Summer Concert Series at Balboa Park

As the weekend crawls away from us, we must look to other avenues of fun for our weekdays. This week we provide for our readers our updates on the local bands performing for the Twilight in the Park Summer Concerts. From Tuesday to Thursday, three bands will perform live onstage at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The one-hour concerts begin at 6:15 and are free for those attending.

August 6 – The San Diego Concert Band (Classic to Pops)

After celebrating twenty years of performing in San Diego, the San Diego Concert Band comes to Balboa Park for their next performance. According to their website, Charles D. Yates and Warren Torns first founded the group back in 1989 under the name of the La Mesa Community Band. The band has performed at several venues such as the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, the East County Performing Arts Center, La Mesa’s Harry Griffin Park, La Jolla Cove, Point Loma Nazarene University, Balboa Park, and more. Additionally, the group has played overseas as “cultural ambassadors.” The band’s website states, “The band frequently features solos, full sections and small ensembles. A wide range of music is performed, from show tunes, movie scores and marches to concert pieces for symphonic band.” To check out more information on the band that includes music samples, contacts, and concert/rehearsal information, go to their link. Tuesday’s night of performance should be a treat for all audiences.

August 7 – The Coolrays (California Rock)

Remember the era of those great surfer bands like The Beach Boys, The Chantays, and Surfaris? Now you can relive those great melodies on Wednesday when The Coolrays hit the stage. The band has performed their “Beach Boys style” of music since they first formed in 1987. Usually attired in their white jeans and Hawaiian shirts, the Coolrays consist of band members Bobby Wade (lead vocals, bass, and keyboard), Jeff Williams (lead vocals and guitar), and Tom Hidden (lead vocals and drums). They have performed at Sea World, Pacific Beach, Embarcadero Park, Santee, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, Belmont Park, the San Diego Zoo and other locations throughout San Diego. On the band’s website, it states, “The Coolrays play great music from the 50’s and 60’s and get the audience into it with the twist, the hand-jive and the limbo plus sing-along tunes that get you in the mood for ‘Fun, Fun, Fun!’” The group’s website includes upcoming events, biographies of the members, testimonials and contact info. Come to Balboa and experience the summer breeze of live beach music.

August 8 – Bayou Brothers (Cajun/Zydeco)

In the mood for some great Cajun/Zydeco music here in Balboa? On Thursday, The Bayou Brothers, “San Diego’s favorite Zydeco band,” will perform its special blend of Cajun, Zydeco, and Blues music. Members of the band include John Chambers (accordion, keyboards, and vocals), Rice Lee (drums and percussion), Roger Dashle (bass), Charles Burton (lead guitar, slide, and vocals), Thom Podgoretsky (saxophone, percussion, and vocals), Karen Lee (band mom, administration, and sales), and Jessica Lee (rubberboard). The group has performed for multiple events and venues such as the Julian Blues Festival, Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant, the Long Beach Bayou and Mardi Gras Festival, Rob Bower’s Julian Blues Bash, and more. According to their website, “With a sound straight out of Louisiana’s dance clubs, bayou festivals and backyard crawfish boils, the BAYOU BROTHERS will rock you right on into ‘Fat Tuesday’ with their extensive experience and endless enthusiasm to deliver a rousing, rollicking, heart-thumpin’, foot-stompin’ musical gumbo y’all won’t soon forget!!!” Additionally, the 2013 San Diego Music Awards nominated the Bayou Brothers for Best Blues Band. Those who express an interest in voting for them can click on the link. The band’s website also includes a schedule of their upcoming performances, videos of past performances, and music samples. Travel over to the pavilion and enjoy a fresh taste of Cajun in the form of the Bayou Brother’s music.

Photos courtesy of Kwong Yee Cheng and Al_HikesAZ via Flickr.