Dust off your lawn chair. Shake out the picnic blanket. And get ready for the summer season of free outdoor concert series.
The opportunities are abundant, with locations ranging from the North County to the South Bay, from East County to the ocean. Whatever you prefer – whether it's a park or a beach – music awaits. (Just remember to take the sunblock.)
The musical styles are as varied as the settings. Rock, pop, classical and country are represented along with other genres, including barbershop, big band, Latin jazz and zydeco. As always, artists are subject to change and individual series may have certain restrictions regarding what you bring, so it's a good idea to check ahead.
There's little to lose and much to gain from attending such programs, a cherished summertime ritual with a strong family orientation.
A sampling follows on the next page.
Nineteenth annual International Summer Organ Festival. 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. (619) 702-8138 or www.serve.com/sosorgan.
In addition to Spreckels Organ concerts (2 p.m. on most Sundays), the historic, 2,400-seat pavilion is the site of the yearly organ festival featuring local and visiting talent in a classics-to-pops repertoire. The biggest star is the organ, a resounding instrument with four keyboards and more than 4,000 pipes. June 19: Civic organist Carol Williams and sopranos Virginia Sublett and Kathleen Halm
June 26: Diane Bish
July 3: Robert Plimpton and soprano Patricia McAfee
July 24: Richard Elliott
July 31: “Movie Night” with Dennis James
Aug. 7: Paul Jacobs
Aug. 14: Ray Cornils
Aug. 21: Stephen Tharp
Aug. 28: “An Evening With George Gershwin,” with civic organist Williams, vocalist Clark Sterling and bass Michael Morgan
2006 Twilight in the Park. 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, Spreckels Organ Pavilion. (619) 239-0512 or www.balboapark.org.
Celebrating 26 years of free outdoor concerts in Balboa Park, the series will have family-friendly, one-hour programs.
June 20: Bayou Brothers
June 21: Cat-illacs
June 22: JCC Klezmer
June 27: Ron Jerman
June 28: Jazz Xpress
June 29: United States Navy Band
July 4: No concert
July 5: Rey Vinole
July 6: Mariachi Chula Vista
July 11: Bi-National Mambo Orchestra
July 12: Finest City Jazz Band
July 13: San Diego Banjo Band
July 18: Bill Cabellero
July 19: Breez'n
July 20: Uncle Bob and the Earth Movers
July 25: Air National Guard Band Southwest
July 26: Hillcrest Wind Ensemble
July 27: Cool Fever
Aug. 1: San Diego Concert Band
Aug. 2: Hollywood Steel Drum Band
Aug. 3: San Diego Six
Aug. 8: Sun Harbor Chorus
Aug. 9: U.S. Navy Band Alumni
Aug. 10: Los Alacranes
Aug. 15: Harvey & 52nd Street Jive
Aug. 16: Sweet Adelines
Aug. 17: City Ballet
Aug. 22: Dixie Express
Aug. 23: Marine Band San Diego
Aug. 24: Coronado Community Band
Aug. 29: Moonlight Serenade Orchestra
Aug. 30: Stars on the Water Rock 'n Roll
Aug. 31: Kearny Mesa Concert Band
Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green. 4 p.m. Sundays. Kate Sessions Park, Lamont Street just north of Beryl Street/Soledad Road. (858) 483-6666 or www.pbconcerts.org.
From the scenic hillside concert site, you can see all the way to downtown San Diego.
July 23: The Screamin' Primas
July 30: Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra
Aug. 6: Piece by Piece
Aug. 13: Rockola
La Jolla Concerts by the Sea. 2 p.m. Sundays. Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove. (858) 454-1600 or www.ljconcertsbythesea.org.
Hot dogs, drinks, ice cream and raffle tickets are all part of the experience at the popular seaside venue that's just down the hill from downtown la Jolla.
June 25: Rockola
July 2: The Corvelles
July 9: Coastal Communities Concert Band
July 16: The Benny Hollman Charger Party Band
July 23: The Skinny Little Twits
July 30: Big Time Operator
Aug. 6: Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra
Aug. 13: Yavaz
Aug. 20: Mariachi Real de San Diego
Aug. 27: Beach Boulevard
Sept. 3: The MarDels
Standley Park Concerts in the Park. 5 p.m. Sundays. 3585 Governor Drive, University City. (858) 552-1652 or www.sandiego.gov/park .
