This week’s episode of the Live at Lakeview Backstage Pass explores the diverse history of entertainment that’s been hosted at Lakeview Commons. Tune in to discover how many bands, cities and countries have been represented on the Live at Lakeview stage over the past 5 seasons.
Our 100 day countdown is on! The Live at Lakeview Backstage Pass is your ticket to get involved with the process + all the hard work that goes into your favorite summer music series! If there’s an aspect of the concerts you want to know more about (how we find our entertainment, how the series is funded or where in the world we plan to put the stage this year?!?!) Now’s your chance to ask our team + your question may be featured on the next episode! Stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram + YouTube to have the inside scoop at your fingertips!
Thanks for all the love + support! We can’t wait to be back on the beach with all of you! #liveatlakeview #backstagepass #tahoelife
2016 Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series returns for its’ 6th season of FREE live music every Thursday night, starting June 22, 2017. Band applications now being accepted. Apply now!
Live at Lakeview is wrapping up the 2015 summer with its most bodacious Tahoe party this summer. Tahoe legends Lavish Green and recent local favorites Black Star Safari are playing rocking farewell sets on the shore to celebrate the last shows of the summer. The City of South Lake Tahoe is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary Birthday with a group photo of the whole beach with everyone invited to join. It is going to be one hell of a party.
Over the past two years, Black Star Safari has grown to be one of Tahoe’s favorite live acts for its deep-set grooves and tenacious rhythms. Dan Green’s guitar and Matt Mandella’s drums have found a harmonious interplay together that pumps back-and-forth like pistons on a steam engine. In the spring the duo released their second EP, “All In.” Green and Mandella self-produced the five-song EP and recorded it in their home in the heart of Meyers. The band had worked out the songs live for some time and the vice grip tightness of the compositions speak to the blood and sweat that has been spilt on stage over the past couple years from the pair.
The night ends with a finale set from Lavish Green. The band was formed 20-years ago this summer amidst the mountains and water and return for another special night at Live at Lakeview. Three of the original members remain, Chris Sanchez, Robbie Wheeler and Joel Gruneich, with the newly minted Mike Bennett on drums. They still throw heart and passion behind their ska/reggae/rock combination and love doing it in front of a crowd. Tahoe has been their home and they love returning to its open arms, especially for such dedicated fans as Live at Lakeview’s.
Written by: Garret Bethmann
Guitar-ninja Scott Pemberton takes the stage afterward. The Oregon native is a masterful guitar player who brings his own unique spin to the table. He approaches the instrument with a child-like openness that allows him to bend and contort the strings however he pleases. His newest release, “Timber Rock” is an all out party that ranges from woodsy sludge on “Prudence” to bonafide groovers “What I Do” and “One Time.” Every show is different than the last, so check out what Pemberton brings to the table Thursday night.
Written by: Garrett Bethmann
Socks are like excuses, everyone has them and they mostly stink and wear thin after a couple weeks. Thankfully, you won’t have excuses for terribly smelling feet anymore with Eekoe and its line of durable socks.
Chad Ottenbreit and Mark Gardner have been action sports junkies for a long time now, in and out of different boots on a daily basis. After years of dealing with standard socks that would wear out after a day or two of use, the two decided to take matters into their own hands with their own feet.
Eekoe socks are made from bamboo and are softer and more comfortable than regular socks, being cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In addition to comfort, Eekoe socks are anti-fungal and also more durable, with the ability to wick away moisture. Throw a couple pairs in your travel bag and your feet will be more than set for the days ahead of you.
Ottenbreit and Gardner are happy to be a part of the Live at Lakeview community and want everyone to check out their tent to try on “The World’s Greatest Sock.” While in store, prices range from $12-$16, Eekoe socks are available for only $10 a pair if you come out to their booth to enjoy the music and community. If that isn’t enough for you, the brand is also 100% designed in California and made in the U.S., making sure your socks are completely homegrown.
Endorsed by bikers, boarders, skiers and other outdoor aficionados, Eekoe socks are sure to pass any test you throw at it.
Written by: Garrett Bethmann
Live at Lakeview has been a cherished part of the summers in South Lake Tahoe for the past four years. It brings the community together to celebrate music, food, beer, local businesses and taking a break to enjoy the beautiful place everyone calls home.
The best part about Live at Lakeview is that this weekly party is put on for free every week, so everyone has a ticket to attend. But while the event is free, putting it on certainly is not. From four to six months of planning with bands, renewing contracts with vendors and supporters, to the day-of hassles of putting on an event, Live at Lakeview is a colossal undertaking that requires a lot of time, money, hard work and support from the community to organize and execute. We want to open the hood of Live at Lakeview and share how the community comes together to create such a spectacular event that has elevated from a whimsical vision to a centerpiece of summer.
Live at Lakeview started four years ago when Rob Giustina suggested to the City of South Lake Tahoe about having a concert series at the newly renovated park at El Dorado Beach. With a goal of putting on weekly, family-friendly concerts the community could enjoy, Giustina rustled up a dozen local sponsors to help organize and fund the event. His vision has come along way and Live at Lakeview has been going for four strong years and has been given an additional five-year contract with the city.
And the City of South Lake Tahoe has been the primary sponsor and host of Live at Lakeview since its inception. In addition to providing monetary donations, the city also provides the event with a free venue to hold the festivities, helps coordinate with Cal Trans for road closures, procures the South Lake Tahoe Police Department to provide support and helps promote the event. Live at Lakeview wouldn’t be a possibility without the gracious support of the City of South Lake Tahoe.
