Summer breezes, intimate courtyard, free parking and great music
Summer breezes… an intimate courtyard… free parking… and great music. Escape to Culver City for the 2018 Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival. Boulevard Music presents 6 free concerts on Thursday evenings at 7 pm from July 12 through August 16 in the palm-lined Dale Jones Courtyard of Culver City City Hall.
Curated by producer Gary Mandell of Culver City’s Boulevard Music, Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival offers something for everyone: The sounds of Choro with great vocals from Kátia Moraes and Brazilian Hearts plus the sounds of Cuba that’ll make you want to dance from Conganas (July 12); Classic Rock/Blues/Country with hot guitar from the Carl Verheyen Band featuring John Jorgenson (July 19); The Classic R & B and Soul review of Brenda Lee Eager (July 26); Americana/Country with hot banjo/fiddle from Tony Furtado featuring Luke Price (August 2); Classic Rock standards and originals from Venice and The Pine Mountain Logs (Aug 9); and a little acting in “The Heart of Screenland” from a great Beatles tribute band 4 Lads from Liverpool (Aug 16).
Avoid the crowds and parking hassles of other areas on the Westside. Parking is free for one hour (2 hours with festival validation) in designated structures in downtown Culver City, and dozens of dining options are available within walking distance. Culver City’s downtown area is Southern California’s best-kept secret, featuring a wonderful mix of historic buildings, boutiques, theaters, galleries, and unique restaurants opening onto tree-lined streets.
Culver City’s Boulevard Music Festival is sponsored by The City of Culver City, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Boulevard Music, Michael Morabito Dolce Morabito, Palm Court, John Riordan Plumbing, Culver City Volvo & Mazda, Maxam Properties, Swiss Motors, Sorrento Market, Mateo’s Ice Cream, D & E Associates, Cavanaugh Realty, Hillside Memorial Park, Dolce Realtors, Marriott Hotel, Michael Kayem Remax, LaRocco’s, Music Munchers, Culver Hotel, Dynagraphics, Culver City News, Culver City Observer, Steeldeck Inc, Eastman Guitars, Kremona USA, Ohana Ukuleles, and Ernie Ball.
Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival takes place on Thursday evenings at 7 pm from July 12–August 16. The Dale Jones City Hall Courtyard is located at 9770 Culver Blvd. in Downtown Culver City (corner Culver Blvd. and Duquesne Ave.). Parking is free for the first two hours (with festival validation) in designated structures in the Downtown area. The courtyard opens at 4:30 pm. No glass containers or alcoholic beverages may be brought into the courtyard. For more information, call Boulevard Music 310-398-2583 or go to http://www.boulevardmusic.com.
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DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS
2018 Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival
WHAT:
Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival – Six free concerts under the stars in the intimate Dale Jones Courtyard of Culver City City Hall. The 2018 summer series offers something for everyone including Brazilian/Cuban, Classic Rock/Blues, R& B/Soul, Americana/Country, Bluegrass/Country, the sounds of the Beatles and more types of music. Enjoy dozens of dining options within walking distance. Even the parking is free (with festival validation) for two hours in designated structures.
WHEN:
July 12 – August 16, Thursdays @ 7 pm (Dale Jones Courtyard opens @ 4:30 pm)
• Thursday, July 12 @ 7 pm: The sounds of Choro with great vocals from Kátia Moraes and Brazilian Hearts plus the sounds of Cuba that’ll make you want to dance from Conganas
• Thursday, July 19 @ 7 pm: Classic Rock/Blues/Country with hot guitar from Carl Verheyen Band featuring John Jorgenson
• Thursday, July 26 @ 7 pm: The Classic R & B and Soul review of Brenda Lee Eager
• Thursday, August 2 @ 7 pm: Americana/Country with National Banjo Champion Tony Furtado featuring National Fiddle Champion Luke Price
• Thursday, August 9 @ 7 pm: Classic Rock standards and originals from Venice and The Pine Mountain Logs
• Thursday, August 16 @ 7 pm: Acting, and where else but in “The Heart of Screenland”, from a great Beatles tribute band the 4 Lads from Liverpool
WHERE:
Dale Jones Courtyard at Culver City City Hall
9770 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(corner Culver Blvd. and Duquesne Ave.)
