Watch a video of a previous performance at Standing Sun Winery.
A dedication to utmost quality is a practice that has been proven again and again. When a certain level of skill is attained, it offers a consequent awareness of abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Architect John Wright and General Hospital star Laura Wright—neither having experience running a winery or making wine—started the Buellton-based Standing Sun Wines. But their dedication to quality and skill has translated into an expanding business, and also into the live music performed there.
“The whole concept of everything I am doing there isn’t monetarily driven,” John Wright said. “It’s a bigger-picture concept of live music and great wine and food.”
Wright was speaking from the ubiquitous South by Southwest (SXSW) festival at the time of the interview, where—similar to the way he finds his wine grapes—he was seeking out quality musical groups to listen to, talk to, and consider for his concert series.
“I sponsor some events here, but this is where I find a lot of artists for the series,” he said. “Part of this series is that I don’t have a booking agent; I try to see the artists first, approach them, and get to know them before I even ask them to come perform for us.”
Though he didn’t meet her at SXSW, Wright’s relationship with Carlene Carter, who will be performing at Standing Sun on March 22, is similar. His family lived in the same neighborhood as Carter some years ago in Santa Ynez.
“She is great,” he said. “She had us over for dinner and performed for us right there in her living room and showed us some of Johnny’s guitars.”
Carter is the daughter of June Carter Cash and June Carter’s first husband, Carl Smith, and stepdaughter of Johnny Cash. June Carter Cash was the daughter of Maybelle Carter of the original Carter family, making Carlene bona fide country royalty by birth, not to mention her long career.
“Her storytelling is just incredible,” Wright said. “She’s definitely singer-songwriter royalty, and to be able to bring her into our space and bring the community in is a great thing.”
Wright prefers getting to know the artists he brings to his winery, whether it’s someone he meets in his neighborhood like Carter, or a band he takes out for dinner in Austin, Texas, at SXSW.
“I take music very seriously, and I take live music very seriously,” he said. “When they come to the winery, we are already like old friends. The reason I am in all this is for the experience.”
Wright even has a place for the performers to stay, so they are taken care of on every level, he explained. But he extends that giving nature not just to artists, but to his customers and fans as well. The Wrights often broadcast live from a Ustream channel available through their website. They stream anything from a tasting to cooking dinner with their kids and answering questions that come in via the Internet.
“Inviting people into our house on a Sunday to cook and have a glass of wine with us is something we do to embrace the whole fan base,” he said. “We know a little about them, they know a little about us, and it creates a kind of cyber community.”
Standing Sun Wines also has two YouTube channels through which they share clips of winemaking and conversations with staff, and a whole channel dedicated to clips from their concert series.
“I consider myself an independent winemaker; I started with 100 cases and now I am out with 4,000 cases,” Wright said. “I consider myself to be bootstrapping like these guys are. It’s kind of like a community of people doing good things, trying to play good music or make good wine.”
Here’s Kenny
The Chumash Casino Resort presents live music in its Samala Showroom, including country legend Kenny Rogers on March 20 at 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino Resort, 2400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Cost is $25, $35, and $45. More info: 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Viva the Libre
Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara presents three family concerts by Plena Libre on March 21 at 7 p.m., Isla Vista School, 6875 El Colegio Road, Goleta; March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Marjorie Luke Theatre, Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara; and March 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Guadalupe City Hall, 918 Obispo St., Guadalupe. Free. More info: 884-4087, Ext. 7, or myspace.com/vivaelartedesantabarbara.
Music that pops
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra and Café Musique come together for a pops concert on March 22 at 7:30 p.m., Grace Baptist Church, 605 W. McCoy Lane, Santa Maria. Cost is $30, $25, and $12. More info: 9925-0412, larry@santamariaphilharmonic.org, or santamariaphilharmonic.org.
Taking the stage
Temple Beth El presents Diane Borad-Mirken and Suzy Newman performing Suzy and Diane Sing! An Afternoon of Music and Mirth on March 23 at 2 p.m., Temple Beth El, 1501 E. Alvin Ave., Santa Maria. Cost is $20, $15 in advance. More info: tbe1cassel@gmail.com or 354-0480.
It takes three
The April Verch Band performs live on March 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unity Chapel, 1165 Stubblefied Road, Orcutt. Cost is $15. More info: 937-3025.
Stormy weather
The Radisson Hotel offers live music Fridays and Saturdays including Storm performing March 21 and 22 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Where wine and music flow
The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro features Jerry Stickell live on March 20, Jacob Cole and Emily Wren on March 22, Tony Botello on March 25, and Kyle Reilly on March 26, with shows starting at 7:30 p.m. Karaoke nights are Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro, 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. More info: 430-8356.
Let’s get juicy
Creative Juices Lounge presents live music, including Anthony Roselli and Coffee House Night on March 23 and Ernie Rodriquez on March 29 performing from 7 to 10 p.m. at the lounge, 874 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. More info: 219-0518 or creativejuiceslounge.com.
Food, wine, and music
Ca’ Del Grevino Café and Wine Bar features live music in the tasting room and café on Wednesdays including Chris Beland on March 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar is located at 400 E. Clark Ave., Suite A, Orcutt. More info: 937-6400, dcp@grevino.com, or grevino.com.
Maverick music
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including Carmen and the Renegade Vigilantes live on March 21 at 8 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” featuring Blues Bob and the Loopy Blues Band is March 22 at 3 p.m. The Gary Foshee Band performs on March 22 at 8 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 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.
Cliff Wagner and the Old No. 7’s performing “Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin” at Standing Sun Wines
VIDEO COURTESY OF STANDING SUN WINERY VIA YOUTUBE.COM
This article appears in Mar 20-27, 2014.