide.
     An acoustic quartet hailing from Stockton blending Americana, bluegrass, soul, and Old Time music to create a unique, fresh, and energetic sound. Banjo, fiddle, guitar, upright bass, uke and even mountain dulcimer. Amazingly gifted with outstanding vocal and instrumental skills. “Energetic, talented, creative” - California Bluegrass Association.
     More at knockonwoodplayers.com.      
     Tickets at Blvd Music or by phone with a major credit card. A $1 service charge per ticket is added on phone orders. Doors at 7:30 pm for the best seats; those with advance tix get in first. Tickets $15, on sale Jul 23.
     
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Sat, Aug 6:
8 pm THE UNTOUCHABLES plus ZOOT SUIT REVUE play the outdoor summer concert series at Pershing Square 532 South Olive St. Los Angeles 90013; www.laparks.org/pershingsquare; 213-847-4970.
     
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Sun, Aug 7:
SOLD OUT (try for the venue's waiting list)
3 and 7 pm THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
    "The Wives' harmonies are exquisite!" - Music Connection Magazine.
    This is a ten-piece all-female folk band based in Pasadena. Blending elements of North American, British Isles, and Contemporary Folk music, the foundation of the Merry Wives' sound is rich four- and five-part vocal harmonies, with support and ornamentation by acoustic folk instruments. A collaborative group, the Wives bring a unique sensibility to every song they perform, from traditional Irish pieces, to original compositions that range from beautiful to bawdy. With musical backgrounds in everything from Folk, to Musical Theater, and even straying to Pop and Opera, the Merry Wives present a relevant musical perspective, while still staying true to the spirit of the music they perform. These lovely and talented ladies have graced the stages of the El Rey Theater, the Grove of Anaheim, and The Galaxy Theatre, as well as Renaissance Faires across the country.
    The Merry Wives will appear on August 7th at the Coffee Gallery Backstage as part of their Backstage With the Wives Concert Series. Their five studio albums will be available for purchase, as well as commemorative memorabilia. Tix available via their website at www.mwow.net or at the venue. TWO SHOWS, 3 and 7 pm. Tix, either show, $11.
     
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Wed, Aug 10:
Noon-1:30 pm PERSHING SQUARE FREE SUMMER LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES brings THE HODADS to Pershing Square 532 South Olive St. Los Angeles 90013; www.laparks.org/pershingsquare; 213-847-4970.
     
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Thu & Fri, Aug 11 & 12:
8 pm “TRIPPIN’ THE ‘60’s,” back from a European tour, for two nights at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
    “Both shows sold out last time BARRY McGUIRE & JOHN YORK played The Coffee Gallery Backstage and so will this double night smash” - Bob Stane, venue impresario.
    BARRY McGUIRE, creator of “Trippin’ The 60’s,” stepped into the public eye in 1963 on the Andy Williams Show as the gravelly voiced lead singer of the NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS. He launched his musical career with the million-sellers "Green, Green" and "Green Back Dollar." In 1965, at the heart of the peace movement, McGuire went solo. His growing awareness of social hypocrisy was expressed in his third hit, "Eve of Destruction," which echoed around the world as an anthem of the times.
    Three years later, Barry was cast as the male lead in the original Broadway production of the musical "Hair." Once again his voice was heard proclaiming the ideals of a radical generation. Dick Clark says, “When world events collide with rock & roll, you get Barry McGuire.”    
    JOHN YORK, currently working with Barry McGuire in "Trippin' The Sixties" in addition to pursuing his solo career, is best known for his work as a member of the world-renowned folk rock / country rock group, THE BYRDS. His vocal and instrumental talents have kept him in the company of such musical luminaries as Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Clarence White, Nicky Hopkins, Mac Rebenack (Dr. John,) Doug Sahm (The Sir Douglas Quintet,) The Mamas and Papas, Johnny Rivers, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel (The Band)……and many others.
    More recently, the TV show “The Place Where I Am Dreaming” featured John’s artistic collaboration with his wife, artist SUMI FOLEY, and John has composed and recorded music for the lyrics of KIM FOWLEY on "West Coast Revelation." The duet "Redneck Ninja" highlights John's creative partnership with acclaimed songwriter PATRICK BRAYER. In 2007, John played concerts in Japan for the third time. Tix, either night, $20.
     
