A fundraiser for the Mission Bay High School Preservationists will take place at the Pacific Beach Woman’s Club on March 22. The night will feature the band backing local music icon, pianist Sue Palmer, with the funds raised by the concert going to help with their visit to Yokohama, Japan to perform at a festival next month. The MBHS music program is certainly one of local education’s gems, thanks to the likes of Rey Vinole and current music director JP Balmat – with generations of great musicians learning in their music rooms, including the likes of Frank Zappa and many of the performers in Gilbert Castellanos’ “Young Lions” group. MBHS Preservationists: Saturday, March 22 at Pacific Beach Woman’s Club, 1721 Hornblend St., 7 p.m. All ages. $10 to $50. www.missionbaymusic.com. Blues diva Michele Lundeen performs a pair of shows at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge on March 9 and 13. Lundeen is simply one of the best blues vocalists and front persons in San Diego, her talent topped by a gritty, whiskey-tinged voice and a manic stage persona that can move even the most jaded crowd. She has excellent original tunes, but for these shows, look for Lundeen to play crowd-pleasing favorites such as “I Would Rather Go Blind” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.” If you are hoping for dance floor-filling action this weekend, look no further.
Michele Lundeen: Saturday March 9 and 13, at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 9 p.m. $12. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com. Guitarist Punky Meadows performs at Brick by Brick on March 9. Meadows has been performing since the early 1960s, but is best known as a member of ’70s glam inspired rockers Angel. The band scored turntable hits with several of their tunes including “That Magic Touch” and “I Ain’t Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore,” but somehow managed to avoid mainstream success.
The set list will likely include a song or two from Angel, but look for the focus to be on Meadows worthy recent debut album, Fallen Angel, which shows Meadows has lost none of his guitar prowess or stage moves since his ’70s heyday. Punky Meadows: Thursday, March 9, at Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave. 8 p.m. 21 and up. $25. www.brickbybrick.com. Legendary contrabassist Bert Turetzky will celebrate his 84th “Bertday” with a special concert at Dizzy’s on March 19. Turetzky will be joined by an ensemble featuring Jane Zwerman (French horn), Mark Margolies (tenor sax), Nancy Turetzky (flute), Lorie Kirkell (cello) and narrator Chuck Perrin. He has had an amazing career with dozens of albums to his credit, including the recent “Bass & Word: Song of the Roots,” with Perrin and has worked with numerous artists including Charles Mingus. Perhaps more importantly, he has mentored generations of artists and is a distinguished emeritus professor of music at UCSD. This show will be a great opportunity for San Diegans to stop and say thanks to someone who has helped shaped San Diego’s arts community for half a century.
Bert Turetzky’s Birthday Bash: Sunday March 19, at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd. 7 p.m. $15. www.dizzysjazz.com. If you are a fan of local blues music, the year’s highlight will easily be the SDMA Blues All-Star Showcase taking place March 15 at Tio Leo’s. The night will feature an unbeatable line up, with both solo acoustic performances and full band blow outs from the likes of Whitney Shay, Robin Henkel, Michele Lundeen, Tom Cat Courtney, The Fremonts, Chickenbone Slim and The Biscuits, Chet and The Committee, and more TBA. All types of blues will be represented from Delta-styled foot stompers to Chicago-bred electric R&B. SDMA Blues All-Star Showcase: Wednesday, March 15 at Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. www.tioleos.com. On March 17, Grassroots Oasis will host the annual SDMA Singer/Songwriter Acoustic Showcase, featuring an all-star line up on two stages. Performers are set to include Eve Selis, Steph Johnson, Jeff Berkley, Sara Petite, The Ordeal, Lady Rogo, Sven Eric Seaholm, Jesse Lamonca, Veronica May, Donna Larsen, Sister Speak (solo) and the Voices of our City Choir with more to be announced. Funds raised by this show will go to the San Diego Music Foundation, which helps put music education back in schools. SDMA Blues All-Star Showcase: Friday, March 17 at the Grassroots Oasis , 3130 Moore St. 7 p.m. All ages. www.grassrootsoasis.com.
