Malibu Surfside News, May 9, 2017 by Barbara Burke
http://www.malibusurfsidenews.com/ma...al-bring-noise
Malibu Guitar Festival to bring the noise
The faces and transmitters have changed with the years, but musical appreciation is still as sound as ever.
And the third annual Malibu Guitar Festival, scheduled for May 18-21, offers plenty of talent for all to admire.
“This is not a blues festival,” said Mick Fleetwood, of The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, headliner for the Malibu Guitar Festival, “but there’s a lot of great music on this festival, and people enjoy listening to blues.”
“Pretty much Buddy Guy is one of the few guys that frankly is left alive … we just lost Chuck Berry, and Little Richard [is] about 90,” he continued. “I mean there’s a whole era that’s coming to a close, and it’s just nice to know that there’s a lot of great young players and young listeners who love listening to the blues and rock ‘n’ roll and have taken an interest.”
Accolades will be given to The Doors’ Robby Krieger and Chief Arvol Looking Horse, who spearheaded efforts against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
But most of all, there will be fun, harmony, optimism, unity and love.
“Our theme for the Guitar Festival this year is Ignite. Unite. Inspire,” said John Watkin, co-founder of the festival. “In almost every house in Malibu, there is a guitar with guitar players ranging from a hack or a legend like Bob Dylan and everyone in between.”
The event will bring the community together to enjoy a veritable potpourri of genres — from blues, to rock and roll, country, indie music, Southern rock and American roots.
Tuning up for the festival
On Monday, May 15, there will be a Jam Night at the Malibu Guitar Festival Headquarters at 23359 Pacific Coast Highway (located behind the Wells Fargo Bank in Malibu Village). At that event, patrons can swap gear and jam and prepare for a wonderful days-long musical experience.
YouTube guitar guru Tim Pierce will give a master class at the festival headquarters on Tuesday, May 16. For that event, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 if prepaid, or $45 at the event. For tickets, visit
www.ticketfly.com/event/1474586-mas
terclass-tim-pierce-malibu.
The opening night event will be at Casa Escobar on Thursday, May 18. This year, the festival’s official charities are THERAsurf, The Emily Shane Foundation and The Karl LaDue Wodakota Foundation.
In addition to great food and live performances, two new awards will be presented.
The Lifetime Achievement in Music Award will be presented to Robbie Krieger, American guitarist of The Doors, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the band.
The Humanitarian Award will be presented to Chief Argol Looking Horse, chief of the Dakota, Nakora and Lakota Nations, and keeper of the Sacred Calf Pipe. The chief spearheaded the efforts at Standing Rock.
The opening night event will feature the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist platinum selling country artist Hunter Hayes, who, along with Paul McCartney’s Wings’ Laurence Jubery, will also visit Malibu schools to share their love of guitar and music. The pair will perform three special sets for the students at Juan Cabrillo Elementary, Our Lady of Malibu School and Webster Elementary.
Laurence Juber, the Marco Beltrami Ensemble and the Kenneth Brian Band will also take the stage on opening night.
John Hiatt will also be featured.
“He’s one of the greatest songwriters of all time,” said Doug De Luca, co-founder of the Malibu Guitar Festival, of Hiatt. “He’s been incredibly prolific.”
Malibu Youth band New Killer Stars will also take the stage.
As the weekend begins, things will heat up.
Hot Licks Night at Casa Escobar on Friday, May 19, will keep things kickin’ and feature select segments from the upcoming documentary film “The Axe Factor: She Rocks,” along with spectacular performances by Nik West, Lari Basilio, Gretchen Menn, Zepparella, and the legendary Steve Vai.
That evening will also feature Hollis Brown, The Palms, The Band Steele, Dankrupt, the Carothers Brothers and Malibu band the Karma Dealers.
The main event
The main event for the festival will be in the Malibu Village parking lot next to Soul Cycle, located at 23575 Civic Center Way.
Mick Fleetwood and the Blues Band will launch the day’s amazing lineup.
Hunter Hayes will take the stage again. Jamtown, featuring Donavon Frankenreiter, G. Love & Cisco Adler, will follow. The Kenneth Brian Band, Hollis Brown, The Soft White Sixties, Wrenn, The Buzz Wizards, featuring Cleto Escobedo, Duane Betts’ Pistoleers, and Michael John Hayes will all thrill and keep things grooving.
Malibu’s own Malibooz will entertain next. Starting as a surf music band, Malibooz has been riding the waves of musical success for more than 50 years, as they were formed in 1964. The Malibooz lineup includes John Zambetti on guitar/vocals, Walter Egan on guitar/vocals, Scott Monahan on keyboards/vocals, David Chamberlain on bass, and Michael Mason on drums. Egan and Zambetti are the only original members.
“This will be the third time The Malibooz have performed at The Malibu Guitar Festival,” John Zambetti said. “Our genres are surf music and British invasion.”
Zambetti said fans may recognize Egan’s hits, including “Magnet and Steel” and “Hot Summer Nights.”
The day will still be young.
Marcy Levy & Deacon Jones, Laurence Juber, The Band Steele, Lenny Goldsmith and the New Old, and Malibu Youth band Mrs. Gil will all entertain as well.
Australian guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel will also play.
“Tommy has the finger style of Chet Atkins,” DeLuca said. “He can turn the guitar into a whole percussion instrument. He’s amazing. It’s almost like he’s playing a drum.”