by Timothy Rutt
Note 6/26: we have updated the flyer and sponsor list from original publication.
The sure sign of summer in Altadena (besides some oppressively hot days) is the Sheriff Support Group's annual concert series at the Farnsworth Park amphitheatre.
Returning for the 1th year, the Saturday night event promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Producer Robert Klomburg said that the Rotary Club of Altadena will again be selling beer and wine and El Patron Mexican Food Restaurant will once again be serving Mexican food on site.
Returning favorites include openers the Downbeat Express with Jennifer Gates; Altadena's own Brian Hughes and Those Manning Bhoys; and crowd favorites Upstream, returning for their fourth appearance. The Blue Breeze Band is also returning for their second appearance. New to the mix are Altadena jazzman Louis Van Taylor and his quintet, and rockers Law & Disorder and The Groove.
The grand finale is the return of Hot August Night, Dean Colley's Neil Diamond tribute to wrap up the summer. All concerts are on Saturday starting at 7 PM.
The schedule is as follows:
July 6: Downbeat Express with Jennifer Gates (big band)
July 13: Law & Disorder (classic rock & roll)
July 20: The Blue Breeze Band (R&B, soul, blues and more)
July 27: Louis Van Taylor Quintet (cool jazz)
Aug. 3: Brian Hughes Band (contemporary Latin jazz)
Aug. 10: Upstream (reggae, calypso, soca & steel drum music)
Aug. 17: The Groove (Oldies but Goodies)
Aug. 24: Those Manning Bhoys and Friends (Irish-American music)
Sept. 7: Hot August Night, a tribute to Neil Diamond starring Dean Colley (presented by Community Events and SSGA)
The summer concert series is sponsored by Warner Bros.; Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Michael D. Antonovich; MonteCedro; Rotary Club of Altadena; Athens Services; Georgia Rutherford in memory of Don Rutherford; Toyota of Pasadena; The Printworks; All American Audio Visual; the Altadena Sheriff's Station; El Patron Mexican Restaurant; and Altadenablog.