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Sat, Aug 13:
11 am THE HOLLOW TREES, an Americana Band with plenty of material for children, does a free performance sponsored by the Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest organization at the Pasadena Public Library, 285 E Walnut Av, Pasadena 91101.
     
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Sat, Aug 13:
7 pm LISA HALEY & THE ZYDECATS play the “Altadena Summer Concert Series” in the amphitheater at Farnsworth Park, 568 E Mount Curb Av, Altadena 91001.
     
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Sat, Aug 13:
7:30 pm THE CACHE VALLEY DRIFTERS play the “Song Tree Concert Series” at Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 820 N Fairview Av, Goleta 93117; info & tix, SongTree@cox.net or 805-403-2639.
     
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Sat, Aug 13:
8 pm LOAFER'S GLORY plays the Caltech Folk Music Society series in Beckman Institute Auditorium, on the campus at California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91106; 626-395-4652.
     
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Sat, Aug 13:
8-11 pm STAN RIDGWAY & MICHELLE SHOCKED play the outdoor summer concert series at Pershing Square 532 South Olive St. Los Angeles 90013; www.laparks.org/pershingsquare; 213-847-4970.
      MICHELLE SHOCKED received her first international exposure in Europe, with her debut album, The Texas Campfire Tapes which was recorded at the Kerrville Folk Festival on a cassette recorder. Her break into U.S. came with the release of her 1988 album, Short Sharp Shocked on college radio rotations around the country, which was met with strong acclaim from listeners. The songs of Short Sharp Shocked are mostly about what it was like to grow up in rural Texas. Every song on this album is a gem.
     She signed with Mercury in 1987. Captain Swing and Arkansas Traveler were recorded in 1989 and critically acclaimed. Captain Swing's style is not exactly swing, because it's also rock and roll. Arkansas Traveler includes a little swing, a little folk, and a bit of bluegrass.
     Michelle recorded and independently distributed Kind Hearted Woman in 1994 after leaving Mercury. In 1995, she contributed an original song to the soundtrack for the film Dead Man Walking called "Quality of Mercy". In 1996, she released a studio version of an underground release of Kind Hearted Woman.
     Starting in 2002 with the release of Deep Natural, Shocked established her own label, Mighty Sound. On May 12, 2009 she released her newest album, Soul of My Soul, on Mighty Sound. Shocked continues to make music as an independent artist and currently lives in Downtown Los Angeles.
     STAN RIDGWAY, songwriter-guitarist and original Wall Of Voodoo vocalist, has taken a long and influential road. Raised in L.A., Ridgway began his love affair with Southwestern gothic 30 years ago as front man and co-founder of vanguard electro-art punks Wall of Voodoo, who he originally formed with the intention of scoring low-budget horror films.
     Ridgway sang on the band's debut EP and first two albums, Dark Continent and Call of the West (which included the accidental MTV hit "Mexican Radio"). His darkly humorous, and richly cinematic musical tales of the ironies inside the American Dream have been compared to other classic songwriting iconoclasts like Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash and even hard boiled mystery writers like Raymond Chandler and Jim Thompson, as well as twisted film makers like David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino.
     Over the years, Ridgway has performed live on stage with The Cramps, Brian Wilson, U2, Devo, The Pixies, Van Dyke Parks, The Residents, Dave Alvin, Pere Ubu, Peter Case, Bill Frisell, Los Lobos, Ry Cooder, Colin Hay, The Stranglers, The Handsome Family, XTC, The English Beat, Psychedelic Furs, The Clash, The Go Go's, Rickie Lee Jones, Sam The Sham, Johnny Thunders, and many others. 2011 brings his tour in support of his new solo album "Neon Mirage." His stage performance will highlight songs from his deep catalog of past classic solo albums and Wall Of Voodoo favorites. Stan Ridgway’s Pershing Square show will bring song, story and spoken word.
     
