The Live Oak Music Festival is a beloved weekend put on by KCBX Public Radio every year. The festival welcomes well-known folk, world music, blues, and rock groups that play on the station year round. This includes, of course, local artists as well.
The weekend of live music kicks off on Friday, June 17, afternoon with three stages, from the big bands on the main stage, to the more intimate Hot Licks stage, and “Stage Too,” where workshops and other groups are hosted.
This year’s festival includes local artists of many genres performing throughout the weekend. The Sun has compiled a short list of the local groups performing.
Friday, June 17
The Santa Maria-based band the Drive-In Romeos is the first group on the main stage after the opening ceremony on Friday. The group performs its R&B rock ’n’ roll from 4 to 5 p.m., adding Live Oak to its list of local performances for the first time.
The group’s bassist Mark Garza told the Sun via email that he’s excited to be included on Live Oak’s historic main stage.
“We believe Drive-In Romeos fits the non-mainstream feel that Live Oak represents,” Garza wrote. “We are honored to be given the opportunity to play on the same stage as many of the great bands that have influenced our sound and rocked Live Oak before us.”
Saturday, June 18
Saturday morning begins bright and early with the eclectic style of singer/songwriter Maya Burns from Ensenada, followed by the Santa Barbara-based group Rainbow Girls, who perform at the Hot Licks stage at 8 and 9 a.m., respectively. Hopping on the Hot Licks stage at 10 a.m. is Bear Market Riot, a local power-folk duo performing for an hour.
Bear Market Riot includes two singer/songwriters from Paso Robles and Pismo Beach who enjoy the Americana style of music, which fits in so well at Live Oak, explained band member Kirk Nordby via email.
“Festivals like Live Oak are a great way for our communities to come together and celebrate,” Nordby wrote. “They’re also a great place for musicians to share with one another. We spend so much time playing gigs on the same nights as our musical colleagues, we don’t often get to stop and enjoy a show.”
Sunday, June 19
Early risers on Father’s Day can enjoy the alternative country sounds of Cayucos resident and singer/songwriter Joe Koenig, who takes to the Hot Licks stage at 8 a.m.
In an email Koenig told the Sun that he has attended the festival before, but this is his first year performing.
“I am most excited about camping with my wife and two young boys, it’s so nice when gigs and family time can intertwine,” he wrote. “The fact that this is an early gig means my boys will be able to come check it out.”
Koenig is followed by Kalinka, a Santa Barbara-based band with a world music twist performing at 9 a.m. on the Hot Licks stage.
The group performs a twist of klezmer, Balkan, and gypsy swing music, band member Fred Nadis explained via email. The group is excited to share their music with festival goers as well.
“It’s always great to play in front of an appreciative audience,” Nadis wrote. “People who attend Live Oak love acoustic folk music of all kinds.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne loves music, if it’s good. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 9-16, 2016.
