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!
In celebration of Independence day, the Live at Lakeview crew will be taking this Thursday off to enjoy the festivities and, of course the fireworks. There will not be a Live at Lakeview concert or a Live AFTER Lakeview party this week.
Don’t worry, we promise to bring all the fun times back the following Thursday, July 11th with Naive Melodies and special guest, Ashley Kepler! Plan on spending every Thursday through the end of August with us at Lakeview Commons!
For this Thursday, we wish you a super fun and SAFE holiday weekend! Our crew will be enjoying our only Thursday off for the season and we look forward to seeing you next week!
The Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series kicks off summer on June 20th with Tahoe Action’s Best Band of 2012, Jelly Bread and special guests 4 Piece Puzzle.
Photo credit: Sean Aaron
This popular event series is returning in a big way, with a larger stage, larger beer garden, and a much larger FREE bike valet. Thanks to Shoreline of Tahoe, this seasons’ Bike Valet Sponsor, we will be offering more space for your bikes. Parking is limited; with off-site locations available at the SLT Recreation Center (1601 Rufus Allen Blvd.) Bike or hike!
We’re getting super excited for the return of the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series! Our first show will be June 20th so that means only 42 more days, and only 6 more Thursday evenings (tonight included) without live music at Lakeview Commons!
I know how much our community wants these free events to return, but we are going to need this community’s help and support to make it happen all summer long. It’s so easy to get involved, you can support these concerts through sponsorship or by volunteering your time. Don’t worry, we plan to take good care of our volunteers by raffling off sweet prizes from our local sponsors each week and did I mention the grand prize of the season is a RIVIERA Standup Paddle Board?!?! (courtesy of South Tahoe SUP)
So if you can’t wait another 6 Thursdays to get involved with these community events, come hang out at Lakeview Commons on Thursday, May 23rd from 5:00-7:00 pm and learn about all the cool volunteer opportunities this summer!
Can’t wait to see all of you smiling and dancing with us every Thursday!
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!
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!”
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!
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!!
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 FREEBike 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!
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:
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!
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!
Live at Lakeview would like to invite you to enter our fan photo contest for a chance to see your pictures all over next year’s marketing campaign! We’re also going to hook up the winner with a sweet goodie bag full of freebies from our event sponsors!!
Photo credit Dylan Warren
Here’s How You Can Enter:
Take all the photos you can at each Live at Lakeview concert and submit your best shots by posting them on our Facebook Fan Page or emailing them to LeslieAllison33@gmail.com with the subject line “Lakeview Fan Photo Contest.” Each person can submit up to 3 photos for this contest.
Have fun with it and by all means, get creative and crazy!
Here’s How the Contest Works:
Once you’ve submitted a photo, it will be added to the “Lakeview Fan Photo Contest” album on our Facebook Fan Page, with your name as the description!
Our Facebook fans will be the judges in this contest, so be sure to send all your friends to our fan page to vote for you pics! The photo that gets the most likes & comments will be the winner!
The winning photo will be used in next year’s Live at Lakeview marketing campaign and they will also receive Live at Lakeview Superstar Fan Package including all sorts of goodies from event sponsors!
Important Dates to Know:
The final deadline to submit your photo(s) is Sunday, August 19th
Pictures will be posted August 15th with voting will running from August 15th – September 1st
The winner will be selected by September 2nd & awarded at our last concert on Thursday September 6th
Best of luck Live at Lakeview fans! Can’t wait to see your pictures!
The City of South Lake Tahoe's Signature Event Series
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!