ADMISSION:
Free
Also become an entry level sponsor by purchasing one of the 100 premium reserved seats at $10 each per show available at Boulevard Music.
Tickets may be purchased at Boulevard Music in person or over the phone.
PARKING:
One hour free parking underneath City Hall in the City Hall Garage and in designated structures in the Downtown area. Two hours free with festival validation.
INFORMATION:
310-398-2583
OTHER:
Dozens of restaurants, as well as galleries and boutiques, are located within walking distance. No glass containers or alcoholic beverages may be brought into the Dale Jones Courtyard at City Hall. Only service dogs on leash are allowed.
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
July 12: Kátia Moraes and Brazilian Hearts plus Conganas
Kátia Moraes and Brazilian Hearts
Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Kátia Moraes and Brazilian Hearts bring choro and samba to Culver City this summer. Moraes’s singing, as praised by the Los Angeles Times, “is a virtual definition of the passion that is an implicit part of Brazilian music.”Featuring Nando Duarte, Ted Falcon, Fay Roberts and Clarice Cast. Moraes began performing in the 1980s, sharing the stage with the high-energy Brazilian band O Espirito da Coisa. Since then, she has worked with some of the foremost acts around the globe, including Sergio Mendes, Airto Moreira, Oscar Castro-Neves, Rita Lee, Elba Ramalho, Sandy and Junior, Banda Cheiro de Amor, George Duke, Alex Acuña and Justo Almario’s Tolú, Latin Project, and Praful. In 1990, she moved to LA, where she began working as a voiceover artist in film and television. She also continued singing with the likes of Pure Samba, Feijoada Completa, Samba Society, Bloco Nove, Falso Baiano, The Rio Thing, Midnight Drums, Sol & Mar, Folk Ballet of Brasil, Badauê, Man and Machine, and many more. She is currently singing with Brazilian Hearts—Choro & Samba, Samba Society, and Viver Brasil Dance Company. In 2011, Moraes created the annual musical entitled Brazilian Heart, a Celebration paying homage to inspiring Brazilian singer-songwriters. She has released numerous albums, including Ten Feet and the Sun with Brasil Nuts band, Ginga, Navegar ao Sol, Live, Tribo with Sambaguru, and two EPs. In 2018 she released Mistureba. Her work with the Pure Samba project was awarded the LA Treasure Award, granted in part by the California Traditional Music Society, a facility of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department.In Culver City Kátia with be accompanied by Nando Duarte on 7-string guitar, Ted Falcon on mandolin and violin, Clarice Cast on percussion, and Fay Roberts on flute.
Conganas
Conganas which means “with passion” features some of the most talented and experienced players in the Los Angeles music scene today, not only do they perform with their own band but are also touring musicians with some of the greatest bands and musicians in the Latin Jazz, R & B, Pop and Soul genres.
Conganas was formed in 2010 and is led by percussionist Christian Moraga originally from Chile. Conganas also features Cuban pianist Fermin Sifontes, American bassist Rene Camacho, and Venezuelan trumpeter Enzo Villaparedes. What started as a concept and challenge of replicating the sound of a full Latin orchestra playing a variety of salsa, cumbia, cha-cha, bolero, and Latin jazz, among many other Latin rhythms with only a quartet has led to many performance opportunities in diverse venues throughout Southern, California.
The band has quickly created their unique Latin sound and spellbinding shows to other cultural frontiers. They are planning to release a new CD in in 2016.
Each of the band members executes a vital instrument and also sings, making this complicated task and particular sound, a sought out band. Christian has assembled a wonderful cast of musicians, writers, teachers and historians and together they have put their stamp on their debut recording “Conganas”.
