05/16/2013 - The Independent

Free Outdoor Concert Series 'TuesdayTunes' and 'Friday Nights LIVE!' DoublesSummertime Music in Downtown LivermoreOn Tuesday evening,June 4, 2013, the hot Latinjazz and salsa rhythms ofEl Desayuno will markthe return of an expandedpopular summertime seriesof free outdoor concertsin the heart of downtownLivermore. “TuesdayTunes” and “Friday NightsLIVE!” sponsored by theLivermore Valley PerformingArts Center willwelcome 22 musical groupsplaying 30 concerts on theShea Homes stage in frontof the Bankhead Theater.The performances featureeverything from acousticfolk and Americana, tosoul, jazz, and classic rockand roll.Free to the public, theconcerts run from 6:30 to8:00 p.m. each Tuesday andFriday evening beginningin June and continuingthrough mid-September.Following the returnof El Desayuno for therelaunch of “TuesdayTunes," “Friday NightsLIVE!” opens on June 7thwith the country rock soundof The Fred McCarty Band.Their appearance coincideswith the 95th AnnualLivermore Rodeo and kicksoff a weekend of countrywestern music inside theBankhead that includes thesweet harmonies and fieryfiddles of the Quebe SistersBand, as well as the returnof famed cowboy troubadourDon Edwards.“Friday Nights LIVE!”was introduced by LVPACin 2011. The concerts havequickly become a populartradition. The series alsosupports the region’s artists,as booking preference isgiven to local musiciansand bands. Audiencesdoubled last year with anaverage of 400 attendees,many of them families withchildren, flocking to theconcerts each week. Somebands, such as El Desayuno,attracted nearly twice asmany. The overwhelminglypositive feedback fromattendees, artists and localbusinesses has encouragedLVPAC to expand this year,reviving “Tuesday Tunes,”a concert series started bythe Livermore DowntownInc. in 2006 and held forseveral years at the FlagPole Plaza at the intersectionof First Street and S.Livermore AvenueLen Alexander, executivedirector of LVPAC,credits the community’sstrong support for thearts and for the BankheadTheater in helping to makethe expanded series possible.The LVPAC Presentsseries at the BankheadTheater features artists andentertainers across a widerange of musical styles andgenres throughout the year.The series has grown fromtwo dozen shows in its firstyear to more than 50 inthe current season with 58projected for the upcomingyear. The success ofthis season, which saw anumber of sold-out shows,helps provide funding for“Friday Nights LIVE!” andfor the addition of “TuesdayTunes.”The expanded outdoorconcert series means theBankhead Theater willbe filled with music bothinside and outside allsummer long. The LVPACPresents series continueswith the rich Mediterraneanmusic of Greek/Canadianguitarist Pavlo, who takesthe Bankhead Theater stageon Friday evening, June28th. The original countrysounds of the Nitty GrittyDirt Band will entertainaudiences on July 7th,followed by the return ofthe inimitable PreservationHall Jazz Band on August9th, and contemporaryflamenco guitarist OttmarLiebert, who makes hissixth appearance at theBankhead on August 28th.Tickets for all remainingperformances in the 2012-2013 LVPAC Presentsseason are available now atthe Bankhead Theater boxoffice.Schedule for free“Tuesday Tunes” concertsin 2013: June 4, El Desayuno,Latin jazz with salsaand soul; June 11, AudioIllusion, classic rock, popand blues; June 18, Bones-Quigley, acoustic rock andsoul; June 25, Rock on Tap,classic rock and roll; July2, Volker Strifler, bluesroots with rock, jazz andLatin rhythms; July 9, TheHurricane Band, classicrock, blues and country;July 16, The Humminbgirdz,soulful blues; July23, Slippery Road, classicand contemporary rock andblues; July 30, Blind Dog,contemporary acousticfolk rock; Aug. 6, ToucanJam, tunes from the 50sto 2000s; Aug. 13, DavidCorrea and Cascada, Latinguitar world music; Aug.20, Lunafish, psychedelicrock of the 60s and 70s;Aug. 27, Max Cruise Band,classic to current music;Sept. 3, Stone Grove, classicrock with an edge; Sept.10, Michael McNevin &the Spokes, original Americana,folk-rock, alt-country.Schedule for free“Friday Nights LIVE!”concerts in 2013: June 7,Fred McCarty Band, country,cowboy, Cajun, classicrock; June 14, 2Endeavor,alternative rock; June 21,Gabe Duffin Band, classicrock; June 28, Blind Dog,contemporary acousticfolk rock; July 5, KNR,pop, country and blues;July 12, Evan Thomas &Papa's Garage, funky soulfulblues; July 19, StoneGroove, classic rock; July26, Audio Illusion, classicrock, pop and blues; Aug.2, Volker Strifler, bluesroots with rock, jazz andLatin rhythms; Aug. 9, TheHummingbirdz, soulfulblues; Aug. 16, Rock onTap, classic rock and roll;Aug. 23, The HurricaneBand, classic rock, bluesand country; Aug. 30, ElDesayuno, Latin jazz withsalsa and soul; Sept. 6,LVPAC Guitar fest Live,opening weekend celebratingall things guitar; Sept.13, Frankie Bones & FireHazard, acoustic folk rock.All “Tuesday Tunes”and “Friday Nights LIVE!”concerts are free to thepublic with open amphitheaterseating and run from6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on theShea Homes Stage outsidethe Bankhead Theater inDowntown Livermore.The Bankhead Theateris located at 2400 FirstStreet in Downtown Livermore.To purchase ticketsfor performances in thetheater, call 925-373-6800or visit www.bankheadtheater.org.THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013 32012SEASON2013CALL925.373.6800John HammondA One-Man Blues Strike ForceFRI MAY 17 8pmOde to a Joyous50th SeasonLivermore-Amador SymphonySAT MAY 18 8pmBalletMasterworksValley Dance TheatreMAY 25,26 7, 2pmPete EscovedoLatin JazzEnergizing Music with theLegendary PercussionistSAT JUN 1 7:30pmJane Monheit“Real Jazz Deal” VocalistWED JUN 5 7:30pmThe QuebeSisters BandTexas Fiddle with Three-Part HarmonyFRI JUN 7 8pmRODEO WEEKENDDon EdwardsAmerica’s Country TroubadourSAT JUN 8 8pmLivermoreSchool of DanceSummer Ballet & Jazz RecitalsJUN 15 11am/3pmJUN 21,22,23 7/2pmPavloGuitar Master of Flamenco and Latin RhythmsFRI JUN 28 8pmCLICKbankheadtheater.orgCOME BY2400 First Street • Downtown Livermore