This weekend, San Diego's most eclectic beach community will be transformed into a jazz music mecca during the 6th Annual Ocean Beach Music & Art Festival. Twenty-one of the best local and national music acts are scheduled to play live on stages scattered around the neighborhood. To get a feel for the festival, we asked Mark DeBoskey, station manager at KSDS Jazz 88.3, for the inside scoop.
What types of music will be featured at the O.B. Music & Art Festival?
Along with jazz, there will be blues, funk, swing, and Latin jazz. We have Grammy nominees like trombonist Wayne Wallace coming out, and we're really excited to introduce these musicians to San Diego, especially to a younger audience.
Who are your Top 5 picks of the festival?
1. Charlie Musselwhite: He is THE master of blues harmonica.
2. Donald Harrison Quartet: This New Orleans jazz master developed the Nouveau Swing style of mixing R&B, funk and acoustic swing, and he is featured on HBO’s ‘Treme’.
3. Charlie Shoemake: He is a vibraphone player, which is like a piano but is actually a percussion instrument.
4. Hot Club of Cowtown: This is a really fun swing band from Austin.
5. Robert Walter Trio: This soul-jazz organist and his band are talented cross-over artists.
Where can we see all this live music?
The main stage is still in the O.B. Pier lot, just like last year. But this year, we’ve added stages throughout different bars in the neighborhood. There will be shows at Nick’s at the Pier, Gallagher’s, Winston’s, The Harp, Hodad’s parking lot, and even the back room of Electric Ladyland Salon will host live bands. Four of the clubs are 21+, the rest are family friendly.
It’s going to be hot this weekend. Where can we find refreshments?
We will have a non-profit beer garden, which will benefit the radio station [Jazz 88]. Coronado Brewing, Stone Brewing, Pizza Port, Ballast Point and La Jolla Brew House are some of the gracious vendors who will be pouring their craft beers at the festival. We’ll also have wine for those not into beer, and the O.B. Restaurant and Entertainment Group will be giving discounts on local restaurants and hotels for attendees.
Along with all the featured music, tell us about the art...
“Art Row” will be set up on Newport Avenue between Abbott and Bacon streets. There will be 80 booths where locals can display and sell their original paintings, jewelry, pottery, etc.
In conclusion...?
Where better to be than Newport Avenue on a sunny September day? For only $30, you can go to a number of venues to see incredible acts. It’s a very low cost for all that you’re getting.
Saturday, September 10, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
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