July 19: Carl Verheyen Band with Special Guest John Jorgenson
Carl Verheyen Band
In his 40-plus years of playing the instrument, Carl has created a wildly successful, multi-faceted career. He is a critically acclaimed musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and educator with fourteen CDs and two live DVDs released worldwide. Carl is commonly regarded as a guitar virtuoso capable of playing any style of music with remarkable mastery and conviction. He has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players for the past 25 years, playing on hundreds of records, movie soundtracks and television shows. Verheyen has graced the pages of countless industry publications and been the subject of numerous articles chronicling his rise to the forefront of the modern day guitar scene. Carl has won numerous polls and musical honors in the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK.
Carl has been playing the guitar every day since 1965 and has always made his living with the instrument. A member of the smash hit British rock group Supertramp since 1985, Carl has played to millions of enthusiastic fans in sold out arenas worldwide. As the creative force behind the Carl Verheyen Band, his 14-record discography showcases his endless talents across a wide array of musical genres.
Carl is also a much sought after studio musician playing on many other artists’ records whenever his busy schedule permits. He has recorded and played with a virtual who’s who of the music industry and his vast collection of movie soundtracks and television credits is amazing. At the 2009 Academy Awards, Carl was heard by 67,000,000 people as a featured soloist.
Carl has also been featured in 2 documentary films: Grand Designs: The Music of Carl Verheyen and Turn it Up! a film about the electric guitar.
Plus Special Guest John Jorgenson
John Jorgenson born July 6, 1956 in Madison, Wisconsin, is perhaps best known for his guitar work with bands such as the Desert Rose Band and The Hellecasters. Jorgenson is also proficient in the mandolin, mandocello, Dobro, pedal steel, piano, upright bass, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone. John Jorgenson, known for his blistering guitar and mandolin licks and mastery of a broad musical palette, has earned a reputation as a world-class musician, as evidenced by his collaborations with Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Dylan and many others.
First coming to national attention in the mid ‘80s as co-founder of successful country-rock act The Desert Rose Band, an eclectic array of artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger and Barbra were drawn to add Jorgenson’s artistry to their own recordings. While a member of the Desert Rose Band, Jorgenson won the Academy of Country Music's "Guitarist of the Year" award two consecutive years.
In the ‘90s The Hellecasters gave audiences a chance to experience John’s fretboard fireworks in an unrestrained venue and the trio’s three original albums remain favorites of guitarists everywhere. Having been a fan of the Desert Rose Band, Elton John invited Jorgenson to join his band in 1994 for an 18 month tour that stretched into a six-year stint of touring, recording and TV appearances with the British superstar, in addition to collaborations with other artists including Sting and Billy Joel.
2010 marked the 100th birthday of the great gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Since discovering Django in 1979, Jorgenson has become “the US Ambassador of Gypsy Jazz” which is quite an honor given the distinctly European slant of the music’s heritage. Over the years Jorgenson has continued to honor the legacy of Reinhardt by bringing his unique brand of Gypsy Jazz to the masses with his John Jorgenson Quintet.
July 26: Brenda Lee Eager
Brenda Lee Eager
From the farm county of Lower Peachtree, North of Mobile Alabama, you might not expect a chart-topping musical powerhouse to emerge, and yet Brenda Lee Eager did just that. Beyond her original songs recorded by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Prince, Brenda has a heart and voice as big as the world - having performed with the most important artists in American music history: Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack, Graham Nash and the inimitable Ray Charles.
Brenda started her singing career like so many other greats: in church. Having established a secure partnership between her music and her spiritual path, she moved to Chicago landing the coveted female lead with Jerry Butler's group (Motown), and was later co-featured with Jerry in his famous Billboard “Certified Gold” hits: “Ain't Understanding Mellow” and “(They Long To Be) Close To You.”
But these accolades are a small part of what makes Brenda such a powerful writer and lyricist. Brenda inherently understands the relationship between storytelling and the song. Every song she creates retains a compelling sense of narrative - never losing sight of a deep humanity encapsulated in the melody and lyric.
Having penned several one-woman and theatrical shows of her own, Brenda is no stranger to the theater and has joined forces with Catherine Kinsman and Ben Dowling to write the musical Spiral—a powerful story that addresses human civilization and its relationship with nature and indigenous cultures around the world.
