Category Archives: Live Music

Bike Valet, community, FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, Local, Non-profit Organization, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Thursday

All Good Things Must Come To An End

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It’s been a summer filled with spectacular live music and great family fun as the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series made Lakeview Commons come alive! In its’ first year of production, this free concert series quickly became the pinnacle of South Lake Tahoe’s summer of 2012.

The whole crowd was dancing all night at the final Live at Lakeview Concert

Large audiences of 1500-2000 people gathered each Thursday to enjoy a variety of talented musicians rocking the Live at Lakeview stage along the shore of Lake Tahoe. On Course Events, the producers of this concert series showcased local and regional musicians, as well as a lot of new bands that have never played in Lake Tahoe before. Every Thursday this summer, Live at Lakeview brought a little something for everyone to enjoy – from the bluegrass tunes of Fruition, to the local talent of The New World Jazz Project with Trey Stone, and ending with a huge reggae star, Elan, the former lead singer of The Wailers!

On Course Events has not only provided free live music, it produced a weekly summer event where the local community could come together to enjoy this beautiful place we all call home. A strong community vibe was present every Thursday as thousands gathered in the brand new Lakeview Commons.

On Course Events has remained committed to keeping these concerts sustainable and limiting the environmental impact. This was accomplished with a variety of actions including: offering a free bike valet, helping environmental non-profit organizations raise money, and spearheading weekly beach and neighborhood clean ups.(Join us for the last one this Monday, September 10th at 9am).

The free bike valet was operated by local non-profit organizations each Thursday, housing an average of 250 bikes per week. The demand for the bike valet exceeded the space each week, no matter how large we made it. In fact, during the 12 week concert series, the bike valet held over 3,000 bikes! Along with accommodating thousands of bikes, the bike valet also served as a fundraising opportunity for local nonprofit organizations including The League to Save Lake Tahoe, The Sugarpine Foundation, USASA, and Tahoe Youth & Family Services.

The entire Live at Lakeview crew has been overjoyed with the immense amount of support we’ve received from the local community. Thank you all for your support, as these concerts wouldn’t have been possible without the local sponsors and vendors including: Lake Tahoe TV, KRLT/KOWL, Coors Light, Pet Projekt, Tahoe Production House, Sprouts Natural Foods Café, Lake Tahoe Community College, Mountain News, and many more!

What’s next for Live at Lakeview? Stay tuned to www.Lakeviewcommonslive.com and the official Live at Lakeview Facebook Fan Page for information on summer 2013 concert schedule!

Live at Lakeview, Live Music, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, The Polyrhthmics, Thursday

Backstage Pass: The Polyrhythmics

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This Thursday, be ready from some new music guaranteed to get you feet movin’ and your booty shakin’!

We are beyond stoked for The Polyrhythmics to bring some funk to the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series! The energy of this all original 8 piece-funk and world beat orchestra from Seattle is expected to overflow off of the stage and ignite the dance floor!

Band Members:

Ben Bloom – Guitar
Grant Schroff- Drums
Lalo Bello – Percussion
Jason Gray- Bass
Nathan Spicer – Keys
Scott Morning – Trumpet
Art Brown – Tenor Sax, Flute
Elijah Clark – Trombone

The Polyrhythmics sound is a fusion of styles from all over the world. According to Ben Salmon, from the Bend Bulletin, “Take a polished, modern brand of funk, flavor it with a little Afrobeat swagger and Latin rhythm, and inject a spirited, powerhouse horn section and you’ve got Polyrhythmics.” Their music has heavy influences including:  James Brown, Budos Band, The Whitefield Brothers, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, and Talking heads.

These guys are nothing short of spectacular on stage and they really offer something for everyone! From the tight horn lines, infectious percussion, down to the powerful rhythmic grooves, and clever arrangements – The Polyrhythmics will grab your attention and get the venue jumping!

While catching up with Ben Bloom, Guitarist, I came to find they are just as stoked to visit Tahoe as we are to have them! “We have performed a lot in the Bay Area and other parts of Northern Cali, but this will be our first time in So. Lake Tahoe! I’m hoping it will become a frequent stop for the band though after we earn our stripes on Thursday!”