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Sat, Aug 13:
8 pm COW BOP at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City; www.boulevardmusic.com; 310-398-2583. Venue’s web site has a helpful local dining guide.
     Mix swingin' grooves, thrilling riffs, sweet vocals (Pinto Pam), and tons of fun and you have only begun to describe Cow Bop. Formed in 2003 by acclaimed guitarist BRUCE FORMAN, this jazz and western swing band has toured extensively throughout the country, exciting audiences with their unique brand of American music. More at www.cowbop.com     
     Tickets at Blvd Music or by phone with a major credit card. A $1 service charge per ticket is added on phone orders. Doors at 7:30 pm for the best seats; those with advance tix get in first. Tickets $15, on sale Jul 30.
     
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Sat, Aug 13:
8 pm GYPSY KINGS play the Greek Theatre, 2700 N Vermont, Griffith Park, L.A. 90027; 213-480-3232.
     
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Sun, Aug 14:
3-5 pm “FREE SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE PETER STRAUSS RANCH” brings SABRINA & CRAIG plus TRACY NEWMAN & THE REINFORCEMENTS, two top-notch singer-songwriter-folk groups, for a free performance co-sponsored by the National Park Service and theTopanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest organization at Strauss Ranch, 30000 Mulholland Hwy (2 blks from Troutdale Rd), in Santa Monica Mtns Nat’l Rec Area, near Agoura Hills; 818-382-4819.
    SABRINA & CRAIG (www.SabrinaandCraig.com) won the 2010 vocal competition at the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest. "Excellent musicanship and arrangements... solid songwriting with some of the best two-part harmonies..." - Folkworks.
    their musical tastes vary dramatically, they've found a way to bring that wide array of musical tastes into harmony, creating their own original music and unique arrangements of select cover songs. Sabrina & Craig's signature sound is rooted in their heartfelt connection. They envelop audiences in luscious harmonies anchored by Craig's finely-crafted guitar voicings and award-winning finger-style playing.
    "Sabrina & Craig weave thoughtful stories, people and moments into their songs, sprinkling each observation with intelligence and wit while wrapping them in the cloak of gorgeous, memorable melodies." - Wildy's World.
    TRACY NEWMAN (www.TracyNewman.com) is an Emmy and a Peabody Award-winning TV writer and producer. She started as a staff writer on Cheers. In 1997, she won top awards for co-writing the ground-breaking "Coming Out" episode of . In 2001 she co-created the ABC comedy to Jim, which recently finished its 8th and final season of production. Tracy has been playing guitar and writing songs since she was 14. Her CD, Place in the Sun, enjoys global airplay after its debut on Tied to the Tracks. Her band, The Reinforcements, are Gene Lippmann, Rebecca Leigh, John Cartwright, John O'Kennedy, and Doug Knoll.
     
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Sun, Aug 14:
7 pm INCENDIO plays the LACC Summer Music Concert series at 425 Pennisula Dr, Los Angeles 96367.
     
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Sun, Aug 14:
8 pm GYPSY KINGS play the Greek Theatre, 2700 N Vermont, Griffith Park, L.A. 90027; 213-480-3232.
     
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Mon, Aug 15:
7:30 pm B.B. KING plays Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego 92106; 619-523-1010.
     
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Wed, Aug 17:
Noon-1:30 pm PERSHING SQUARE FREE SUMMER LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES brings award-winning folksinger-songwriter JAMES LEE STANLEY to Pershing Square 532 South Olive St. Los Angeles 90013; www.laparks.org/pershingsquare; 213-847-4970.
     
