It’s time for LomaPalooza, a community concert commemorating 15 years of summer concerts at Point Loma Park. After a call for applications, the concerts committee chose six home grown groups from Ocean Beach and Point Loma to play at the event on Saturday, July 25 from 3 to 8:30 p.m.
The day begins with Lusitanos Band, who will perform traditional and contemporary Portuguese, American and Latin music. The band performs throughout San Diego and recently played at the 2015 UPSES Festa do Spirito Santo.
Next up is The Openers, a Point Loma-based cover band performing classic rock, soul, blues, and R&B. Led by First Friday Club’s Glen Fisher on keyboard and vocals, the band includes Melissa Porter, Jon Koehler, Richard Irby, Carl Nuffer, and Prentice St. Clair. The band was formed in 2011 and has played at Humphreys Backstage Live, The Kona Kai, The Bayside Bar, and Point Break Café.
Ginger Cowgirl and the Silver Spurs, a four-piece country band with a love for early Nashville and honky-tonk music, will play an eclectic selection of vintage country tunes from the likes of Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson. Ginger Cowgirl (aka Stacy Antonel) is an Ocean Beach native and Point Loma High graduate, and the Silver Spurs include two San Diego natives and an import all the way from Kansas City, Mo. They’ve been together for less than a year and play throughout San Diego and Coronado at festivals, bars and private events.
Lust For Life is a rock band based in Point Loma who started with the goal of helping to bridge the funding gap in our local school music programs. The band donates its time and proceeds to benefit organizations in need. The band has been together three years and members include Bryan Cook, Jon Koehler, Kelly Lambo, Kirk Norton, Jake Vizzoni, and Kerry McKay. You can find Lust for Life playing at Winston’s and Humphreys Backstage Live.
The Grady Bunch is a local Point Loma/Ocean Beach band who has been performing in San Diego for more than 20 years. The band plays a combination of blues, rock, reggae and funk, and know how to keep an audience dancing. Members of the band include: Steve Grady, Gregg Ferreira, Gregg LaRocco, Josh LaRocco, Chuck Eggers and Troy Jennings.
Temple of the Dad will round out the day with good old hard rock. The group, founded by Pete Mechalas, Vince Escalera and a group of dads in 2007, raises funds through their music for San Diego schools. Band members include Lacy Younger, Rodger First, Pete Mechalas, Vince Escelara, Kevin Whelan, and Austin Bunn. You can find them at Gallagher’s Irish Pub, Mothers Saloon, Humphreys Backstage Live, the Belly Up, House of Blues and Winston’s.
Expect a festival atmosphere with activities for kids, booths from local nonprofits, and food from the Peninsula Lions Club. Fans are encouraged to come for fun, great music, and meet new neighbors. For more information about the 2015 Point Loma Summer Concerts, go to www.plconcerts.org.