San Andreas, CA…Summer evenings never sounded as good as they do on Wednesdays in Calaveras County. For the 26th year, the Calaveras County Arts Council is presenting Music in the Parks, starting June 14 and ending August 16, every Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There’s an all new line up of local and not-so-local musicians, and one returning favorite. The popular program, which brings free toe-tapping tunes to the county, is part of the Arts Council’s mission statement to “support, nourish, and awaken the arts in our community.”

This year the council is partnering with community groups to provision concert goers with real-time grub ranging from simple dessert-centered pie and ice cream in Moke Hill— thanks to the Moke Hill Lion’s Club—all the way to a full-on Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner in Mountain Ranch, served up by the Mountain Ranch Community Resource Center. And in August, the Murphys Community Club will be serving brownies with a scoop of ice cream. Future concert feasts and community partnerships will be announced on Facebook, on the website, and by weekly concert emails.

The first concert of the summer starts on June 14 in Copperopolis, and then on successive Wednesdays takes place respectively in Brice Station, Angels Camp, Mokelumne Hill, Mountain Ranch, Rail Road Flat, San Andreas, Valley Springs and Murphys.

Be prepared to be shaken awake at the first concert on June 14 in Copperopolis Town Square when the 4-person dance band, the Lava Cats, swings into gear. When you hear their lively mix of 40s and 50s Rock-and-Roll, country swing, and Blues, you’ll want to grab your partner to do a two-step and twirl, or just jitterbug across the square.

On June 21, Western singer and entertainer Juni Fisher brings her award-winning songwriting skills to MIP’s newest venue, the breathtaking Brice Station Vineyards. Juni sings and tells tales about ranch life, horses, love, sorrow and joy with authenticity that can only come from someone born to it in California’s Central Valley. She’s been called “The best thing to happen to Western music.” Feel free to bring your own food and non alcoholic drinks with you. Beer and wine will be for sale; offsite alcohol is not permitted under the Brice Station alcohol license.

From El Dorado County, the Random Strangers will tear up the night in Utica Park in Angels Camp on June 28 with Country-soaked rock and roll. They’re a great dance band with covers of faves like “Burning Ring of Fire” and “Lay Down Sally,” so get ready to boogie.

On July 5, CAMPS restaurant in Angels Camp will host Almost Blue, a trio of musicians who explore popular mid-century American standards like “I’ve got a Crush on You,” and “Blue Skies,” that will make you want to sing along as you dance. If you like Pink Martini, you’re going to like this band.

Swing Gitane will blow into Shutter Tree Park in Mokelumne Hill on July 12 with swing from another era: the Gypsy rhythms of up-tempo Hot Club jazz, swing music, and cowboy jazz. Their website says it all: Peggy Lee meets Django. Plus, the Lion’s Club of Moke Hill will be serving pie and ice cream!

On July 19 you won’t have to pack a picnic lunch (but you can if you want); the Mountain Ranch Youth Alliance will be serving their ever-popular Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner right before Brothers Strong take the stage. Brother’s Strong combines the power of youth and crisp talent; with fiery fiddle, bumpy bass, and chunky guitar, they’ll wail through Bluegrass, Jazz, and Blues-style tunes with tight vocals that straight up carry across the hills.

Rail Road Flat Elementary School in Rail Road Flat will go global on July 26 with the High Life Band, an authentic and unique world reggae music band from Seattle, Washington. Rhythms from the French Caribbean and West Africa are combined with Jamaican rockers, bif-baf, steppers, one-drop, and dancehall reggae traditions. Bring your best moves! As we will be at a school, substance-free-zone rules apply – no alcohol or smokables on site. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

On August 2, Turner Park in San Andreas will ring with the sound of banjo, dobro, mandolin, and guitar as Hick’ry Switch sings sweetly enough to bring down the moon and stars, set them dancing a happy waltz, and whirl them back into the sky.

Slade Rivers is the quintessential Country band, playing a little Bluegrass, a little Bakersfield twang, a little country swing, and a whole lotta music. They’ll be warming up the night at the Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial District Gazebo in Valley Springs on August 9.

Coyote Hill wraps up the 2017 Music in the Parks series on August 16 with their blend of Jazz, folk, blues, bluegrass and Brazilian beats. Bring your dancing shoes and howl at the moon or you can just sit back and enjoy the ride at the Murphys Community Park. In addition to brownies and ice cream, the community club will be selling Margaritas, beer, wine and soda.

We’re all eager for summer this year, and long, warm afternoons for stretching out and relaxing with friends and neighbors. So pack up your picnic, dust off lawn chairs and beach blankets, and come out for some music and schmoozing and old-fashioned neighborliness at Music in the Parks.

For more information, contact Calaverasarts.org or 209/754-1774.

List of Bands and venues
June 14
Lava Cats  
​Copperopolis, Town Square​ 

40’s-50’s Country, Blues, originals

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NEW VENUE! 
June 21  Juni Fisher
Brice Station Vineyards, Murphys* 
Western Entertainer, songwriter, humorist
*Wine, beer and drinks for sale — cheese, fruit and dessert
 (no offsite alcohol permitted)

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June 28  Random Strangers
Utica Park, Angels Camp
Country Rock

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July 5  Almost Blue
CAMPS Restaurant, Angels Camp
All American Song Book of popular music.
Soft, swinging tunes that have remained classics for several generations

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July 12  Swing Gitane
Shutter Tree Park, Mokelumne Hill*
 Swing from Another Era: Hot Club Jazz and Gypsy rhythms plus cowboy Jazz 
*Moke Hill Lions Pie and Ice Cream Social

❖ 
July 19  Brothers Strong
Mountain Ranch Community Park, Mountain Ranch*
*Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner 5:00 to 6:15 available prior to concert
 In partnership with the Mountain Ranch Youth Alliance

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July 26  The Highlife Band
Rail Road Flat Elementary School, Rail Road Flat
Reggae

 ❖
Aug 2  Hick’ry Switch
Turner Park, San Andreas
Blue grass/Americana

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Aug 9  Slade Rivers
Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial District Gazebo, Valley Springs
Country Swing, Hillbilly Jazz
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Aug 16  Coyote Hill
Murphys Community Park, Murphys*
Rock and Roll    
 *Murphys Community Club will be selling brownies & a scoop of vanilla ice cream