Let’s give The Polyrhythmics a true Tahoe welcoming and show them what Live at Lakeview is all about!

Most importantly – let’s get funky!!

Bike Valet, community, FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, Local, Non-profit Organization, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Thursday

What Rocks More: Chill Vibe vs. Live Music??!!

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Thousands of people gather at Lakeview Commons every Thursday to enjoy a free concert on the beach! I can’t help but wonder what it is that draws so many people to the commons week after week.  Are they all attending the show for the awesome bands we bring in? Or do the crowds of people just hang out simply for the chill vibe?

There’s no doubt about it, Live at Lakeview is the place to be on Thursday nights! Plus, everyone loves that it’s all about the locals; local non-profits organizations are running the bike valet and beer garden to raise hundreds in weekly donations! Dozens of local vendors have also come in to support these events – providing a large variety of unique items for guests purchase.

I can’t talk about the Live at Lakeview vibe without mentioning the Beer Garden!! That’s where I always run into all my favorite locals! With a beautiful view of the stage and reasonably priced, ice cold beers (Coors Light $4; Blue Moon $5) why wouldn’t you want to throw back a few cold ones in the garden?! Oh yea, and every beer purchased in the garden will help to pay for the awesome bands your listening to! Don’t forget to tip your bartender, because that benefits locals too! All tips in the Beer Garden are donated to the Heavenly Ski & Snowboard Foundation!

The Live at Lakeview Vibe does rock, but the bands rock the venue each week too! Get ready for upcoming headliners including Forrest Day, The Polyrhythmics, The New World Jazz Project, Tahoe Musical, and Elan!

Live at Lakeview volunteer, Kelsey Adams, recently interviewed this week’s bands to discover that for headliner, Forrest Day, the “beach setting with the lake background is definitely not the norm.” Forrest Day’s sound can best be described as “Stadium Rock” and we’re beyond stoked to welcome them here.

Before the show, we can expect to the members of Forrest Day all over Tahoe as, “most of the time we are coming off a fairly long drive, so some of us roam the town. Some of us head straight for the bar. And Jasper sits in the van, playing drum rudiments on the back of the seat for hours.”

Keep a look out for these guys and be sure to welcome them into Lake Tahoe!

In true Tahoe fashion, the Live at Lakeview crowd usually peaks around 6 or 7; however, this week you are not going to want to miss the opening band Groove Session! They will also keep the vibe rockin’ at the Live AFTER Lakeview party in Rojo’s Tavern, $5 cover and music starts around 10pm! We’re stoked to have them join us during the last leg of their 3 month cross-country Summer Tour.

Kelsey also caught up with the opening band, Groove Session, who has a rockin’ sound that is going to add to the killer Live at Lakeview vibe!  Drummer, Manny Sanchez, says the band is pumped to return to play another show in Tahoe especially, as they prepare to release two new albums next month! (Self Tiled 4th Studio album (GrooveSession) as well as our first LIVE album Recorded down in San Diego.)

If you are drawn to the Live at Lakeview concerts for the killer vibe or the awesome live music – we thank you for your support either way! In the end, I’m sure it’s a little of both, and let’s face it – they both ROCK!!

See you Thursday!

Bike Valet, FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, Non-profit Organization, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Thursday, Uncategorized

Backstage Pass: Insider Tips

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Whether you’ve been to every single concert in the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series, or are planning to attend your first one, I have a few tips that will help you make the most of your evening!

Live at Lakeview Sunset – Photo Credit Larry Sabo

What to Bring:

  • Cash – Support these FREE events by spending your cash in the Beer Garden, with local vendors, and please add some cash to the Live at Lakeview Donation Box.
  • Sunscreen – It’s sunny and warm at Lakeview Commons, so lather on the SPF!
  • Camera – With this killer venue, you’re going to want to snap a few pictures! Plus, it’s not too late to take the winning shot for the Live at Lakeview Fan Photo Contest!
  • Dancing Shoes – There’s always amazing live music playing so be prepared to get up and dance with all your closest friends!

What to Leave at Home:

  • Dogs
  • Outside alcohol 
  • Trash
  • Glass
This sign is at 12 locations around the venue. 3 basic rules! Pass it on.

