Summer in Laguna means art festivals and their accompanying concerts, specifically, The Sawdust Festival and the Laguna Festival of the Arts. Some of these concerts are outstanding. Combine that with the low entry fee, the canyon vibe and the art and you have the ingredients for unforgettable picnics. Pack the good wine and consider buying a Passport To The Arts if you are visiting more than once this season.
The choices are overwhelming since these festivals have live music every day, sometimes several times per day. Thankfully, you have me to introduce you to the hidden gems.
Rating and ranking pop or jazz music is a slippery slope. There is no accounting for taste and I am bound to offend somebody by what I omit. That said, here are some local bands that impress me and, in my humble opinion, deserve a close listen. Of course, all these and more are listed in my calendar section.
In chronological order:
July 15
Hot Club De Bop at Sawdust. These cats combine three of my favorite genres: The Great American Songbook, gypsy jazz and a touch of rockabilly. They have no website but they have several songs on YouTube.
40 AMP Fuse at Sawdust. Southern rock, blues and country from the tightest bands you’ve never heard of. These guys will drive you to dance. Check out their full concert on YouTube.
July 19
Evan Stone Trio featuring Nick Mancini at the Laguna Festival of the Arts. You must experience Nick Mancini! He plays the vibraphone with such expression and gestures. It is like watching an old movie mad scientist. Here is proof. Evan Stone runs a very tight backing jazz ensemble. I’ve seen him many times when he’s backed (and produced) Nancy Sanchez, one of my favorite local songbirds.
July 21
Salty Suites at Sawdust. Salty Suites plays a combination of bluegrass, depression-era and Americana. Here is their YouTube channel. Their singer, Chelsea Williams, was such an magnetic celebrity busker in Santa Monica, that she was recruited to act and sing in a Chevrolet commercial.
July 22
Elaine Miles & John Chiondini at the Sawdust Festival. Jazz vocalist and guitarist duo. Wonderful artists who are bad at maintaining their web presence. Some dogged research on my part uncovered some great YouTubes of their work. Dig on her sultry, resonant voice on this old favorite. John Chiodini used to play guitar for Peggy Lee. Can you ask for a stronger credential than that?
July 27
Black Tongued Bells at Sawdust. Fantastic band with a weird name (it is from a Dylan Thomas poem). Their website says it best: The Black Tongued Bells’ American Swamp Music is a steamy gumbo of gothic-gospel juju, hopped up rock & roll, and dirt-pounding juke joint blues. Here is an example.
July 30
Salty Suites at Sawdust. See the previous description.
July 31
Hot Club De Bop at Sawdust. See the previous description.
August 1
Ilya Serov at Laguna Festival of the Arts. Ilya Serov is a triple threat: Jazz singer, trumpeter, and telegenic good looks. See for yourself.
August 8
Salty Suites at the Festival of the Arts. See the previous description.
August 11
Black Tongued Bells at Sawdust. See the previous description.
August 15
Female Jazz Vocalist Lineup at Laguna Festival of the Arts. Artists include Brynn Stanley, Gina Saputo and Lia Booth.
August 17
Salty Suites at Sawdust. See the previous description.
August 25
Salty Suites at Sawdust. See the previous description.
August 26
Elaine Miles & John Chiondini at the Sawdust Festival. See the previous description.
August 28
Quattrosound at the Festival of the Arts. I saw Quattrosound last year and they overflowed in talent, originality and playfulness. They pull from the entire pop spectrum (and global spectrum, too). The big draw for me is Leah Zeger, their violinist/vocalist. I’ve seen her as part of Gonzalo Bergara’s gypsy jazz quartet. Here is my video from their performance last year’s festival of the arts.
August 29
Judith Owen and Leland Sklar at the Laguna Festival of the Arts. Anybody who listened to 1970’s rock knows Leland Sklar. You probably don’t know Judith Own and it is time you did! She’s pop-oriented, a prolific songwriter and runs both up-tempo and pensive. Some videos are here and here.
August 30
Hot Club De Bop at Sawdust. See the previous description.
September 3
Salty Suites at Sawdust. See the previous description.