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Wed, Aug 17:
7:30 pm STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS play Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego 92106; 619-523-1010.
     
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Thu, Aug 18:
7:30 pm STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS play the Orange County Performing Arts Center's Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa; 714-556-2787.
     
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Fri-Sun, Aug 19-21:
Annual “BIG BEAR LAKE COWBOY GATHERING” at Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, 39707 Big Bear Bl, Big Bear Lake 92315.
     
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Fri-Sun, Aug 19-21, festival, in Vista (N San Diego Co):
Annual SUMMERGRASS bluegrass festival at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista. Here's the basic lline-up:
> Friday Aug 19
3 pm Prairie Sky
4 pm Loafer's Glory
5 pm Windy Ridge
6 pm Dinner Break
7 pm Old Town Road
8 pm Loafer's Glory
9 pm Grascals
> Saturday Aug 20
10 am Plow
11 am Sara Petite
Noon Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
1 pm Lunch Break
2 pm Grascals
3 pm Next Generation
4 pm Gone Tomorrow
5 pm Loafer's Glory
6 pm Dinner Break
7 pm Grascals
8 pm Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
9 pm Bluegrass Etc.
> Sunday Aug 21
9 am Sweet Tidings
10 am BladeRunners
11 am Bluegrass Etc.
Noon Kids on Stage
12:30 pm Next Generation
1:15 pm Lunch Break
2 pm Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
3 pm Bluegrass Etc.
4 pm Bladerunners
Tickets, etc, at www.summergrass.net. More info soon.
     
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Fri, Aug 19:
6 pm SLIGO RAGS play Baily's Old Town Temecula, 28699 Old Town Front St, Temecula 92590; 951-676-9567.
     
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Sat & Sun, Aug 20 & 21, in Ventura:
Inaugural VENTURA FOLK FESTIVAL "BOUND FOR GLORY" in Mission Park, 180 E Main St, Ventura 93001. Scheduled to perform (so far) are RAMBLIN JACK ELLIOTT, JOHN DOE, J.D. SOUTHER, PETER CASE, THE WHITE BUFFALO, CHRIS PIERCE, SHANE ALEXANDER, TOM CORBETT, PHIL SALAZAR, JAY NASH, TONY LUCCA, MATT DUKE, B. WILLING, JUSTINE BENNETT, DELANEY GIBSON, TED LENNON, 50 STICKS OF DYNAMITE, PHIL CODY, TALL TALES AND THE SILVER LINING, THE KINFOLK, RINCON RAMBLERS, LEE KOCH, JAMIE DRAKE, DAN WILSON, SETH PETTERSEN, & GARRISON STARR. Organizers say that tickets and info are promised soon. Check www.facebook.com/Venturafolkfestival?sk=info or www.venturarocks.com/index.htm
     
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Sat, Aug 20 (Fri-Sun, Aug 19-21):
Annual “BIG BEAR LAKE COWBOY GATHERING” at Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, 39707 Big Bear Bl, Big Bear Lake 92315.
     
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Sat, Aug 20 (Fri-Sun, Aug 19-21), festival, in Vista (N San Diego Co):
Annual SUMMERGRASS bluegrass festival at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista. Here's the basic lline-up:
> Friday Aug 19
3 pm Prairie Sky
4 pm Loafer's Glory
5 pm Windy Ridge
6 pm Dinner Break
7 pm Old Town Road
8 pm Loafer's Glory
9 pm Grascals
> Saturday Aug 20
10 am Plow
11 am Sara Petite
Noon Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
1 pm Lunch Break
2 pm Grascals
3 pm Next Generation
4 pm Gone Tomorrow
5 pm Loafer's Glory
6 pm Dinner Break
7 pm Grascals
8 pm Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
9 pm Bluegrass Etc.
> Sunday Aug 21
9 am Sweet Tidings
10 am BladeRunners
11 am Bluegrass Etc.
Noon Kids on Stage
12:30 pm Next Generation
1:15 pm Lunch Break
2 pm Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
3 pm Bluegrass Etc.
4 pm Bladerunners
Tickets, etc, at www.summergrass.net. More info soon.
     