Insider Tips:

  • BIKE or HIKE – Parking is limited, so take advantage of the FREE Bike Valet and don’t forget to tip your Valet Attendant (Donations benefit the non-profit running the valet that week!)
  • DONATION BOX – New this week is the Live at Lakeview Donation Box! Support these FREE concerts and help to keep them coming back!
  • KEEP THE PARTY ROCKIN’ – The party doesn’t stop when the sun goes down! The Live AFTER Lakeview party goes off every Thrusday at Rojo’s Tavern as the opening band keeps the party rockin’ late into the night! Cover is only $5 with $1 beers all night!

See you on Thursday!


40 Watt Hype, Bike Valet, community, FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, Local, Non-profit Organization, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Thursday, Uncategorized

5 Reasons to LOVE the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series

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We’ve officially hit the halfway mark to the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series, and what a huge success these events have become! Thursday night music at Lakeview Commons has become the pinnacle of summer here on the South Shore, with thousands of people turning up to support their community.

Thousands came out to enjoy Keyser Soze & Good Gravy on July 12th

There’s a lot to love about the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series, but I’m only going to cover the top 5 in this edition of Backstage Pass.

1)      FREE Bike Valet RULES!

It’s of high importance that we keep the carbon footprint on these concerts as low as possible. Thankfully, it seems as though the community has agreed to do their part, as one of the biggest hits at these events has been the FREE Bike Valet service! During the first six weeks, the Bike Valet has brought in about 800 bikes and over $600 in donations.

We made the Bike Valet a lot bigger and you still packed it in with about 200 bikes!!

All donations are given to the non-profit organizations running the Valet. Each week, a different non-profit organization or charity has volunteered to run this service and keep your bikes safe! Thank you to the following non-profits for helping to make the Bike Valet a huge success:

2)      Beer Garden

Nothing goes better with FREE live music on the beach than a nice cold beer at a reasonable price. The Live at Lakeview Beer Garden offers Coors Light for $4.00 and Blue Moon for just $5.00 and it also happens to have a killer view of the stage!

Most important thing to know about our awesome Beer Garden……it is our #1 source of funding for these FREE concerts! I’m not kidding; we literally pay for our bands and crew with your beer money! If you enjoy these free events, then make sure to support them by purchasing a beer or two, or four from our Beer Garden!

Photo Credit Larry Sabo

Don’t forget to tip your bartender! All tips will be donated to the Heavenly Ski & Snowboard Foundation!

3)      FREE Live Music

Who doesn’t LOVE free live music??!! Seriously though!

Huckle on July 26 – Photo Credit Larry Sabo

It’s pretty awesome to have a FREE event for everyone in the community to enjoy! While these events are absolutely FREE to enjoy, they are not free to put on! A lot of time and money is invested in these shows each week so it’s important that you support the events as much as you can.

40 Watt Hype on July 19th – Photo Credit Dylan Warren

I already shared the inside scoop on the Beer Garden, but the other way we fund these shows is through our local sponsors and vendors! Please take notice of the local businesses that are supporting these events, thank them for their support and if you’re able to -make a purchase or two at the event!

4)      Community Atmosphere

Live at Lakeview Thursday Nights is the place to see old friends, make new ones, and dance the evening away with all of them around you!

Dancing the evening away as 40 Watt Hype rocks the Live at Lakeview stage! Photo Credit Dylan Warren

In my opinion, the best part about these events is the way they bring everyone together and truly create a community atmosphere. The last time I wandered through the Beer Garden, I ran into an old teacher, a previous employer, and three of my friends from high school! Beyond the surprise reunions that are bound to happen, these concerts create family fun for all ages!

5)      Sunset Backdrop

The cherry on top of these super fun Summer Concerts has to be the breath-taking sunsets we experience every Thursday. The band gets the crowd up on their feet dancing the evening away, and the sun goes down to create a spectacular backdrop. This amazing venue has produced some of the most beautiful photos and I encourage all of you to keep these gorgeous images coming!

The best Live at Lakeview sunset so far! Shout out to all of you who braved the strange Tahoe weather on July 19th! Photo Credit Larry Sabo

Let’s face it, there’s A LOT more to love about the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series, so come out and see for yourself! See you next Thursday!

