South Lake Tahoe officials from the 1980s and ’90s who dreamed of redevelopment on the California side of the state line would have loved to take a step into 2014. The Park Avenue project led to Heavenly Village, a filled-to capacity Alpine-styled mall with a movie theater and gondola with spectacular views.
When the redevelopment project finally came to fruition, a wrecking ball destroyed the 1960’s era motels and stores. A Bay Area newspaper ran the headline “Ta-Ta Tacky Tahoe.”
The site of old Cecil’s Market, which with pomp and circumstance was made into a pile of rubble, will be a summertime location for one of the stages of an ambitious concert series.
Bands will perform from 5:30-9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends. That’s 16 weeks and at least 32 bands.
“The lineup is very diverse; there is something for everybody,” said KTHO radio personality Dreu “with a ‘U’ ” Murin, one of the organizers. “We will highlight local talent and a lot of groups traveling through the area. This is going to blow some people’s minds.”
Fifteen of the 16 headlining groups have been announced, including national touring bands Delta Nove, a Long Beach world funk band, Colorado soul and rock band the Congress and San Francisco Americana roots band Lonesome Locomotive.
The new stage will be placed in different areas of Heavenly Village throughout the summer, including the site of the old Cecil’s Market on the corner of Park Avenue and Highway 50.
The concert series began last summer with a show by the Sacramento band Island of Black and White, which was interviewed by Murin on his radio show.
Trans-Sierra Investments President Gary Casteel “on a whim” put together a makeshift stage and the impromptu concert drew almost 400 spectators.
Heavenly Village concerts
Fridays and Saturdays from Memorial through Labor Day weekendsOpening bands play from 3-5 p.m. Headliners play from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Heavenly Village Summer Series Line Up
Stage Location – Friday/Saturday Headliner – Opening Act
GB – Week 1: 5/23 – NVO | Live jam electronic from SF – Conner Party
GB – Week 1: 5/24 – Liquid Kactus | Funk/Jam – String and I
GB – Week 2: 5/30 – Black Star Safari | Rock) – Conner Party
GB – Week 2: 5/31 – Tropo | Live electronic – String and I
BC – Week 3: 6/6 – Merry Gold | Bluegrass/Folk – Conner Party
BC – Week 3: 6/7 – Darren Senn | Acoustic folk – Patrick Walsch
GB – Week 4: 6/13 – The Congress | Rock/Classic – Conner Party
GB – Week 4: 6/14 – High Beamz | psychedelic/jam rock – Reggie Hall
BC – Week 5: 6/20 – Mark Sexton | Soul/Funk – Conner Party
BC – Week 5: 6/21 – Island of Back n White | reggae/pop rock – Mark Wilson
BC – Week 6: 6/27 – Lonesome Locomotive | Acoustic/Rock – Conner Party
BC – Week 6: 6/28 – Weapon & Connor band – Helena & the Bear
CT – Week 7: 7/4 – Deep Fried Mojo | Jam/Rock – Conner Party
CT – Week 7: 7/5 – Tuba Luba | Brass Band! – Patrick Wlaisch
GB – Week 8: 7/11 – Sil Shoda | Redneck country rock – Conner Party
GB – Week 8: 7/12 – World’s Finest | Ska/Dub/Americana – Reggie Hall
CT – Week 9: 7/18 – Funkytown / RocOfAges | 80’s Covers – Conner Party
CT – Week 9: 7/19 – Jon Bovi / RocOfAges | 80s Covers – Helena and the Bear
BC – Week 10: 7/25 – Delta Nove | Funk – Conner Party
BC – Week 10: 7/26 – Sierra Drifters | Americana/Rock – Helena and the Bear
GB – Week 11: 8/1 – Leche De Tigre | Latin/World – Conner Party
GB – Week 11: 8/2 – Naive Melodies | Talking Heads Tribute – Patrick Walisch
BC – Week 12: 8/8 – Groove Session | Rock/Jam/Fusion – Conner Party
BC – Week 12: 8/9 – T Sisters | Alt Country/Americana – Reggie Hall
CT – Week 13: 8/15 – Acorn Projekt | Electro/Rock/Funk – Conner Party
CT – Week 13: 8/16 – Elektrapod | Rock/Funk/Pop – Mark Wilson
GB – Week 14: 8/22 – Cash Only | Johnny Cash tribute – Conner Party
GB – Week 14: 8/23 – New West Guitar group – Mark Wilson
CT – Week 15: 8/29 – MoonDog Matinee | Whiskey Barrel Rock – Conner Party
CT – Week 15: 8/30 – Absynth Quintet| – Helena and the Bear