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Sat, Aug 20:
Afternoon WORKSHOP for artists by two-time Grammy winning guitarist LAURENCE JUBER at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City; www.boulevardmusic.com; 310-398-2583.
     The former lead guitarist for PAUL McCARTNEY's band, WINGS (1978-81) and featured on the hit singles “Goodnight Tonight' and “Coming Up,” Juber won the first “Best Rock Instrumental” Grammy award. Voted #1 Guitarist by the readers of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, Juber offers superb arrangements of pop and classic songs. His playing has been featured on the scores of successful films, including “Pocahontas.”
     In addition to today's workshop, he plays a concert here tonight; buy a concert ticket and get $5 off the workshop price. See the venue's website, class and workshop pages, for all info. 
     More at www.laurencejuber.com     
     Concert tix are $17.50, on sale Aug 6.
     
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Sat, Aug 20:
7:30 pm HOUSTON JONES plays “The Living Tradition” series at the Downtown Community Center, 250 E Center St, Anaheim; 949-646-1964.
     
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Sat, Aug 20:
8 PM Two-Time Grammy Winner LAURENCE JUBER at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City; www.boulevardmusic.com; 310-398-2583. Venue’s web site has a helpful local dining guide.
     The former lead guitarist for PAUL McCARTNEY's band, WINGS (1978-81) and featured on the hit singles “Goodnight Tonight' and “Coming Up,” Juber won the first “Best Rock Instrumental” Grammy award. Voted #1 Guitarist by the readers of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, Juber offers superb arrangements of pop and classic songs. His playing has been featured on the scores of successful films, including “Pocahontas.”
     In addition to tonight's concert, he does a Workshop here this afternoon; see the venue's website, class and workshop pages. (Buy a concert ticket and get $5 off the workshop price.) 
     More at www.laurencejuber.com     
     Tickets at Blvd Music or by phone with a major credit card. A $1 service charge per ticket is added on phone orders. Doors at 7:30 pm for the best seats; those with advance tix get in first. Tickets $17.50, on sale Aug 6.
     
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Sun, Aug 21 (Fri-Sun, Aug 19-21):
Annual “BIG BEAR LAKE COWBOY GATHERING” at Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, 39707 Big Bear Bl, Big Bear Lake 92315.
     
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Sun, Aug 21 (Fri-Sun, Aug 19-21), festival, in Vista (N San Diego Co):
Annual SUMMERGRASS bluegrass festival at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista. Here's the basic lline-up:
> Friday Aug 19
3 pm Prairie Sky
4 pm Loafer's Glory
5 pm Windy Ridge
6 pm Dinner Break
7 pm Old Town Road
8 pm Loafer's Glory
9 pm Grascals
> Saturday Aug 20
10 am Plow
11 am Sara Petite
Noon Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
1 pm Lunch Break
2 pm Grascals
3 pm Next Generation
4 pm Gone Tomorrow
5 pm Loafer's Glory
6 pm Dinner Break
7 pm Grascals
8 pm Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
9 pm Bluegrass Etc.
> Sunday Aug 21
9 am Sweet Tidings
10 am BladeRunners
11 am Bluegrass Etc.
Noon Kids on Stage
12:30 pm Next Generation
1:15 pm Lunch Break
2 pm Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
3 pm Bluegrass Etc.
4 pm Bladerunners
Tickets, etc, at www.summergrass.net. More info soon.
     
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Tue-Sat, Aug 22-26:
DAVE STAMEY'S BACK-COUNTRY PACK TRIP, led by multiple award-winning western singer-songwriter Dave Stamey, is an annual horse caravan pack trip into the High Sierra, with plenty of music around the campfire every night, Info, www.mammothpack.com     
     
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Wed, Aug 24:
8 pm BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, the legendary Cuban group, plays the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Av, Hollywood 90068; 323-850-2000 213-480-3232.
     
