Wow! I'm not even sure where to start this week. There's so much going on, starting Thursday night and not ending until Wednesday, the Fourth of July.
Yes, the Fourth is on a Wednesday this year, which complicates matters a bit, but also gives this weekend a boost, a sort of headstart for the Fourth of July festivities.
Let's see, just this weekend, there's Lucinda Williams at the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur; the two-day Nacarubi Music Festival in the wilds east of Big Sur; Kiki Wow has found herself a new venue and is putting on two shows (with another in a separate venue); a handful of bands that played the Monterey Bay Blues Festival will also be playing this weekend; honeymoon is playing its last show in this area Saturday night; an acclaimed Latin/hip-hop/ funk band is holding a CD release party in Salinas Saturday night; a 24-voice vocal jazz ensemble performs in downrtown Monterey; a dynamc Celtic band is playing Sunday afternoon at a Pacific Grove church; a native son returns with his band to play a favorite Carmel Valley watering hole Friday night; and one of the finest bluegrass guitar players is dropping into the Pacific Grove Art Center Saturday night.
All of that doesn't even include what's happening on the Fourth of July! For that, check out Mike Hale's roundup in this week's issue of GO! (Or online at montereyherald.com/
gomagazine).
And to top it all off, my Facebook pages (personal
So, back to square one, where do I start? Well, Lucinda is sold out and Nacarubi is limiting tickets to 400, so they may be close (but check the website at nacarubi.com to be sure), so let's begin with our favorite nomad, Kiki.
The tireless promoter is calling her new venue Wow at The Windmill because of its close proximity to the windmill at The Barnyard shopping center (above Lugano Swiss Bistro), where for the first concert she has booked Texas (by way of Chicago) bluesman Lightning Red, who just played Sunday at the blues festival.
That's a 7-9 p.m. show Saturday night with a $10 cover. Lugano is also providing beer and wine for purchase as well a barbecue dinner for $15. Details at 659-4229 or kikiwow.com.
On Sunday from 5-7 p.m. she has another show there with the Rayburn Brothers, an Americana group from the Santa Cruz area.
Not satisfied to do those two shows, she's also promoting a "Dick Clark Commemorative Dance Party" Friday night from 7-9 with Santa Cruz classic rock band The Blackouts. This takes place at AMP TV Studios, Studio A, at 2200 Garden Road in Monterey.
A no-host bar, food and beverages will be available by Plaza Linda Restaurant & Cantina. A $10 suggested donation goes to the band. Oh, and the whole shindig will be taped. Why Dick Clark? Kiki used to work for him.
Moving on. Speaking of tireless promoters, Tanya Moore of Moore Media is bringing in bluegrass guitarist David Grier, who has been named Guitar Player of The Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association three times, has played on four Grammy Award-winning albums and is listed in the book "1,000 Great Guitarists." Bill Ingram and Monterey's own Microtonic Harmonic will open for Grier.
That's Saturday night from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Pacific Grove Art Center.
Tickets are $20 and available at ticketderby.com, info is at (855) 237-3362 or via email at: PR@MooreMedia.TV.
The blues fest bands playing the area include Minor Williams playing Friday night at Casa Sorrento in Salinas; the Bornia Boys and Rollin' and Tumblin' Friday and Saturday night, respectively, at Bullwackers; and Lightning Red.
The funky Latin/hip-hop band B-Side Players is also playing Casa Sorrento, but on Saturday night. They have just released their new CD, "Revolutionize," which will be available at the show.
And last, but certainly not least, an old buddy, guitarist, singer and songwriter, Johnny Moezzi will be back in the area with his band and playing The Running Iron in Carmel Valley starting around
9:30 p.m. Friday.
Moezzi is a native of the area, but now calls L.A. home. He has honed his craft at numerous club gigs down south as well as with the blues artist Miss Mickey Champion, who has been associated with artists such as Count Basie, Ruth Brown and Albert King.
His current band includes keyboardist John "JT" Thomas from Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, drummer Jim Goodall from John Wayne and bassist Dale Jennings from Rick Holmstrom's band, among others.
His latest EP showcases his burgeoning songwriting and singing skills. We always knew the man could play guitar, but now he's become a well-rounded artist. Welcome back, bro! No cover. 659-4633. www.johnnymoezzi.com.GO!
Font Resize
