The complexities of hosting a world-class musical ensemble in concert are numerous—dressing rooms, proper permitting, keeping the artists fed, and many other factors need to be considered. One local nonprofit, Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara, brings big-name bands into Santa Barbara County’s Latino music scene, but couldn’t do it without the help of ready and willing local volunteers.
An upcoming concert in Guadalupe by Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar is the first in Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara’s latest season of family concerts, school assemblies, and demonstrations in Santa Barbara, Isla Vista, and Guadalupe. But in Guadalupe, the concerts wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for the nonprofit organizations and volunteers who move everything from red tape to tables and chairs.
“We were contacted by Viva el Arte, who typically works with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, but they are restructuring now, so Viva el Arte needed some boots on the ground in Guadalupe,” Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center Executive Director Doug Jenzen said. “I thought it was something pretty important for the community. It’s a bit out of our mission, but I thought, ‘What the heck?’”
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center focuses primarily on science, technology, environment, and mathematics (STEM) programs, but has been including more artistic programs and exhibits to appeal to a wider part of the community. Helping to facilitate the upcoming concert is not just in the Dunes Center’s interest, Jenzen explained, but in the larger community’s as well.
“I think it’s good when people get out into the community and get involved with community activities because it creates a sense of connectedness when they are out doing things together,” he said. “Culturally, I think activities like this allow for a great forum for people of different cultures to intermingle.”
The Dunes Center has done much to prepare for the event, from renting the venue to buying insurance, but the nonprofit also serves as a nexus for local volunteers and other nonprofits. Other volunteers include those from the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, the American G.I. Forum, and unaffiliated volunteer residents.
“There’s a big movement right now called collective impact,” Jenzen said. “When we all work together we can have a bigger impact than competing small nonprofits trying to reach the same groups of people.”
All the help allows visiting artists like Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar—who is also bringing along guest dancers from the Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles—to focus solely on their performance and outreach. The ensembles will be performing for free in the evening at the Guadalupe City Hall, but they will also give a private afternoon concert for migrant farmworkers, Jenzen explained.
“From what I understand these are big-name artists in the Latino music community,” he said. “To have talent like that come to the Santa Maria Valley is a great opportunity for residents to hear or participate in an event like this.”
The Viva el Arte concerts are always packed, but with more than just Guadalupe residents. Music lovers from surrounding areas help stimulate the community in more ways than attending the concert, Jenzen explained.
“The concert itself is free,” Jenzen said. “But, what happens is there is a multiplier effect. We see it here at the Dunes Center all the time, people will come here and then go have lunch in Guadalupe, and what they pay supports the business, but the sales tax also supports the city and the county.”
For a town as small as Guadalupe, Jenzen said, every little bit helps. As a nonprofit, the role of the Dunes Center and other organizations is to help support the community in as many ways as possible.
“It’s really important for nonprofits to do what people are interested in,” Jenzen said. “Particularly with the economy the way it was and is, it’s important for nonprofits to stay relevant to our changing society, and whether that is being relevant to a demographic or changing technology, it’s really important for us to stay up to date with what’s happening.”
Live in the Samala
The Chumash Casino Resort offers a live concert featuring Engelbert Humperdinck on Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. Trace Adkins performs live on Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. at the resort, 3400 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez. More information is available at 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Music and wine flow
The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro includes regular live entertainment including Xpanse on Sept. 18. Keith Cox and Russ Douglas on Sept. 20, Kyle Reilly on Sept. 23, and Jacob Cole on Sept. 24. Shows happen from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro, 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. More information is available at 430-8356 or dvinewinebarandbistro.com.
Make the occasion
Occasional Mustache performs a live concert of original Californicana music on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Brewing Company, 115 Cuyama Lane, Nipomo. More information is available at occasionalmustache@gmail.com.
Right off the runway
The Radisson Hotel presents live music Fridays and Saturdays with Juan Marquez performing Sept. 12 and 13 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Approaching the mic
Lucia’s Wine Co. offers an open mic event for musicians and poets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Lucia’s Wine Co. Tasting Room, 126 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. More information is available at 332-3080 or lucias-wine-co.com.
Rockin’ the bar
Shaw’s Steakhouse hosts live music on Saturdays with DJs on Thursdays and Fridays in the evening at the steakhouse, 714 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More information is available at 925-5862.
Music to every taste
Rooney’s Irish Pub offers This Bangs! with DJs Mr. Butter, DJ Flashback, DJ Sol, and Hurricane Worldwide on Fridays at 10 p.m. DJs and bands perform on Saturday nights. Karaoke night is Thursdays at Rooney’s Irish Pub, 241 S. Broadway St., Orcutt. More information is available at 934-3777 or rooneysirishpub.net.
Space out
The Creative Juices Lounge features regular live music on the weekends, including The Spaces Between on Sept. 20 and the Dub Seeds on Sept. 26 at the Creative Juices Lounge, 874 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. No cover. More information is available at 219-0518 or creativejuiceslounge.com.
Get down at GreVino
Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar presents live music on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. at the café and wine bar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria. More info: 937-6400, dcp@grevino.com, and grevino.com.
A little bit country
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend including a performance by Carmen and the Renegade Vigilantes on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Blues Bob is Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. The Molly Ringwald Project performs live on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 18-25, 2014.