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Thu, Aug 25:
7:30 pm SLIGO RAGS plays the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W Malven Av, Fullerton 92833; 714-738-6706.
     
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Fri, Aug 26:
8 pm DAVID GRIER at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City; www.boulevardmusic.com; 310-398-2583. Venue’s web site has a helpful local dining guide.
Three time winner of the International Bluegrass Association's Guitarist of the Year, Grier has emerged as perhaps the most musically gifted and engaging young guitarist in bluegrass. Also one of the funniest, too. He has also appeared on two Grammy- winning recordings: "True Life Blues-A Tribute to Bill Monroe" and "The Great Dobro Sessions." David will play some tunes from his new CD, Evocative. One of the world痴 finest flatpickers. More at www.davidgrier.com
Tickets at Blvd Music or by phone with a major credit card. A $1 service charge per ticket is added on phone orders. Doors at 7:30 pm for the best seats; those with advance tix get in first. Tickets $17.50, on sale Aug 12.
     
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Sat, Aug 27:
10 am LISA HALEY & THE ZYDECATS play the “Big World Fun” family series at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Bl East, Hollywood 90068; 323-461-3673.
     
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Sat, Aug 27:
7:30 pm LISA HALEY & THE ZYDECATS play Olivas Adobe Historical Park, 4200 Olivas Park Dr, Ventura 92002.
     
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Sat, Aug 27:
DON McLEAN (famous for his song, “American Pie”) plays the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E Green St, Pasadena; www.thepasadenacivic.com; tix 626-449-7360.
     
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Sat, Aug 27:
8 pm “FAR-WEST FOLK ALLIANCE BENEFIT” with BORDER RADIO, SUSIE GLAZE & HILONESOME, FUR DIXON & STEVE WERNER, and MERLIN SNIDER & FRIENDS, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena; info, www.coffeegallery.com; reservations, 626-798-6236.
     
     
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September, 2011...
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Thu, Sep 1:
Annual “REMEMBER THE MUSIC” benefit concert with Grammy winner SHELBY LYNNE and PATRICK PARK & BRIAN WRIGHT at the historic Yost Theater in Santa Ana.
     One ticket option includes a three course seated dinner for a limited number of supporters. There are two elevated VIP sections and general admission in front of the stage. Presented by Betty's Foundation (www.bettysfoundation.org) and more info is available at their website or at 310-936-2814. All proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s research and awareness.
    More info at www.rememberthemusic.org    
    Tickets are available now at www.yosttheater.com/calendar/2011/remember-the-music-2011-feat-shelby-lynne  and at http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3791775. More info coming here, soon.      
     
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Sat & Sun, Sep 3 & 4:
10 am 10 pm “ORANGE INTERNATIONAL STREET FAIR” with SLIGO RAGS, and others, at Chapman Av & Glassell St, Orange 92866.
     
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Sat, Sep 3:
3 pm ROSS ALTMAN, Legend Award-winning balladeer, does a free performance sponsored by the Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest organization at the West Valley Regional Library, 19036 Vanowen St, Reseda 91335.
     
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Thu, Sep 8:
7:30 pm JOHN YORK, former BYRD, plays the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W Malven Av, Fullerton 92833; 714-738-6706.
     
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Thu, Sep 8:
8 pm COLIN HAY plays Saint Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach 90254; 310-372-0035.
     