The event would also never be a reality without the contributions of over 30 local sponsors, who all squeeze together on the colorful Live at Lakeview banners like friendly neighbors. The sponsors are willing to help out however they can, whether it be from a monetary donation to offering their services, like Sprouts Cafe feeding all the bands that appear at Live at Lakeview.
With so many people and organizations from the community helping to put on Live at Lakeview during the summer, Live at Lakeview finds it important to make sure to give back to the loving community. In addition to providing an awesome way to spend a Thursday on the beach, Live at Lakeview donates a percentage of its beer garden sales to benefit the South Tahoe BMX Association. This organization is working closely to help build the Bijou Bike Park and they are saving up for a new starting gate at the current track. These donations are bringing them closer to their goal every week! Essentially, every beer you drink goes right back into helping the community.
Live at Lakeview is an event that is given life by the community and it is the hope of Live at Lakeview it injects a little life into everyone that attends.
Written by: Garrett Bethmann
Not all business is work, and for Becky Helvie her love of fabric and colors has blossomed into ScarfLady, which specializes in brightening up women’s day with an extensive collection of scarves.
How extensive exactly? Pretty extensive, to the tune of over 250 gorgeous scarves. Helvie started as just another fan of scarves and pendant jewelry, picking them up at gift shops around the country on trips. After people started asking her where she got her scarves from, she knew she could turn her hobby into a business.
Helvie loves selling her scarves and interacting with customers that come to her store. She believes scarves aren’t essential to life but are a great way for people to look good and feel good about themselves.
Helvie is a big fan of Live at Lakeview and enjoys being in the joyous atmosphere interacting with customers and listening to the music. Since moving to Tahoe in the spring from Bakersfield, CA, she has loved the Tahoe weather and lifestyle.
Be sure to stop by and say hello to Helvie on Thursday at Live at Lakeview and check out all of her scarves, which are all currently on sale.
Written by: Garrett Bethmann
Paper cutouts, unspooled yarn and splattered paint have been lifelong companions for artist and business owner Lisa Schafer. With her store Wildwood DIY Boutique, she hopes to inspire others to pick up a brush or pair of scissors and join the creative journey with her.
Growing up in beautiful South Lake Tahoe, the lake and surrounding Sierras were a constant inspiration for Schafer. Her dreams of becoming an art student in the Pacific Northwest were fulfilled when she graduated from Humboldt State University with a B.A. in Art Education.
Schafer has been teaching arts and crafts ever since leaving the Arcata forests. Hosting numerous potluck craft nights for family and friends inspired her to take her teaching and creativity to the next level, opening Wildwood DIY pop-up workshops in the summer of 2014.
When a spot opened up next to Schafer’s friends at Gaialicious Boutique in South Lake Tahoe, she decided to make her operation more permanent and set up her dream workspace and shop. With a home for her business, Schafer is now able to support the artistic endeavors of artists and locals who have done so much to support her.
Wildwood DIY Boutique specializes in giving local and independent artists and craftspeople a place to show and sell their work. With beautiful works of art and handmade crafts surrounding customers, Schafer hopes the space also serves as a way to inspire people to engage with their own creativity and their community at large.
To spark its customers’ creative undertakings, Wildwood carries a small selection of craft supplies for projects and also holds three to four DIY workshops every month, which are listed on its website (www.wildwooddiy.com). The community is also invited to First Friday events Wildwood hosts with its neighbors Gaialicious Boutique, in which a featured artist from each shop is given a booth to display art and small workshops are offered to anyone who visits. “I believe that everyone has the ability to be creative and I enjoy seeing the excitement and satisfaction in each individual as they finish a project they thought they could never do,” said Schafer in an email.
Be sure to join Schafer at the next First Friday event on August 7th, where you can check out the new mini yarn store, Knits and Knots, as well as Live at Lakeview where she will have a booth for Wildwood DIY Boutique. Web browsers can check out Wildwood DIY Boutique on Facebook and Instagram.
Written by: Garrett Bethmann
Nothing but those sweet summer blues on tap for the first Thursday of summer in South Lake Tahoe! Blue skies, Blue Moon brews + authentic blues vibes from The Raymond Victor Band!
The Jonny Gold Trio will start off today’s show at 4:30 pm with their unique jazz tunes from the great American songbook with songs by artists such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis & Antonio Carlos Jobim. This jazz trio from Davis, CA is known for their jazz standards, ballads, latin jazz and blues. One of the band members will be joining us again this summer when his funk band, Big Sticky Mess, opens up for the Polyrhthmics on August 13th.
Our headliner, The Raymond Victor Band, will take the stage at 6:00 pm and we cannot wait to see what he has in store for us! This blues brother grew up in Chicago during the peak of the blues in the 1950’s and 60’s. We found this gem of a band thanks to a family connection with their manager, who also happens to manage Janis Joplin’s original band, Big Brother and the Holding Company!
Victor will be joined by Diana Dutra on bass and Marcus David on drums for this Thursday’s performance. In a recent interview with Tahoe Onstage, Raymond Victor was asked what we can expect at the upcoming show…
“I have no idea,” Victor told Tahoe Onstage. “I never use a set list. I have to look at the people and then I say, ‘OK, here we go.’ ”
While the actual set list remains a mystery, there is no doubt we are in for a musical treat! Victor spent many years working along side some big legends in the blues and jazz world. He’s recorded with legends including Stevie Wonder, Bobby Womack, Larry Graham and Sly Stone… just to name a few! PLUS he’s shared the stage with Buddy Miles, Garth Brooks, Lou Rawls and many others.
Cheers to the first Thursday of summer! See you at the beach!