Bike Valet, FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, Local, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Thursday, Uncategorized

Summer Music Series Needs Your Support!

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The Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series continues to bring the community together at Lakeview Commons to enjoy free live music every Thursday from 4:30-8:30pm.

While these concerts are absolutely free to attend, they are not free to produce.

Every Thursday morning, long hours of hard work is put in to setting up the beer garden, bike valet, vendor booths, the stage, and all the sound equipment. The On Course Events crew starts setting up these free concerts at 7am and they continue working up until the show starts. Unfortunately for our crew, the equipment won’t magically disappear once the show is over, so we all strap on some headlamps and work late into the night breaking down the venue.

In order for these free concerts to continue, we need the support of our community. The Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series is seeking volunteers to help break down the venue and pick up trash after each Thursday night concert. Volunteers are also encouraged to join us every Monday morning at 8am for the Live at Lakeview Neighborhood cleanup. To get involved, call our event phone line at (530)600-2233 or email the events coordinator at Leslieallison33@gmail.com.

If you are not able to volunteer, but you want to show support for these community events then remember to purchase a beer or two from the Beer Garden. Also be sure to show some love to all of the local vendors and sponsors that help to make these events possible!

FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Thursday, Tracorum, Uncategorized

Backstage Pass: Tracorum

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Band Interview & Blog Posting by Kelsey Adams

Opening for 40 Watt Hype is a crazy band you don’t want to miss. By crazy we mean awesome! Another band we are excited to have back in the area. They go by the name Tracorum. A 4 piece band of seasoned bay area musicians consisting of:

Fletcher Nielsen: Piano/Vocals/Harmonica
Derek Brooker: Electric Guitar/vox
Mark Calderon: Bass/vox
Darian Gray: Drums (Regular drummer Ian Herman is on tour with Mickey Hart).

Tracorum Band Photo from Facebook Fan Page

With music featuring the sounds of: New Orleans piano, Rock n Roll, Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Caribbean, Southern Rock and Country. “Tracorum is not a one trick pony; in fact we find it difficult to describe our sound.” Funkadelic meets Dylan and the Dead with some Springsteen, Dr John, Jimmy Buffet, Ray Charles and the Allman Brothers are some of the different styles they play.

Tracorum is a regular act at the Crystal Bay Club. “We used to rock Whiskey Dicks back in the day” as well. The only expectation they had when coming to play was “a good time! Music is love but it is also war. Sometimes a crowd is ready to rock before you even load in, sometimes it takes 8 songs before they realize what’s happening to their soul and the legs start shakin’!”

They are currently touring California and the Western States. They have two studio albums “Rock n Soul” and “The Lesson” available on itunes, with a third album due out in August. Tracorum has made appearances in 2011 at High Sierra Music Festival, Guitarfish, and now they will grace the stage of Live at Lakeview! “We are very excited!  Ryan and Pet Projekt Presents are amazing people.” The band will also be playing at the Live “AFTER” Lakeview party at Rojo’s Tavern, where they will really “stretch out” for the audience. They claim “few bands have as much fun as we do! We are looking to connect with the audience and travel together on a celebratory journey through the human experience, giving 110%.”

As you can tell this band will be pretty exciting! When asked if they were planning on relaxing at all while in Lake Tahoe or enjoy the recreational activities, Fletcher responded “That all sounds amazing; we would like to do everything. Maybe jump a jet-ski over a boat and mid air catch the bottom of a gondola that drops me in the lake!”

Tracorum starts playing at 4:30PM, get excited South Lake Tahoe!

40 Watt Hype, FREE, Hip-Hop, Latin, Latin Fusion, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, New Album, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Thursday

Backstage Pass: 40 Watt Hype

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Band Interview & Blog Post by Kelsey Adams

On Thursday Live at Lakeview will be welcoming 40 Watt Hype back to our beautiful Lake Tahoe area! This band plays Alternative Latin/Hip-hop. A great combo if you’re looking to dance! This week’s show will also feature Tracorum, all the way from San Francisco – stay tuned for their interview coming soon!

