Saturday's Best Bets, September 1, 2012

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Egads, SEPTEMBER? Labor Day Weekend? Where did summer go? Fear not, PLENTY of music is still out there!
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First, though it's musically bleak this year, the L.A. COUNTY FAIR is now open, and you can get in the gate for just $1 from now through Labor Day Monday, if you go in between 10 am and 1 pm. (After that it gets pricey.)
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Unless you're at the new "MAMMOTH BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL" in the Eastern Sierra at Mammoth Lakes or at the "STRAWBERRY MUSIC FESTIVAL" near Yosemite, then you need to know what's happening around these parts. So here goes:
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Noon to 9 pm, the "E HULA MAU" FESTIVAL brings hula and chant competition, a slack key guitar workshop, and more, to the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. It runs through Sunday and hours are different each day. Call 562-436-3661 for details.
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There's a FREE festival at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica this afternoon, with music and additional entertainment and activities, celebrating their fifth season.
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The California Traditional Music Society is presenting "THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOLK" from 1-4:30 pm at the Encino Community Center, 4935 Balboa Bl, Encino. THE SHOW PONIES are in the lineup, and we've been enjoying their CD all week. Also playing are COKE N' WAFFLES, PAWED PEOPLE, and the young'uns who are taking the festival circuit by storm, THE SALTY SUITES. $15 at the door, children age 12 and under are free.
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From 5-9 pm in the middle of the desert, TONI DODD & SOUTHBOUND BLUES play the WeeVill Market, 18348 West Ave D, NW of Lancaster. Good BBQ, full menu.
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At 6:30 pm, FUR DIXON & STEVE WERNER (everybody's favorite folk harmony duo), plus JULIE CHRISTENSEN play an innovative concert-and-a-movie series, with a screening of "THE LIFE AQUATIC" (2004). Reservations get directions at rsvp@panioloproductions.com. It's in West L.A.
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At 7 pm, wunderkind JOEY ABARTA, renowned on the Irish music scene, is in town from his Boston home for a gig at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena, where he used to play with the late, great CIUNAS.Joey won the 2009 "All Ireland Championship" on his uilean pipes. This will sell-out, so call for a reservation: 626-798-6236. Tix, $18.
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At 7 pm, VAGABOND OPERA plays a FREE show at Levitt Pavilion in McArthur Park.
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At 7:30, the "MAHALO BASH CONCERT" brings WILLIE K and the KALAMA BROTHERS for a Hawai'ian show at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach; 562-436-3661.
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At 8 pm, STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS play the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood; tix at 800-982-ARTS.
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In the high desert, KD LANG & THE SIS BOOM BANG play the Lancaster Performing Arts Center at 8 pm.
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LAUREN ADAMS plus JOHN ZIPPERER & FRIENDS return to the "Julie's Joint House Concert Series" in the SFV. Reservations get directions at juliesjoint@johnzipperer.com.
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In OC, STEVE TYRELL plays the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.
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Plus, there are MANY recurring events, included in the most recent full edition of the Acoustic Americana Music Guide's "Spotlight Events" section, published August 24 and available below or in the sidebar at left, depending on where you sre reading this.
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MUCH MORE SOON. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, whether it brings a break from your labors, or a break from hunting fir a new gig so you CAN labor again!
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