FYI
A Lot of Music Going on in September!
This month we take a look at four of the final flurry of summer events happening this year, including Beatles Fair, the Music Box’s Ninth Anniversary Block Party, The Great Deadful Festival, and the Adams Avenue Street Fair, with quotes from John Roy, Tatiana Mac, Nathan Raney, Alicia Previn, Lisa Domkat, and more.
Music Box Celebrates Its Ninth
Yachtley Crew
Little Italy-based nightspot, the Music Box, is celebrating its ninth anniversary with a special block party on September 14. Taking place directly in front of the venue on India Street between A and Ash, amenities will include a stage, food and retail vendors, a VIP area, a bar with craft drinks, and more.
Music for the event will be provided by the kings of soft rock Yachtley Crew, with support from local favorites, the Radio Thieves. For anyone who enjoys Yacht Rock, aka soft rock/Top 40 hits of the 1970s and 1980s, there is no better band than Yachtley Crew. A veritable living jukebox, their huge repertoire might include songs by the likes of Kenny Loggins, the Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, or any number of the era’s one-hit wonders, all played with exacting precision and a great sense of fun. The band released their debut EP, Seas the Day, earlier this year. Featuring recast versions of classic tunes by Boz Scaggs, Ace, Robbie Dupree, the Bee Gees, and Christopher Cross, notably Yachtley Crew also includes an original song, “Sex on the Beach,” as close as a modern-day band can get to recreating the sound of the ’70s.
Since the Music Box opened in 2015, it has become one of the area’s top music destinations. With a 700-person capacity, the venue features three levels, an outdoor balcony with well-placed monitors, excellent food and beverages, as well as a 40-foot video screen behind the stage. Each month the Music Box spotlights a great selection of national and international talent across the genres, also supporting local artists. This block party is a great way to celebrate one of San Diego’s top music venues.
www.musicboxsd.com/event/13561404/yachtley-crew-radio-thieves-outdoor-show
Beatles Fair 20
Revolution Band
The 20th San Diego Beatles Fair takes place on September 7 at Queen Bee’s in North Park, from noon–midnight, with two stages of music.
Headlining this year’s indoor main stage will be the Revolution Band from Tijuana, Mexico, who perform a career-spanning overview of the Fab Four’s music, with three costume changes, taking them from the Ed Sullivan Show to the Apple Records rooftop. Other featured performers include tribute groups Come Together and The 63eatles, cover bands Mojo Strut, Acoustic Universe, as well as all-star combo True Stories, featuring violinist Alicia Previn and bassist Scott Mathiasen. Illustrating the Beatles influence in the decades after their breakup, Oasis tribute group Oasiz, led by Scott Samuels, will also perform. “It’s one of my favorite events in San Diego,” said Previn, who resides in Arizona these days. “The energy is always so good, warm, and positive from everyone, and it’s wonderful to see people of all ages—from little kids to old folks—having a great time singing along to the Beatles’ incredible music.”
While the Beatles Fair is a ticketed event, this year’s second stage will be free to the public, outdoors in Queen Bee’s adjacent parking lot. This area will include food and merch vendors, plus live sets from Hector Penalosa, Josh Weinstein, the Suzanne Gladstone Trio featuring Nico Peters, and more.
“I’m so happy that we’ve made it this far,” said event producer, Alma Rodriguez. “It’s taken a lot of hard work from a lot of people to put on 20 Beatles Fairs, but it’s always been worth it. The Beatles music is timeless, and, to be honest, I think the world needs their message of peace and love now more than ever.”
Adams Avenue Street Fair #42
The Adams Avenue Street Fair returns for its 42nd edition on September 21 and 22. Taking place along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, 75 musical acts will perform on seven stages, including punk icons the Zeros 77, country singer Sara Petite, and “the scariest band alive,” Deadbolt.
