The Ocean Beach Farmers Market is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. While the food and produce gets much of the attention at the weekly event, it’s often overlooked that the event also a great place to catch musical entertainment. Over the last two decades, the unassuming “stage” — essentially a strip of asphalt at the junction of Bacon Street and Newport Avenue — has hosted hundreds of local and national performers, all happy to play in the Ocean Beach sunshine. On Wednesday, June 20, however, the farmers market will be the site of an annual new showcase called The Ocean Beach Street Fair Preview that will feature artists who will then play at the huge annual OB Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival on Saturday, June 23. On hand will be Kim Monroe, Peter Hall and Chuck Schiele, along with a few special guests promised by organizer Michael Head. “It’s the 33rd year of the street fair and a concert like this, giving the public a chance to check out a few of the performers who are taking part in this year’s street fair, has never been done before,” Head said. “I figured it was a good way to build up to the street fair, but also some of the acts from out of town like Kim and Chuck, both from New York, who will be in the area a few days early. So I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try something like this.” He said he hopes the event will become an annual tradition along the lines of the popular Ocean Beach Farmers Market Holiday Toy Drive, which brings out more than a dozen of San Diego’s artists. Head said he books all types of artists, from rock and country to hip hop and singer-songwriter, but that performers have to keep things family friendly. Having been the promoter of the farmers market concert series for two years now, he points out that a street gig like this has different challenges than a typical club gig. “Logistically, playing on the street is a little tricky,” he said. “For example, the area that we have the performances in has a little slope to it, but it’s the best spot to play. We’ve looked into other options as far as locating the music elsewhere or even putting up a stage, but the feedback we’ve gotten about the way things are is so good. People love that little area and it really is perfect, right in the middle of everything. Like they say, it’s all about location, location, location.” Head considers the farmers market gig to be one of the most unique — as well as rewarding — locations to play before a crowd in San Diego. “It’s hard to beat the ocean breezes and afternoon or evening sunshine,” Head said. “We have a lot of regulars who look forward to whatever might be on the schedule each week. They just pull up their lawn chairs and enjoy what’s next. This showcase concert will offer a lot of variety for the crowd.” According to head, one of the keys to the event’s success to date is the proximity of the artists to their audience. “Playing on the streets will always have its share of interesting situations and challenges that can come up, especially with being right face to face with people,” he said. “But it also offers a sort of intimate crowd interaction that you can’t get anywhere else. And it’s built in. We don’t expect people to bring their own crowds, though sometimes they do and it makes things even bigger.” Head said the only real issue organizers have had with the music at a farmers market event was certainly atypical of most such gatherings. “We once had to time the music with people filming from the Food Network, playing in between segment taping,” he said. “It was hectic but the band did a great job.” • OB Street Fair Musical Preview: Wednesday, June 20 at the Ocean Beach Farmers Market, Newport Avenue and Bacon Street. 4 to 8 p.m. All ages. www.oceanbeachsandiego.com/events/-farmers-market-wednesdays