The folk music sphere gave a heartfelt goodbye to one of its favorite sons at the beginning of this year. Pete Seeger, the banjo-plucking, honey-voiced folk icon passed away in late January at the ripe age of 94. One local singer and longtime Seeger fan, Gale McNeeley, is presenting a tribute show highlighting the late artist’s songs, career, and performing style.
“He wanted people to sing together,” McNeeley said. “There wasn’t one concert where he didn’t goad people into singing as much as possible, because it does make a difference.”
Seeger could definitely be chalked up as a singer who made a difference. Apart from the countless union gatherings, protests, and political events at which he performed, Seeger took an early stand on environmental issues with his call to clean the Hudson River, McNeeley explained.
“You just have to take a stand,” McNeeley said. “If we are all lemmings, well, then we deserve what we get, but Pete took a stand.”
Though much of Seeger’s music involved activism of one sort or another, most of it was purely for the love and beauty of simple music with which people could connect. This is the allure of folk music: It can appeal to a broad base of listeners.
“Music is a common language,” McNeeley said. “I think he saw the power of music and the power of people singing together, and he basically put the power in people’s hands.”
McNeeley’s show, which features instrumentalists Laura Vios and Betty Faas, invites attendees to join in the music making, much like a Seeger concert. There will be “sing-a-longs” and “play-a-longs,” including ukuleles for attendees to strum along with.
“I love the relationship with the audience,” McNeeley said. “There is nothing else like it; it’s communication.”
A Pete Seeger Tribute will be performed by McNeely, Vios, and Faas in Santa Maria at Café Noir, with additional performances in Ojai, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara.
Live at the fair
The 2014 Santa Barbara County Fair features live performances by Wynonna and the Big Noise on July 10, Kansas on July 11, and Rodney Adkins on July 12. Call for times. The Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg St., Santa Maria. More information is available at 925-8824 or santamariafairpark.com.
Take the highway
The Chumash Casino Resort presents the Grammy-Award-winning group Little Joe y La Familia on July 11 at 8 p.m. Cost is $25. The Highwaymen Live is a tribute show happening July 17 at 8 p.m. Cost is $20. The Chumash Casino Resort is located at 2400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. More information is available at 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Triple the business
The Gold Rush Cantina in Nipomo offers live music including Triple Down Theory performing July 11 from 7 to 10 p.m. Cover is $5. Unfinished Business performs on July 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. Cover is $10. The Gold Rush Cantina is located at 108 Cuyama Lane, Nipomo. More information is available at 929-5211 or unfinished-business.org.
Live outside
Riverbench Winery presents a live concert in the garden featuring Sean Wiggins on July 12 from noon to 3 p.m. at Riverbench Winery, 6020 Foxen Canyon Road, Santa Maria. Cost is $10. More info: 937-8340 or lperez@riverbench.com.
Tap into Wells
Singer and songwriter CV Wells will be performing songs from his debut album, Back from Nowhere, with keyboardist Terry Lawless on July 13 at the Willow Wine Bar, 1050 Willow Road, Nipomo. More information is available at facebook.com/cvwellsmusic.
Dance with Riptide
The Santa Maria Mussell Senior Club hosts Big Band Dance Concerts featuring the Riptide Big Band performing monthly. Next up is a concert on July 13 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria. Cost is $10. More info: (775) 843-2830 or hornblower0@yahoo.com.
Bringing the jazz
Jazz in the Garden happens at the Solvang Festival Theater Under the Oaks, including Denise Donatelli and friends performing July 13 at 3 p.m. at the Solvang Festival Theater, 410 2nd St., Solvang. More information is available at solvangfestivaltheater.org.
Park yourself
Concerts in the Park is a free concert series featuring live music, including Steppin’ Out performing live on July 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park, Santa Maria. More information is available at 925-0951, Ext. 260, dsmitherman@cityofsantamaria.org, or cityofsantamaria.org.
The wild ones
The Bookworm holds an open mic event for poets and musicians with featured performers The Feral Parrots on July 14 at 8 p.m. at The Bookworm, 230 E. Betteravia Road, Suite K, Santa Maria. More information is available at 922-4282, quest@thebookwormcali.com, or facebook.com/thebookwormcali.
Juicy jams
The Creative Juices Lounge in Guadalupe presents St. Vincent Folk performing July 11 and DJ Adam performing on July 12, both from 7 to 10 p.m. at the lounge, 874 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. More information is available at 219-0518 or creativejuiceslounge.com.
Crispy sounds
The Blacklake Golf Resort presents a Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series featuring The Crisptones on July 16. The Blacklake Golf Resort is located at 1490 Golf Course Lane, Nipomo. More info: 343-1214, Ext. 400, or blacklake.com.
Get down at GreVino
Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar presents Phil Salucci on July 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the café and wine bar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria. More info: 937-6400 or dcp@grevino.com.
Maverick country
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend, including a Country Party with Rebel Heart on July 11 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Rebel Heart is July 12 at 3 p.m. Country Heart performs July 12 at 8 p.m. Suds, Songs, and Sandwiches with John Lyle is July 13 at 3 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 Jul 10-17, 2014.