The annual Ocean Beach Street Fair has many things going for it, including great weather, proximity to the beach and of course, the chili, but without a doubt the biggest draw is the music. Music fans attending the event will find nearly three dozen of the area’s top performers playing on five different stages. The Main Stage is booked by Ted Wigler, who handles the same duties at Winston’s as well as the 710 Beach Club, with Michael Head, of Head Trap Recording Studios, taking care of the remaining stages. Wonderland Stage
The mix of bands on this year’s bill truly showcase the musical diversity of the San Diego arts community, with an emphasis on Ocean Beach resident musicians. The Wonderland Stage will once again be topped by high-schooled-aged rockers, The Santana Brothers (5 p.m.) performing a mix of classics from the likes of Chuck Berry and Bruno Mars, with the rest of the day’s highlights including singer-songwriter Peter Hall (noon) and classic rock / funk hybrid Soul Arch (2 p.m.) Artist Alley Stage
A few blocks over, the Artist Alley stage will be topped by gypsy folk quintet Quel Brodel (4:30 p.m.); with other top picks set to include rock /blues trio, Bi-Polar Express (noon) and Middle-Eastern percussion and music group, Cairo Beats (1:30 p.m.) Ragalan Stage
Meanwhile, the Ragalan Stage will be co-headlined by reggae/rock combo Jet West (6 p.m.) and indie rocker Leyva (4:30 p.m.), with Ginger Cowgirl, featuring Stacy Antonel (11 a.m. amongst the best bets; OB Stage
The 92107 OB stage is specifically themed to focus on Ocean Beach artists, with music from eclectic local rock hero Jefferson Jay (noon) and indie pop dance duo Dani Bell & The Tarantist (1:30 p.m.) sure to draw big crowds. That stage will be perfectly topped by an appearance from Grateful Dead tribute group, The Electric Waste Band. Main Stage Saving the best for last, the Main Stage is possibly the most eclectic of them all with appearances from mod rockers The Bassics (3 p.m.), dance combo, Bang Pow (3:50) amd hip hop favorites, Vokab Kompany (7 p.m.)
Music will not just be confined to the stages. Rock & Roll San Diego will host an area on Newport Avenue that will allow any fairgoer to take a quick music lesson and in mere minutes be able to jam along to classic rock tunes. This year’s theme will be The Beach Boys, while a set of Kiss impersonators will be on hand to perform and pose with fans. While everyone looks forward to performing at the street fair, there are some challenges.
“It’s definitely different, just in the way the sound carries,” said Quel Bordel frontman, Jakovich Skolnick. “But the main difficulty playing outdoors in any setting is dealing with nature. I remember playing last year and it was lightly sprinkling, and sometimes you play outside in direct sun – it totally depends on the day and you have to go with it,” he said. For Wigler and Head, organizing such a large group of musicians and infrastructure is a labor of love. “What keeps me doing it is my love for volunteering in the Ocean Beach community,” he said. “I personally don’t have the finances to give to the community, so the only way I can truly give it is my time. I’ve watched events like this go away in other communities, so I cherish the ability to do this in Ocean Beach,” he said. Quel Bordel
Gypsy folk rockers Quel Bordel modern take on world music, will excite the senses with a set full of daring arrangements and boundless energy. Based around acoustic guitarist Jakovich Skolnick and violinist Regina Brown, the band has been known to inspire frenzied dancing with their uptempo originals, such as shout along favorite “Soggy Blanket.” Quel Bordel is a wonderful combination of virtuoso musicianship and showmanship, but the key element in the band’s show is fun The Bassics
Mod rockers, The Bassics make their Street Fair debut this year. Channeling the frantic energy of groups such as the Jam and The Who, the group took home the “Best New Artist” trophy at the 2015 San Diego Music Awards. The quartet does include a few choices covers in their set, by the likes of the Small Faces, but it’s their adrenaline charged originals such as “Can’t Stop Me,” that have won audiences over. The band is working on their debut album but live is where the Bassics really take flight. Dani Bell and the Tarantist
The sound of masked duo, singer Dani Bell and the Tarantist, aka percussionist Al Howard, is hard to pinpoint, but it’s kaleidoscope of influences includes dreamy indie pop, girl group sounds, ’70s era soul and lots of rhythm. The unifying factor is a strong sense of melody, with songs like “Best Without Me” or “Guilty” being instant earworms. “I love playing outside in San Diego because 98 percent of the time it’s a beautiful day,” Howard said. “The crowd is always a great and lively one. OB wields less of a filter than a lot of other communities, people really let go and surrender to the music. It’s a fun vibe to play off of. “