Standing Sun Wines owner and winemaker John Wright is up past his feet in work right now, literally. The harvest season is nonstop work for local winemakers, and Wright’s outfit isn’t any different, despite his business’s boutique wine output.
“You can’t give up, you can’t stop, you have to push through,” he said. “It’s like that every day at harvest, where you get up and you know you will be working hard all day until midnight.”
After so much work, all anyone should want to do is sit back and relax, but Wright wants to celebrate. The first ever Harvest Blues Festival is Standing Sun Wines’ first music festival event. Inspired by the success of the winery’s concert series, the festival features both local and touring groups that have roots steeped in the classic American styles of blues, rock, and country.
The Sept. 27 festival will begin in the afternoon and continue well into the evening. Six performing ensembles are included, with the size and intensity of each increasing throughout the evening. Opening the show is local bluegrass-style acoustic group Grass Mountain, which performs original songs written by singer-songwriter and guitarist in the group David Heuer.
Following Grass Mountain is LA-based rock-and-roller Jeremiah with his band Red Eyes. Jeremiah, Wright explained, is a skilled slide guitarist who has opened for country favorites like Willie Nelson. Up next is Santa Barbara-based trio The Caverns.
“The Caverns are a relatively young band,” Wright said. “It’s great; these kids are playing classic rock ’n’ roll, R&B songs from the ’60s and ’70s, and they are like 19 years old, but they are really very good.”
The night will be taken over by three rocking groups. Girls and Boys is a soulful bluesy group out of San Francisco that includes skilled lead vocalist Brianna Lee, Wright explained. Greg Felden performs an energetic country rock style with a full band, and will be performing before the closing act, Roem and The Revival.
“Roem and The Revival has played here already a few times,” Wright said. “He premiers on the show The Voice right before the festival, so he is bringing a full band to close the show.”
Hosting the festival is none other than DJBBQ, a DJ/chef who will be cooking throughout the day as well as spinning records in between musical groups. DJBBQ hosts a show on Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube on YouTube, and will be recording an episode with different members of each band, Wright explained.
“He is a really great, charismatic guy,” Wright said. “He is going to be all over the place and will definitely add a new perspective to this festival; he is the link between the food, the wine, and the music.”
The event will include wine tasting and an area for multiple food trucks. Because his business is a tasting room, which kids aren’t barred from entering, Wright invites families to come out and enjoy the celebration and, especially, the music.
“I pride myself on the fact that this is a listening environment,” he said. “People show up that love music and come here specifically for great music and to support all these traveling professional artists.”
Chumash country
The Chumash Casino Resort offers a live concert featuring Trace Adkins performing on Sept. 25. The Band Perry performs Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez. More information is available at 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Fresh off D’Vine
The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro offers regular live entertainment, including Jerry Stickle on Sept. 25. Lynn Drury performs on Sept. 27. Audition night is Sept. 30. Dan Mally performs on Oct. 1. 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.
Hot quintet
The Lompoc Concert Association presents quintet Habañeros, performing live on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 925 North F St., Lompoc. Cost is $25, $5 for students. More information is available at 737-1809 or lompocconcert.org.
Loving summer
Summer Luv’n Santa Maria 2014 features a live performance by Karmin with openers Paula DeAnda, Kali Kid, and John Henry and Rock Hard Ten on Sept. 27 starting at noon at the Santa Maria Elks Unocal Event Center, 4040 Highway 101, Santa Maria. Tickets are $75, $65 in advance. More information is available at stubwire.com.
Mix it up
The Radisson Hotel presents live music Fridays and Saturdays with The Mix performing Sept. 26 and 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Dr., Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Always open
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.
Spinning at Shaw’s
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.
The neighborhood pub
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, Orcutt. More information is available at 934-3777 or rooneysirishpub.net.
Telling tales
Tales from the Tavern presents a concert featuring Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin and The Guilty Ones on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More information is available at 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Live 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 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.
Live like a Maverick
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend including a performance by Michael-Ann with Fiddle and Pine on Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Travis Mersola is Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. The Low Down Dudes perform live on Sept. 27 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 25 – Oct 2, 2014.