Music Blooms with Blues, Rock and Woodstock at 4th Annual Spring Concert Series

COSTA MESA, CA, April 13, 2012 (Press-News.org) This spring, a variety of music genres will be blooming at the Orange County Market Place during its 4th Annual Spring Concert Series. It opens with a Double Header Blues Band Weekend May 12 and 13 featuring eight different blues performances, follows with five Sundays of classic rock tribute bands and concludes with a psychedelic tribute to Woodstock. All concerts are held in conjunction with the regular Market Place activity at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds and are included in the $2 swap meet admission or free with a canned food donation for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

On Sat., May 12 The Memphis Kings are first on stage at noon with their blended fusion of Swamp, Delta, Chicago and Pre WWII blues styling followed at 1 p.m. with Lil 'A' and The Allnighters led by Lil 'A' Alex Woodson on the blues harp and vocals. Big Rockin' Daddy and The Usual Suspects come out swinging with Chicago-style blues at 2 p.m. Headlining at 3 p.m. is accomplished musician, Brophy Dale. Having recorded six records, his musicianship can be heard on several compilation records including sound tracks for Kids ESPN in Japan, to TV show tracks for five-year running CBS FBI crime drama, Numbers and the WB show Supernatural with Lee Rocker (bassist for the iconic Stray Cats).

Rip Cats Records (www.RipCatRecords.com), a local blues record label, will showcase four bands on Sun., May 13 which gets started at noon with European touring sensation, Johnny Mastro and The Mamas Boys. Their edgy, raw back-alley smoky blues style is what Johnny describes as "Sledgehammer Blues" with blues harp massacres on his knees. The Mercy 4 will rock-out at 1 p.m. with their blues-rock merger of old-school influences and modern day rock. The 2 p.m. show features Whiteboy James and the Blues Express. This gritty-blues-grind band is made up of James 'Whiteboy' Page with Blake Watson (bass), and Max Bangwell (drums), with Guitarist Scott Abeyta - the founder and principal of Rip Cat Records. Headlining at 3 p.m. is Gino Matteo, a musician who has received accolades and honors including Honorable Mention in the 15th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest, Best Blues Album in the 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards and Honorable Mentions from the International Songwriting Competition in both the "Blues" and "Performance" categories for his song, Only 24!

After the blues concerts springboard, the classic rock tribute concerts take over each Sunday at Noon and 2 p.m. as the 4th annual Spring Concert Series, presented by Playlist 92.7 FM and Live Orange County, continues.

On Sun., May 27, it's a tribute to The Doors with Peace Frog (www.PeaceFrogBand.com). Celebrating fourteen years of performance, the magic of Jim Morrison and The Doors comes alive on stage with lead singer, Tony Fernandez channeling Morrison in a dramatic rock performance, performing all the classic hits including "L.A. Woman" and "Light My Fire."

Turn The Page (www.TurnThePageOnline.com) will pay the ultimate Tribute to Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band on Sun., June 3.

Got 'moves like Jagger?' It's time to find out as Sun., June 10 delivers a Tribute to the Rolling Stones with The Ultimate Stones (www.TheUltimateStonesBand.com).

Journey tribute band, DSB, performs on Sun., June 17 and is led by vocalist Juan del Castillo, known for sounding like the renowned lead singer Steve Perry of the "real"Journey. Journey has sold over 55 million albums worldwide and continues its reign at the very top of the short list of rock bands whose music has truly stood the test of time. http://www.DSBband.com

On Sun., July 1, Springsteen! (www.BruceSpringsteenTribute.com) ,an homage to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band commands the stage with the passionate guitar playing of Josh Tanner who reincarnates Bruce's "Glory Days."

The concert series takes a bow with a groovy two-day Woodstock Tribute Weekend on Sat., July 7 and Sun., July 8, bringing together the sound and feel of several rock legends from the infamous 1969 Woodstock concert before the O.C. Market Place brief hiatus for the annual Orange County Fair. A tribute to The Who by The Who Revue (www.TheWhoRevue.com) on July 7 at Noon and 2 p.m. takes on Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey in a remarkable retro way. On July 8 Aquarius (www.Aquarius68.com) will take you on a magic carpet ride back to the 60s so you can relive the experience of Woodstock through Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both days will also include tie dye vendors, artisans, hippie stilt walkers, and a new Peace, Love and Ice Cream stage presented by Farrell's Ice Cream Parlours and features a sweetened up version of the legendary concert offering ice cream eating contests, Farrell's Psychedelic Rainbow Ice Cream in take home size, hippie hula hooping, Kidstock Karaoke, a giant "Color Your World" mural and other activities.

In addition to the concerts, the 3rd Annual West Coast Rockabilly Showdown will be held five corresponding Saturdays of the Sunday tribute band shows. Twelve bands selected from electronic auditions will be battling it out for a spot in the finals, $2,500 in cash awards and an opportunity to open for a top name Rockabilly band on Sat. Sept. 1. Three bands perform on Saturdays, May 26, June 2, 9 and 16 at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. First place winners from each date return on Sat. June 30 to perform at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and determine the winner. Bands selected for the contest will be posted on the Market Place website at http://www.ocmarketplace.com .

In its 43rd year, the swap meet operates every Saturday and Sunday except during the annual Orange County Fair. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features nearly 1,000 vendors. Admission to the Orange County Market Place is free for kids 12 and under, and $2 for ages 13 years and above or free during the Spring Concert Series and the Rockabilly Showdown with a canned food donation. Free parking is available as well as preferred parking for $5. More information may be obtained at http://www.ocmarketplace.com or by calling 949-723-6660.

The Orange County Market Place is entering its 43rd year and continues to operate every Saturday and Sunday, except during the annual Orange County Fair in July and August, at the
O. C. Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Admission is $2. Children 12 and under are free. Free parking is available as well as preferred parking: for $5. Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.