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Sat & Sun, Sep 10 & 11:
2nd annual “EQUINOX FOLK MUSIC, DANCE AND STORYTELLING FESTIVAL” with MICK MOLONEY, GINNY HAWKER & TRACY SCHWARZ, OLD SLEDGE, LISSA SCHNECKENBERGER BAND, and more, presented by the California Traditional Music Society.
    Saturday is an evening Celtic Concert at Throop Church in Pasadena.
    Sunday is the multi-stage, multi-workshop all-day festival at Rancho Cordillera del Norte, 9015 Wilbur Av, Northridge 91324.
    Altogether, it's 43 world-class “traditional” performers (with more to be added), 70 workshops, 12 hours of dance and an all day children’s area.
    Performers include:
Legendary Irish musician Mick Moloney
Old-time fiddle and banjo icon Dan Gellert
World-class New England fiddler and singer Lissa Schneckenburger and Band
Outstanding Appalachian singer Ginny Hawker
Multi-instrumentalist and former New Lost City Rambler Tracy Schwarz
Old Sledge, some of the brightest new generation of Appalachian performers
Champion buckdancer Thomas Maupin
16-year-old banjo prodigy Daniel Rothwell
with more to come!
Other activities include:
Live Music at the Dance Area!
A participatory folk dance tent with live music
Dozens of workshops on everything from shape note singing to spoons to song-writing to storytelling.
Jam sessions (yes! Absolutely bring your instrument!)
Family area including dance, music, games and crafts
An expo of local folk arts non-profits
Craft and food vendors
    CTMS tells us, “The Fall Equinox Folk Music, Storytelling and Dance Festival is a two-day, teaching arts festival that exemplifies CTMS' guiding principles. CTMS believes that through sharing and celebrating traditional arts, we can better know ourselves, our neighbors, and can become more compassionate citizens of the world. Through artistic interaction, we create opportunities to dissolve misunderstandings, break down stereotypes and increase respect for one another.”
    Advance tix (purchased by Sep 8) are $25 for the entire day Sunday. Students with ID (verified at the gate) are $10 and children age 10 and under are free. Two-day Advance tix, available now, include the Saturday evening concert in Pasadena, and “are an even greater value.” Purchase tickets at http://equinox2011.eventbrite.com    
    If you're broke, you can become a volunteer, commit to 3 hours, and your admission is free. Contact Wyatt Stone at http://ctmsfolkmusic.org/getinvolved/festivalvolunteer.html before all the choice volunteer time slots are filled. Visit www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/getinvolved for the actual job descriptions. The Workshop schedule will posted soon on the CTMS sitey so you can make plans to volunteer and be free to attend what you most want to see. More info, www.ctmsfolkmusic.org; 818-817-7756.
 
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Sat, Sep 10:
7 pm RICHARD SMITH & JULIE ADAMS play the Slater-Lunsford House Concert Series in Lancaster; info, www.desertsong.com.
     
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Sat, Sep 10:
7:30 pm GREGORY PAGE plays the San Diego Folk Heritage series at San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas 92024; 858-566-4040.
     
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Sat, Sep 10:
7:30 pm BERKLEY HART plays the Song Tree Concert Series, at the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 820 N Fairview Av, Goleta 93117; SongTree@cox.net or 805-403-2639.
     
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Sun, Sep 11:
3-5 pm BEST OF THE 2011 TOPANGA BANJO•FIDDLE CONTESTANTS do a free performance co-sponsored by the National Park Service and the Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest organization at Peter Strauss Ranch, 30000 Mulholland Hwy (2 blks from Troutdale Rd), in Santa Monica Mtns Nat’l Rec Area, near Agoura Hills; 818-382-4819. More info soon.
     
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Thu, Sep 15:
7:30 pm SLAID CLEAVES plays the AMSD Concert Series, 4650 Mansfield St, San Diego 92116; 619-303-8176.
     
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Fri-Sun, Sep 16-18:
Annual “MILLPOND MUSIC FESTIVAL” N of Bishop 93514; info at www.inyo.org or contact InyoArts@Inyo.org or 760-873-8014. This is, reliably, year-after-year, the best “end-of-the-summer” traditional and new acoustic music festival in California. If you can drive to Mammoth to ski, this is closer, up the same road. We recommend it even before we know this year’s line-up.
     