“Free outdoor concerts and street fairs such as this open the gates to the arts for people of all ages, backgrounds, and incomes,” said John Roy of Smoke and Mirrors Sound System. “It’s pretty darned amazing! I’m always happy to see people, who wouldn’t know about this music otherwise, enjoying music of many, many genres in the same place.”
Guitarist Larry Teves, aka Chickenbone Slim (and the Biscuits), concurs. “Cultural Events like the Adams Avenue Street Fair expose fans to new music, new genres, and new sounds they may not be aware of, and local artists who are growing beyond San Diego.” He points out that Chickenbone Slim and the Biscuits started out at Smitty’s Service right on Adams Avenue a decade ago, busking during Tasty Truck Tuesdays. “We’ve since performed hundreds of gigs from San Diego to Europe, so it seems fitting to perform for our fans where we started, on the Blues Stage across the street from our place of origin, Smitty’s.”
Nathan Raney will play at the Adams Avenue Street Fair.
Do the performers at the event have special plans for their sets? “We can’t wait to play all new original music from our upcoming third album, titled Coiled and Ready,” said singer Lisa Domkat of the Manzanita Blues Band. “It’s always great to get the crowd reaction to our music and to get everyone, especially the kids, dancing in front of the stage.” Meanwhile, Roy plans on a diverse set. “We’re gonna plow through as many hits as we possibly can and play tunes nobody’s heard yet, as well as songs by Smokey Robinson, David Bowie, Tom Petty, the Psychedelic Furs, and the Spencer Davis Group, but all through the lens of reggae.” Guitarist Nathan Raney will also be debuting new music. “My band’s third album, Maro and Manifestations, is fast approaching, so we will be playing a few songs from the new album. I’m not going to give away too much, but the band and I are excited. Plus, we will be celebrating my birthday!”
Does playing an outdoor gig like this require a different approach than club dates? “Daytime outdoor gigs like this require far more sunscreen than an 11pm set at the Casbah, that’s for sure,” quipped singer Tatiana Mac of Poison Hearts A.C. “It’s all about adjusting your sound to keep it full and comfortable,” said guitarist Nathan Raney. “One thing I like to do is keep the band’s equipment close together so we can create a wall of sound and don’t have to depend on monitors only.”
The Vibe Variety Stage is a new location at the Street Fair. “Ironically, in this case, we are somewhat inside a club, but with big windows open to the street, but yes, it is quite different playing out in the sunshine and with much larger crowds,” said Mark Delguidice of Harpco. “Plus, you get kids and dogs and families. I love it when the little ones watch and dance, getting so into it—it makes you smile while playin!” For him the weekend’s highlight will simply be catching as music as possible. “There are just too many great acts to list,” he said. “This year I’m trying to see bands I haven’t before, albeit I’m a fan of most of the well-known San Diego acts that play regularly. You just can’t see them all with so much happening at once, but you try!”
www.adamsavenuebusiness.com/adams-avenue-street-fair/music-schedule
The Great Deadful Festival Returns to Julian
The second annual Great Deadful Festival takes place on September 13 and 14 at the Banner Ranch in Julian. Focused on the music of the Grateful Dead, Friday night features music from Diego Dead, Dirty Hairy, the Kentucky Playboys, and Dan Brown, while Saturday night will include Diego Dead, Easy Wind, and Electric Waste Band.
Camping is available and attendees are encouraged to bring their own instruments to participate in pre-show and post-show jam circles. It’s notable that while the festival is outdoors, the venue includes an on-site pool hall with a juke box as well as a general store. In addition to the musical performers, the festival will also include art, sound healing, and original Grateful Dead gear! VIPs will also have access to two covered wagons with private bathrooms and premier stage access.
Banner Ranch is a beautiful location for a concert, with the stage set in a stand of trees in the mountains just outside of Julian; It’s worth the drive for the scenery alone. Fans of the Grateful Dead will love every second of their time there, but music fans in general will find much to appreciate at the Great Deadful Festival. Fresh air, incredible views, a relaxing atmosphere, and great music. You can’t beat it.