Culver City Boulevard Summer Music Festival Returns Next Month

Gary Mandell is once again helming the Boulevard Summer Music Festival this year.

Despite the loss of Redevelopment funds the show is indeed going on, with six free concerts at the City Hall courtyard on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. between July 11 and Aug. 15

• Thursday, July 11 @ 7 pm: A cappella Doo Wop with The Mighty Echoes, followed by acoustic blues with Doug MacLeod
• Thursday, July 18 @ 7 pm: An eclectic mix of country, bluegrass, rock and jazz with Ryan Shupe & The RubberBand
• Thursday, July 25 @ 7 pm: Classic Soul and Motown with Brenda Lee Eager
• Thursday, August 1 @ 7 pm: Hot country, rock and blues guitar with Albert Lee
• Thursday, August 8 @ 7 pm: Afro-Cuban/Salsa from Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca
• Thursday, August 15 @ 7 pm: Premier Led Zeppelin tribute band Led Zepagain

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

July 11:

Founded in 1986 in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles, The Mighty Echoes are one of the country’s most accomplished vocal groups. They have appeared on many TV shows including “Who’s The Boss?” “Murphy Brown”, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and were featured in the movie “Wilder Napalm” with Debra Winger and Dennis Quaid. The Echoes, Harvey Shield, Charlie Davis, Jon Rubin and John Lathan consider themselves true brothers in harmony.  They feel extremely lucky and blessed to be great friends and to have maintained a family atmosphere all these years. Their true affinity for each other and the authentic Doo Wop style inspires their concerts and recordings in a way that sets The Mighty Echoes apart from the rest of the field. Doug MacLeod is a singer-songwriter in the American tradition. He is a traveling artist that writes and sings original songs that are based on his own life and experiences. He learned from the old masters, lived the music, survived the life and carries forward a valuable tradition. MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of this is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters-from the faceless to the legendary-to strikingly real life. Over 29 years, 19 studio albums, several live records, compilations, a blues guitar instructional DVD and a live performance DVD, Doug MacLeod has consistently earned raves. Many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy have covered his songs. He has co-written songs with Dave Alvin and Coco Montoya. MacLeod's songs have been featured in many TV movies and the hit show In the Heat of the Night. Two of his songs are on Grammy nominated albums by Albert King and Albert Collins.

July 18:

Ryan Shupe & The RubberBand perform regularly at festivals and concert series’ across the country with a crossover style that is fresh and unlike any other. With stellar musicianship combining country, bluegrass, rock, and jazz they are truly an eclectic band. They put on a great show that is unique, creative, and entertaining. Playing a wide range of instruments and musical styles, the band appeals to youth and college aged crowds. In addition, they maintain a strong appeal to everyone—from the youngest to the oldest fans.

Stellar musicianship, witty lyrics, funny antics, sing alongs, and introspective ballads take the audience on an entertainment rollercoaster. With amazing and versatile musicians, Ryan Shupe’s original songs are highlighted with hot instrumental solos and tight vocal harmonies, thoughtful lyrics, rapid-fire vocals, dynamic musicianship and hard driving arrangements that make the live show a sure-fire winner!

“RubberBand’s unique style, which blends influences including rock, country, folk, and jazz, provided for a texture that evoked images of Dave Mathews Band gone bluegrass.”  —MTV.com

 July 25:

Brenda Lee Eager will be offering her own classic soul and Motown sound with an All-star band and special guests. Eager has performed with a variety of artists over the years and will sing songs as well as share stories from her experiences working with singers, including Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson and Etta James. She also recorded several hits with Jerry Butler and had success with a couple of her own rhythm and blues hits.

August 1:

Two time Grammy winner Albert Lee is truly a musician’s musician, playing hot country, rock and blues guitar as a member of Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and the Crickets and voted ‘Best Country Guitar Picker’ by Guitar Player magazine five times. Lee played regularly with The Everly Brothers for over 20 years. Starting in 1972, Lee worked for five years with Eric Clapton, playing and singing for a live concert recording at the Budokan in Japan. In November 2002, Albert Lee was among other world-class names appearing at the Royal Albert Hall in the “Concert for George,” a tribute to George Harrison. Albert Lee appeared at the “2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival” and continues to work in the studio and tours on a regular basis with Bill Wyman’s (Rolling Stones) Rhythm Kings.

August 8:

Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca is a dynamic 10-piece band that can literally burn up the dance floor by capturing all of the elements of African and Cuban music. The World Music ensemble blends African soukous and rumba with Cuban salsa and son. A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) Ricardo Lemvo sings some of the material in Spanish and some material in the African tongues of Kikongo and Lingala.

Makina Loca features a dazzling array of attacking horns, mesmerizing percussion, and a rolling piano that floats along. Grab a window seat on the rumba route dancing to Afro-Caribbean groove. "These guys play with an intensity that makes it impossible to hold still".—San Francisco Examiner

August 15:

Led Zepagain is the premier Led Zeppelin tribute band. On this night they perform their show Symphony to Heaven doing the classic songs of Led Zeppelin accompanied by string quartet featuring original arrangements written especially for them. Originally performed in Las Vegas to standing ovations this is a rare chance to see this amazing performance. How good is this group? In January 2004, Led Zepagain was paid the highest compliment ever when Zeppelin’s original guitarist, Jimmy Page, caught their show and requested to meet the band in their dressing room where he praised them on their accuracy! As a special treat they will be performing with their latest member and great lead guitarist Christian Nesmith son of the Monkees Mike Nesmith. All the classic acoustic tunes plus the screaming electrics done at a level your ear doctor will approve of.

Culver City’s Boulevard Music Festival is sponsored by The City of Culver City, Boulevard Music; John Riordan Plumbing; LYFE Kitchen; Culver City Volvo & Mazda; Palm Court; Culver Studios; Wildcraft Pizza; Reed’s Beverages; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Cultural Affairs Foundation; Music Munchers; City Tavern and Rush Street; Cavanaugh Realty; Brotman Medical Center; Public School 310; Culver Hotel; Michael Kayem Remax Estate Properties; Martin Guitars; Ernie Ball; Dynagraphics; Culver City News; Culver City Observer; Steeldeck, Inc. and Chrysalis.

For more information, visit, www.boulevardmusic.com or www.culvercity.org or call 310-398-2583.