Summer Nights at the Park

After a crazy and fun 4^th of July, thankfully with no early firework action this time, we can now settle down and find great entertainment in San Diego. One form of entertainment for the evening is the weekly summer night concerts at Balboa Park. Each summer year Balboa Park plays host to the Twilight in the Park Summer Concerts. Hordes of people attend at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion each week watch and listen to the night’s entertainment. The concerts go from 6:15 to 7:15 from Tuesday to Thursday and admission is free. Balboa Park will continue to host the musical festivities until August 29. To help with the decision of which concert nights you should attend, we list each week’s concerts and information on the bands that perform.

July 9 – The Real Jazz Band (Smooth Jazz)

Ready to dance to smooth jazz? This night, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion will have The Real Jazz Band performing on stage. The band has played for various events that include the yearly Twilight in the Park concerts, the 1st Spirit of 45 National event at the Veteran’s Museum, and more. They have performed successfully each year at the park with songs like “Angel Eyes” and “Indeed I do.”  Come bring your friends as this great event will entertain people of all ages and music tastes.

July 10 – Rick Robledo & The Working Cowboy (Traditional Country-Western)

For those who don’t feel Jazzy to the music and are more inclined to good old country music, this should be a hit. The band is well known for its dedication to performing all styles of historical country music for their fans. According to the Band’s profile page on the San Diego Area Music site (SDAM), “The Working Cowboy Band is steeped in the tradition of Honky Tonk and Texas Swing music that filled the music halls and bars from Abilene to San Antonio, Santa Fe to Albuquerque, and all the way to Bakersfield where Merle Haggard lit the west coast on fire with classic songs like Swingin’ Doors that exemplified the Honky Tonk lifestyle that so many of these artists really lived.” One of the band’s performers, Rick Robledo, discussed how many country stars have influenced his work including Buck Owens, George Strait, George Jones, and Merle Haggard. So come down on this night if you think you are up to listening to some excellent traditional country music.

July 11 – 145th Street Band (Contemporary blues & Concert Appreciation Night)

Some Blues music will be headed this week on Thursday. Performing live onstage, the 145^th Street Band will play out some great Blues music. Formed in 2002 right here in San Diego, this local band lists their musical influences as including Junior Wells, James Brown, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Paul Butterfield, Jason Ricci, and B.B. King. The band has performed for many events for festivals, casinos, pubs, and clubs. One of the appearances includes a terrific performance at the House of Blues. The San Diego Reader sites states, “The group has opened for acts such as B.B. King, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Charlie Musselwhite, Tommy Castro, and others. They’ve had a residency at Patrick’s II in the Gaslamp for years and Bulger says they’ve played Humphrey’s Backstage, the House of Blues, 4th&B, “and all the local festivals.” At the 2005 San Diego Music Awards, the band’s debut CD, 145^th Street Deluxe Blues Band, was nominated for Best Blues Album. When discussing their music, the band writes on their website, “Our music is driven by raw expressive vocals, exceptional harmonica, passionate, blazing guitar, and wailing, honking saxophone with rhythm section that is spirited and tight.” This Thursday, come and listen to the band’s live musical performance in their Blues style.

Photos courtesy of Kwong Yee Cheng and Sidewalk Sundays via Flickr.