40 Watt Hype getting the crowd on their feet at Starline!

When asked what their music is closely related to, the band replied that they are “the soulful stepchild of The Roots and Ozomatli baked under the California sun.” They combine English and Spanish lyrics over live original instrumentation, with a funky Latin and R&B twist. If that doesn’t get you to the beach for a free concert, I don’t know what will!

The band members (Aaron Wall-Vocals, Percussion/Jay Rossette- Guitar/Javon Davis- Keyboard/Sean Alderette- Drums/Pat Olvera- Bass/Robert Rufner- Trombone) are from Fresno, Ca. They’ve performed several different times in Lake Tahoe. At MontBleu, opening for Collie Buddz, Spring Loaded at Heavenly and Cabo Wabo inside Harvey’s Casino. “We’re all definitely looking forward to Live at Lakeview, the venue location itself will make this show very special for us.”

The Live at Lakeview stage is set up right on the shore of Lake Tahoe

If you haven’t been to the concert series before, our venue is gorgeous! The bands continue to play as the sun sets, which has got to be cherry on top of this killer event!

Although 40 Watt Hype band has been all over the country, they are stoked to be back in our town. “Tahoe is such a beautiful area; it’s one of our favorite places to play.  Every time we play here we get a great crowd response and meet lots of interesting people.”

40 Watt Hype – linked from Facebook Fan Page

40 Watt Hype has been featured on MTV, Univision, ABC, FOX and Nickelodeon.  You can also find them on the new Lions Gate film “Black Cobra” and Warner Bros. “The Adventures on Pluto Nash”. Their video for the single “Mas y Mas” aired on MTV3 and is featured as the theme song for the show Latino 411!! They have performed with Ozomatli, The Roots, Sundance Film Festival, Ludacris, Mayer Hawthorne and many others.

Along with winning many music awards this band has a very busy schedule!!! To help with that, they do what they can to relax and prepare.  “Before a show we connect with each other and talk through the set.  It’s always good for a band to hang out before they play so the connection onstage can be stronger both mentally and musically.”

40 Watt Hype – New album “PUSHed:Inner Ear Remixes” Cover

Their latest album is called “PUSHed” and is available at all shows, online and on iTunes!! If you want to find out more information check out the band’s website or connect with them on twitter and facebook!

See you Thursday!

Bike Valet, FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, Local, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series

This is Just the Beginning!

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The biggest turnout at Live at Lakeview so far this summer! 7/12/12

The Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series has got the South Shore buzzing with excitement! With a free bike valet, tons of local vendors, a beer garden, and live music on the beach every Thursday…what’s not to love!?!!

Last Thursday, over 1,500 people attended the Keyser Soze & Good Gravy concert – it was the biggest turnout so far, and we are just getting started!! These free concerts have created an incredible vibe and give us all a reason to come together each week! The community atmosphere is truly what Tahoe is all about!

FREE, Live at Lakeview, Live Music, Local, South Lake Tahoe, Summer Music Series, Uncategorized

The New Place To Be On Thursdays

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Did you spend last Thursday evening sittin’ around on your friend’s couch, wishing there was something cool going on in town?! Please allow me to spice up your life, because there is a NEW place to be on Thursdays in South Lake Tahoe and you need to know about it!!

Photo credit Dylan Warren

Thanks to the City of South Lake Tahoe and the vision of On Course Events, a local planning and promotion company, you can all enjoy FREE summer concerts every Thursday at the brand new park, “Lakeview Commons.”

The Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series will bring in a different style of music every week. Check out full schedule or stay connected with us on Facebook & Twitter to catch your favorite bands!

Fruition got the crowd up on their feet! Photo credit Dylan Warren
Locals have been raving, “Live at Lakeview is the best thing that’s happened to south shore in eons!” and “Thanks for bringing awesome music to the community!”
Fruition on the Live at Lakeview Stage at Sunset – Photo credit Dylan Warren

We are just as pumped on these concerts as you are, but it’s important you know that these amazing community events wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors, our vendors, and ALL OF YOU!! Sales from the beer garden and sponsorships from local businesses are paying for these amazing bands!

This is the place to come cool down with a beer and support an amazing community event!!

So when you decide to check out the coolest thing to happen to the South Shore, make sure you buy a beer or two from the beer garden! See you Thursday!