The 2009 Rancho Los Cerritos Summer Concert Series will be bringing a variety of musical styles to entertain guests of all ages this summer. The four concerts, underwritten by the Rancho’s volunteer support group, are free and will feature toe-tapping bluegrass of The Witcher Brothers, old-school blues with Bernie Pearl & the Bernie Pearl Band, a tribute to the surf and beach party bands of the ’60s with Surfing Safari, and jazz sounds of The Christine Guter Quintet.
Kicking off the series, The Witcher Brothers will perform on Sunday, July 12, bringing forth a unique blend of bluegrass, country, blues and western swing to create a distinctive sound.
Transition from the unique bluegrass sounds of The Witcher Brothers to Bernie Pearl & the Bernie Pearl Band as they take the stage on Thursday, July 30. The blues is “life itself” to Bernie Pearl. He is no traditionalist and is a guitarist with an upbeat, finger-poppin’ picking style. His melodic interpretations are new and personal each time. “I’m not a retro player,” he says. “I’m playing real blues for right now.”
On Sunday, August 9, get board shorts and flip-flops ready for The Surfing Safari as they bring a tasty blend of surf-rock and beach-themed party songs featuring Caribbean-reggae-Jimmy Buffet styles, ’50s and ’60s rock ‘n’ roll, and more.
Winding down the series will be The Christine Guter Quintet on Thursday, August 27. A jazz vocalist, pianist and studio singer, Guter has worked with many legendary musicians, including Rosemary Clooney, Joe Williams, Diane Schurr, Maynard Ferguson, as well as the Long Beach Municipal Band. Guter is currently the director of Vocal Jazz at California State University Long Beach, where she directs the university’s top vocal jazz ensemble.
The outdoor concerts are free and open to the public. They will run from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Rancho, 4600 Virginia Road. Donations are welcome and support educational programs at the museum. Gates to the grounds will open at 5pm for picnicking, and the adobe home will be open for self-guided tours throughout the evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
MORE INFORMATION
www.rancholoscerritos.org
(562) 570-1755
