The Chumash Casino Resort will be rolling out the red carpet for music royalty this weekend. Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, known in the Philippines as the Concert King and Queen, respectively, perform at the Santa Ynez venue on Saturday, Aug. 17, as part of the duo’s Two-gether Again Tour.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Nievera earned his King title while scoring 18 platinum albums. The artist is best known for his love ballads, and some of his biggest hits include “Be My Lady,” “Each Day with You,” “Please Don’t Throw My Love Away,” and “You Are My Song.” Nievera has won multiple Box Office Entertainment Awards over the years, including Male Recording Artist of the Year in 2009.
Fernandez has also enjoyed a long career in the music industry, completing her first album at the age of 16. The Queen is also well known in the Philippines as an actress, with several film and television appearances under her belt. One of her first collaborations with Nievera was co-hosting Penthouse Live! with him, from 1982 to 1987. Attendees can expect to hear some of Fernandez’s most popular songs, including “Don’t Say Goodbye” and “I Was Once a Child Like You.”
The Chumash Casino Resort is an age-21-and-older venue and is located at 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Admission to the concert, which takes place in the resort’s Samala Showroom, ranges from $49 to $79. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Call (800) 248-6274 or visit chumashcasino.com for tickets or more details.
All that jazz
West Coast-based jazz vocalist Julie Kelly will be joined by the Marshall Otwell Trio for a performance in Solvang on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 3 p.m. The concert takes place in the Solvang Festival Theater’s Patron Garden and will also feature special guest saxophonist Dave Becker. The show is part of the theater’s eighth annual Sunday Jazz and Beyond series, which runs through Sunday, Sept. 8. (with a closing concert from the Holy Crow Jazz Band at 3 p.m.).
Admission to Kelly’s performance is $30, and doors will open at 2:30 p.m. No children under 5 or pets are allowed. Wine from Beckmen Vineyards will be available for purchase during the show. The Solvang Festival Theater is located at 420 2nd St., Solvang. Call the theater at (805) 686-1789 or visit solvangfestivaltheater.org for tickets or more info.
Going south
What better way to kill some time than with Brad Johnson and The Killin’ Time Band, who perform at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez on Friday, Aug. 16, from 8 to 11 p.m. The Crown City Bombers take over the saloon’s stage the following evening, Saturday, Aug. 17, from 8 to 11 p.m. Falcon Heavy wraps up the venue’s weekly live music series on Sunday, Aug. 18, with an afternoon performance from 1 to 5 p.m.
Cold Spring Tavern’s weekend lineup jump-starts with … how fitting … Jumpstart on Friday, Aug. 16, who perform from 6 to 9 p.m. The tavern also hosts classic rock band The Youngsters (from 1 to 4 p.m.) and local act River’s Bend (from 5 to 8 p.m.) on Saturday, Aug. 17. The lineup comes to a close with blues/rags/good time duo Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan (from 1:15 to 4 p.m.) and blues/rock group Hot Roux (from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.) on Sunday, Aug. 18.
More music
Central Coast-based singer-songwriter John Alan Connerley performs at Blast 825 Brewery in Orcutt on Friday, Aug. 16. This local performer is known for diving into a wide range of genres, with most of his original songs varying from romantic ballads and country tunes to upbeat party numbers. Fellow local solo artist Nataly Lola will also perform at the brewery, taking the stage the following evening, Saturday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. Following the Brewery’s weekly lunch buffet, classic rock and country artist Randy LeDune will perform on Sunday, Aug. 18, at noon.
The Naughty Oak Brewing Company presents local rock band Different Strings on Friday, Aug. 16, from 7 to 10 p.m. Led by Keith Cox, the group performs both originals and covers of classic rock, country, and alternative hits. Admission to the concert is free, and food from Barbecue in the Stix will be available for purchase, starting at 5:30 p.m. Also in Orcutt, the ShelbyLynn Duo, featuring Shelby Houg and Mike Zuniga, performs at Vino et Amicis Wine Bar on Friday, Aug. 16, from 7 to 10 p.m. With influences ranging from Prince to Earth, Wind, and Fire, this local act performs a blend of pop, soul, and R&B.
Solo artist Yael Gott performs twice at Moxie Cafe in Santa Maria this week: Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. Sandwiched in between those two shows is a performance from pop rock cover group The WaveBreakers, which performs on Friday, Aug. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood wrote this week’s Local Notes. Contact him at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 15-22, 2019.