Held on a grassy expanse between a recreation center and swimming pool, these programs have a neighborly feeling.
July 9: Mario Olivares & Latin Spice
July 16: Theo & The Zydeco Patrol
July 23: Memory Lane
July 30: Nitro Express
Aug. 6: Michele Lundeen
Aug. 13: Tom Griesgraber
Aug. 20: Laguna
Aug. 27: Island Mirage Steel Drum Band
City of Encinitas Summer Sunday Concerts by the Sea. 3 p.m. Sundays. Moonlight Beach. (760) 633-2740 or www.encinitasrecreg.com.
.It's the 11th annual edition (alcohol, glass and dogs are not allowed).
July 9; Honkytonk Kings
July 23: Yavaz
Aug. 6: Custard Pie
Aug. 20: Resination
El Cajon's 11th annual Concerts on the Green. 6 p.m. Fridays. Prescott Promenade, East Main Street, downtown El Cajon. (619) 401-8858 or www.downtownelcajon.com.
June 2: Cash'd Out.
June 9: Lady Dottie and the Diamonds
June 16: The Shambles
June 23: Anya Marina and Greg Laswell
June 30: Screamin Primas
July 7: Theo and the Zydeco Patrol
July 14: Gary Seiler and Crosswinds
July 21: Truckee Brothers
July 28: Mario Olivares
Aug. 4: Whiskey Tango
Aug. 11: Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra
Aug. 18: Jump Jones
Aug. 25: Candye Kane
Sept. 1: The Variations.
Sept. 8: Tribute to The Farmers
City of Lemon Grove's 2006 Concerts in the Park. 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. Berry Street Park, 7071 Mount Vernon St. (619) 825-3815.
Bring a picnic basket, buy grilled items or cook your own.
July 6: The Players
July 13: Cat-illacs
July 20: Nitro Express
July 27: Air National Guard Southwest
Aug. 3: The Vision Band
Aug. 10: Off Beats
Coronado 2006 Summer Concert Series. Sundays at 6 p.m. (unless noted). Spreckels Park, Orange Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets. (619) 437-8788 or www.coronadovisitorcenter.com.
The gazebo in Coronado's picturesque, eight-acre park is the location for this weekly series.
May 28: Coronado Community Band
June 4: Tokeli Jazz Ensemble
June 11: Carol Ames
June 18: Kearny Mesa Concert Band
June 25: Navy Band Southwest Jazz Band
July 2: Coronado Community Band
July 4 at 4:30 p.m.: West Coast Ironworks
July 9: Marine Corps Depot Band
July 23: Jump Start
July 30: Rockola
Aug. 6: Benny Hollman Big Band
Aug. 13: Pacific Coast Concert Band
Aug. 20: Navy Band Southwest Wind Pops Ensemble
Aug. 27: Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra
Sept. 3: at 5 p.m.: Jaime Moran Latin Jazz
Sept. 4: at 5 p.m.: Cool Fever “Dave Elhoff”
Sept. 10: at 5 p.m.: Sophisticats
City of Chula Vista's Music in the Park. 5 p.m. Sundays.
This venerable series, which is more than 40 years old, offers a variety of venues as well as musical styles. (619) 585-5627 or www.ci.chula-vista.ca.us/
Chula Vista Community Park, 1060 Eastlake Parkway (next to EastLake High School):
June 4: The Ultratones
June 11: The Jazz Pigs
June 18: Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra
June 25: Breez'n
Veteran's Park, 785 E. Palomar St.:
July 9: Scott Martin Latin-Soul Band
July 16: Players
July 23: Ron Jermain Band featuring Jo Dark
July 30: Air National Guard Band of the Southwest
Memorial Park, 373 Park Way (between G & F streets, downtown Chula Vista):
Aug. 6: Native Vibe
Aug. 13: Pacific Brass & Electric
Aug. 20: Fattburger
Aug. 27: Night Shift
Valerie Scher: (619) 293-1038;
valerie.scher@uniontrib.com