“Music is central to my life. It's between God and music - and a lot of the time I consider those two words to be nearly interchangeable. My music is a reflection of the spiritual lessons that I practice in my life. I can't think of a better place to speak from, as we face profound issues, than through our collective voice and stories of magic, of vision and of love.”
August 2: Tony Furtado featuring Luke Price
Tony Furtado
Very few musicians of any stripe so personify a musical genre as completely as Tony Furtado embodies Americana roots music. Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef (he’s also an accomplished sculptor, but that’s another story). All of the music of America is in Tony’s music. Relix hit the nail on the head when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn’t need categories.”
A native of Pleasanton, California, who now makes his home in Portland, Oregon, Tony Furtado took up the banjo at age 12, inspired by the Beverly Hillbillies TV show and a sixth grade music report. He first attracted national attention in 1987, when he won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Not long after that, Tony opted for the life of a full-time professional musician, joining Laurie Lewis & Grant Street. A second victory at Winfield, in 1991, bookended his years with Grant Street.
In 1990, Tony signed a recording deal with Rounder Records, one of the country’s preeminent independent record companies. Beginning with Swamped in 1990, he recorded six critically acclaimed albums for the label, collaborating with such master musicians as Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Kelly Joe Phelps and Mike Marshall. During this period, Tony also performed and recorded with the band Sugarbeat and the Rounder Banjo Extravaganza with Tony Trischka and Tom Adams.
Beginning in the late 1990s—influenced by such musical heroes as Ry Cooder, David Lindley and Taj Mahal—Tony added slide guitar, singing and songwriting to his musical toolbox and began leading his own band. He is a tireless road musician who performs in a dizzying variety of formats: solo, in a duo or trio or with his full five-person band. He especially values the opportunities he has had to tour with such legendary musicians as Gregg Allman and with such esteemed slide guitarists as David Lindley, Derek Trucks and Sonny Landreth.
Plus Special Guest Luke Price
Luke Price is a talented young multi-instrumentalist known for his great balance of taste, rhythm, and technical ability. He is known for pushing genres, styles, and fellow musicians into new territory while delicately respecting the great musical traditions that have come before.
At the young age of seven, Luke began competing in fiddle contests and quickly made a name for himself winning the National Title at ages 12 and 17, along with a long list of awards from contests all across the country, including The Fiddlers Frolics and the Grand Masters. In 2014, he became the National Old-Time Fiddling Grand Champion.
At the young age of 15, he began teaching private lessons. While continuing to carry on the Texas fiddling and contest traditions, Luke began to expand his playing to many other styles, namely; jazz, soul, blues, funk, bluegrass, and pop.
After completing his B.A. in Professional Music at the esteemed Berklee College of Music, he moved to Portland, OR, where he continues to record and perform his original music with his Old Soul Pop band, Dean! He has performed and collaborated with a host of other musicians including: Tony Furtado, Scott Law, Jesse Harper, Sam Grisman, Jack Dwyer, Love Canon, Tristan and Tashina Clarridge, and many more…
Now, he continues to teach privately, while also teaching at Lewis & Clark College. Luke is passionate about passing on the Old fiddling traditions, and also creating new music measured with taste, technical control, and joy.
August 9: Vencie plus the Pine Mountain Logs
Vencie plus the Pine Mountain Logs
Venice is a band from Venice Beach, California that consists of two sets of brothers: Michael and Mark Lennon, and their cousins, Kipp and Pat Lennon. Their newest release, the double disc CD “What Summer Brings,” debuted in the Top 10 of the national album charts in the Netherlands, and continues to win acclaim with fans and critics worldwide.
As a band, the Lennons have recorded and performed together since the 1980s. Their music is a reflection of many of their influences while growing up in the small, eclectic and culturally diverse beach town for which they are named. Their sound is at once familiar and fresh, their classic rock and folk influences apparent in their pop sensibilities. You might recognize some of Venice’s influences, such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, the Eagles or Sly & the Family Stone. Their hybrid of folk/rock/soul is relevant, alive and still growing, with many fans worldwide considering them the torchbearers of the Southern California sound.
