The music remains free and now so is the parking.
Live at Lakeview organizers today revealed the lineup for the fourth-annual summertime concert series, an event recognized and supported by the city as a staple of the community.
Three previous headliners return during the 10-week run from June 25-Aug. 27: Portland’s Scott Pemberton, Seattle’s the Polyrhythmics and South Lake Tahoe’s Lavish Green.
Bluegrass, rock, reggae, funk, brass, blues and, for the first time, jazz will be presented. There also will be an unprecedented amount of local flavor. The Thursday shows from 4:30 p.m.-8:30 feature two bands, and five South Shore groups get to open: Black Star Safari, Worn Out Welcome, 4 Piece Puzzle and Taking Root. It will be Lavish Green’s third Live at Lakeview appearance.
“We tried to mix it up a lot this year,” said Leslie Schultz, the spokesperson for Live at Lakeview’s organizer, On Course Events. “And we have three returning headliners (Polyrhythmics played in 2013). Scott Pemberton is definitely one of my favorites not only because he brings a great crowd but he is great to work with and is so much fun to watch onstage.”
While the music styles are varied, bluegrass-Americana will be the one most heard.
The Lil’ Smokies from Montana played last winter at Divided Sky in Meyers.
“Within the first five notes I heard, I wanted to get that band,” Schultz said.
World’s Finest is a string band with a ska bent. Fish Out of Water calls its music “rophunk reahop” and Rian Basilio & the Roosters will headline a reggae show sponsored by the clothing line Delta Nine.
Dad’s LPs, which includes Jay Seals from one of South Shore’s most popular bands Blue Turtle Seduction, will appear at a show which could include special guests.
Chicago native and Bay Area keyboardist Raymond Victor will open Live at Lakeview with the event’s most straight-ahead blues show. The promoter for Janis Joplin’s Big Brother and the Holding Company reportedly had a hand in getting Victor to the lake. The show will be opened by the Davis band the Johnny Gold Trio, which includes players from Big Sticky Mess.
The Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach was built with funds from a proposition approved by California voters. The granite tiers of seats face the portable stage, Lake Tahoe and Cave Rock. An average of more than 1,000 people have attended each week. In the spring of 2014 South Lake Tahoe voters elected to make parking free in the area; however, the ordinance didn’t go into effect until after the Live at Lakeview season ended.
Parking not only is free this summer, the city on March 4 agreed to a five-year contract with On Course, waiving $6,500 in rental fees each season. It also will provide a $5,000 cash sponsorship this year and $2,500 each of the following four years. A city official also estimated $30,000 is spent on park, streets and public safety services.
Citations will be given to concertgoers with dogs and cigarettes and beer is only allowed in a beer garden, which will donate a substantial portion of its revenue to the effort to build a BMX track at Bijou Community Park.
On Course provides a free bike valet and motorists are encouraged to carpool. The secret parking is across Highway 50 at the recreation center (but it’s no longer a secret).
- Live at Lakeview
Lakeview Commons, South Lake Tahoe
4:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays
Date Headliner, opener
June 25 Ramond Victor Band, Johnny Gold Trio
July 2 Tubaluba, Patrick Walsh
July 9 World’s Finest, MerryGold
July 16 Fish Out of Water, Taking Root
July 23 Rian Basilio & the Roosters, Weapon
July 30 Dad’s LPs, Worn Out Welcome
Aug. 6 The Lil’ Smokies, Musical Charis
Aug. 13 Polyrhythmics, Big Sticky Mess
Aug. 20 Scott Pemberton, 4 Piece Puzzle
Aug. 27 Lavish Green, Black Star Safari
Free Bike Valet, Beer Garden, Food and Art Vendors
