There are many ways for San Diegans to tell that summer is on its way. Days grow longer. The temperatures begin to rise. However, for generations of locals, the clearest indicator of seasonal change is the OMBAC’s Summer Music Fest, taking place Saturday, May 17, at Mariner’s Point.
Originally known as a “Coming Out Party,” the mini-music festival was started by the members of the Old Mission Bay Athletic Club in 1953 as a way to celebrate fellow club member Delmar Miller’s release from a North Korean prisoner of war camp. Miller still attends the festivities each year.
“They (OMBAC) won’t let me miss it,” he joked. Still a big music fan, Miller admits to a slight preference for country-western music, but he said he still enjoys it all.
The format for the festivities has shifted over the decades, with music reflecting changing musical tastes, while in recent years, the event had been moved to the end of summer. Since 2007, however, the summer’s first landmark event is back to its traditional May date. Since this is a private, gated event, alcohol will be served, making this one of the few opportunities to enjoy a beer on the sand. Proceeds from this and other OMBAC events go to fund the club’s charity work, which focuses on helping amateur sports and youth athletics.
While music remains the focus, this year’s event will also incorporate the revival of the Miss Mission Beach San Diego contest.
Last held under the auspices of legendary Mission Beach sports shop Hamel’s in 2001, the tie-in with Summer Music Fest was inevitable. The new edition is being helmed by OMBAC, though it is a wholly separate entity.
A dozen contestants will compete between the day’s musical acts. Spokesman Joel McMurrin considers the event to be a continuation of the older contest, but with a few changes.
“It won’t be as wild as the old contests,” he said. “This is more of a pageant. I mean, there’s no gowns, it’s not as serious as that.”
McMurrin is aligning the contest with other local beauty pageants, and to that end has lined up a panel of judges which includes representatives from other such events as well as members of the Chargers and a superior court judge.
“At first people weren’t sure if we were serious or how much support we’d be able to get, but for our first year back, things seem to be going well,” McMurrin said. Ms. Mission Beach will be available for public appearances, and her duties will include visiting troops as part of the Wounded Warrior program, but McMurrin also estimates more than $10,000 will be raised by the contest, with proceeds going to help fund OMBAC’s adaptive sports programs, helping handicapped children.
As usual, the musical fare for the day is eclectic, with a mix that includes everything from country to R&B.
Topping the bill are local rockers Dirty Sweet, a quintet that comes across like a cross between “Exile on Main Street”-era Stones and your favorite ’70s rocker. Though guitarist Nate Beale has never attended the OMBAC event before, he’s sure of at least one of its attractions.
“Girls in bikinis,” he quipped.
The band doesn’t plan on changing its set list much for this outdoor show, though they do plan to “adapt” to their crowd. “Usually people at festivals are (slightly) intoxicated, ˆBeale said. “So I guess that means we do the same. You know, it’s like that old saying, ‘To catch a thief….'”
Co-headlining will be New Orleans roots-rockers, Cowboy Mouth. With 11 albums under their belt, this quartet has built up a fervent following for their sound, described as a mix of punk, rock and Mardi Gras all bundled up into high-energy tunes.
Also on the bill is the Johnny Cash tribute combo, Cash’d Out. Though the Cash revival has finally begun to wane since the release of his biopic in 2005, Cash’d Out continues to be a major draw, both due to their deep catalog approach to his songs as well as achingly accurate renditions. With material largely drawn from his ’50s repertoire, Cash’d Out should have fans swing dancing in the sand with their rockabilly-tinged tunes.
Rounding out the day will be soul sensations Lady Dottie & The Diamonds, a riotous mix of gritty R&B and frat-rock, sure to get the crowd pumped up.
Making a return from 2007 ska-reggae band Splitfinger.
With its mix of sun, surf and party tunes, Summer Music Fest is quite possibly the quintessential San Diego attraction. Whether you go for the atmosphere, scenery, music or even to help out a worthy cause, this one-day event promises to pack in a lot of good times into a few short hours.
As for Miller, he still considers this party in his honor to be the biggest event on the calendar. What began as a few dozen members celebrating with him has turned into a thousands-strong annual kick-off to summer and Miller couldn’t be happier.
He marvels at how big the event has gotten in its 55 year run.
“It’s wonderful to have all my friends throughout the years be a part of this,” he said. “How can a person have that many friends and not be happy?”