Venice’s trademarks are their harmonies, personal lyrics and high energy, communal shows. These garner them huge ovations and encores at virtually every performance they’ve given, from intimate theaters to sprawling festivals, from the US to Europe. And it’s earned them major record releases on Sony Records, Universal Records, Atlantic Records and Vanguard Records.
Their distinctive vocal sound and harmonies have allowed Venice and its members to perform and/or record with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Stevie Nicks, Bon Jovi, Jackson Browne, Brian Wilson, Cher, Don Henley, Elton John, Michael McDonald, Phil Collins, Ozzy Osborne, Billy Idol, America, Heart, and the list goes on. The Lennons spent most of 2010-2013 as backing vocalists performing in the 219 show, record-breaking worldwide arena and stadium tour of “Pink Floyd’s The Wall” with Roger Waters. Recently, Venice was invited to contribute a track to the 2014 CD, “Looking Into You: A Tribute To Jackson Browne,” joining such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Ben Harper and Lyle Lovett.
For over fifteen years, Venice has enjoyed a great level of success in the Netherlands, where their harmonies and musicality are considered a modern extension of what many Europeans call “West Coast Music.” Venice continues to cultivate their reputation overseas and abroad on a longstanding friendship with their audiences, where their post-show meet & greets can sometimes last nearly as long as their shows.
With the release of "What Summer Brings," Venice reaffirms that they are still at the top of their game, ready to evolve and expand to new territories, musically and globally.
“Venice is the best vocal group in America right now. They're better than anybody else I know. They're fantastic. I’m a student of harmony. That’s my thing. I love all kinds of harmony. But I particularly love theirs, because it’s so natural. It’s not like anybody else’s. Very unforced, very from their hearts. I’ve been telling people about them since the first night I heard them. I’ve told everybody I could find that they were the best. This is my favorite band in the world.”
-- David Crosby
"Venice, one of my favorite bands, is quintessentially Californian, with soaring harmonies. They sing and play their asses off. I’ve seen them knock out many an unsuspecting crowd, taking the audiences, who had not come to see them, completely by surprise. It's such a pleasure to play with these guys, because they have that power."
-- Jackson Browne
Pine Mountain Logs
Imagine a group as great as Venice with those amazing vocals doing covers and you have the Pine Mountain Logs. Their just for fun tribute band, and one of the best ones as you can imagine out there.
August 16: 4 Lads from Liverpool
4 Lads from Liverpool
One hundred years from now people will still be listening and playing Beatles songs. To conclude the series this year it seems appropriate to have a group in the “Heart of Screenland” that not only plays the Beatles’ music, but also does a little acting with their outstanding tribute to the band that changed the world. To do the tribute right we are flying in Jon Perry who lives a little west of Liverpool (Baltimore actually) who does a fabulous Paul McCartney tribute. Start practicing singing Nah—Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah Nah, Nah—Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah right now.
JIMMY POU
George Harrison, portrayed by Jimmy Pou, toured the world with the original Beatlemania show. He has also played with 1964 the Tribute, Beatlemania Now, and Rain. He also has his solo tribute to the quiet one called "An Evening With George". Jimmy is also the founding member of “4 Lads From Liverpool” and is the leader of the show.
HOWARD PATTOW
John Lennon, portrayed by Howard Pattow, has toured with "Which Ones Pink" a tribute to Pink Floyd, and fronted a Monkees tribute show in the past. Howard also works with a Genesis tribute show. He has also played in several Beatle shows such as BackBeat and Twist and Shout.
JON PERRY
Paul McCartney, portrayed by Jon Perry, is a naturally left handed guitarist. He has the vocal range and the personality of Paul and his stage presence leaves everyone thinking they have seen Sir Paul in action. He has had a solo McCartney tribute show, and has toured with RCCL Cruise Liners, and has worked with cast members of Beatlemania.
MIKE SARAFIAN
Ringo Starr, portrayed by Mike Sarafian, is a perfectionist at playing the Ringo drum licks and has always worked hard at his craft and has the same charm as the Beatles drummer. Mike was also a founding member of the Beach Boys tribute band “Surfin Safari”.
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