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Fri, Sep 16
7:30 pm MARTIN TAYLOR plays the first of two concerts for the “Lord Of The Strings Concert Series,” this one at the Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan St, Dana Point; 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
     
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Sat, Sep 17:
7 pm MARTIN TAYLOR plays the second of two concerts for the “Lord Of The Strings Concert Series,” this one at Mission Viejo Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Dr, Mission Viejo; 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
     
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Sat, Sep 17:
7:30 pm TRACY GRAMMER plays “The Living Tradition” series at the Downtown Community Center, 250 E Center St, Anaheim; 714-955-3807.
     
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Sat, Sep 17:
7:30 pm SLAID CLEAVES plays the Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Av, Claremont 91711; 909-624-2928.
     
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Sat, Jul 23:
8 pm KRISTINA OLSEN in concert at the Caltech Folk Music Society series in Beckman Institute Auditorium on the Caltech Campus in Pasadena. Free parking is off Michigan Av, south of Del Mar. More on the show, the artist, and the series, at http://folkmusic.caltech.edu including info on upcoming shows.
    
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Sat, Sep 17:
8 pm BLAME SALLY plays Russ and Julie’s House Concerts in Oak Park (Agoura Hills/Westlake Village area); reservations get directions at 818-707-2179.
     
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Tue, Sep 20:
8 pm SIMON PURE plays the monthly “BASC BLUEGRASS NIGHT” at Viva Cantina, 900 Riverside Dr, Burbank; 818-845-2425. Presented by Bluegrass Association of Southern California.
     
Sat, Sep 24, festival:
9 am-8 pm 17th annual HARVEST FESTIVAL OF DULCIMERS at the Culver Palms United Methodist Church; 4464 Sepulveda Bl; Culver City; info, www.scdh.org.    
     
     
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MORE STUFF >>>>>>> Other News, Resources, etc
     
"NEWS FEATURES” is a fresh edition each week, with news and reviews from the acoustic music universe, with features on folk-Americana, the “acoustic renaissance,” latest releases, reviews of CDs and live shows, industry news, news for artists, and more. Always available at www.acousticmusic.net.      
     
"VENUE DIRECTORY" - The Guide's extensive locator – has location and contact info for OVER 500 acoustic-music-friendly venues in Southern California, from Santa Barbara County to south Orange County, plus a few for San Diego, the deserts, and the Central Coast.
     
UPDATES are made every few months – the current edition of our VENUE DIRECTORY is at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2011/02/venue-directory-from-guide-updated.html      
     
     
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The Guide’s weekly News Features and Spotlight Events UPDATED EDITIONS bring more (always more -- as we have time to organize all of it).
     
We do all we can to bring you news and notices of all the many, many, MANY acoustic music events in and around the Los Angeles region, from the North border of Santa Barbara County to the South border of Orange County, and inland through San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
     
Plus, we tell you about RADIO SHOWS with acoustic music, focusing on those with live acoustic performances. (They're available mostly on the web, of course, since we are in acoustic-music-radio-deprived Los Angeles.)
     
And, we bring news and reviews of the many acoustic music FESTIVALS near and far, hither and yon, here, there and everywhere! With your help, we'll keep doing it!
     
     
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Questions? Comments? Contact us at tied to the tracks (at) Hotmail dot com (remove all the spaces and format it when you type it – we’re trying to reduce spam – you know...)
     
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LATEST EDITION of the Guide, the NEWS FEATURES, THE SCENE, and SPOTLIGHTED EVENTS, covering the world of current acoustic music happenings, including "heads up" notices to buy advance tix for shows likely to sell-out – and lots more – is available 24/7 (& frequently updated!) at
     
               www.acousticmusic.net or at
               www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com
     
               - or by following any of many links on the web to get to one of those sites.
     
The Guide’s weekly NEWS FEATURES are published in 16 websites / webgroups!
     
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contents copyright © 2011, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
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