Summer breezes… an intimate courtyard… free parking… and banner music.
It almost is time for the 17th annual Culver City Music Festival, 8 free concerts on Thursday evenings at 7, starting July 7 in the palm-lined courtyard of City Hall.__
Curated by producer Gary Mandell, owner of Boulevard Music, the Music Festival serves up nearly a full range of tastes. Fiery Spanish Flamenco and percussion with Incendio and Argentinian rock with Los Pinguos are the Opening Night stars on July 7.
In succession, the attractions are reggae, Afro-Cuban salsa, an acoustic Celtic band, rock and rockabilly, and a Beatles tribute band 4 Lads from Liverpool to close out Mr. Mandell’s six weeks as entrepreneur.
When the Jazz Bakery Movable Feast takes over the final two concerts, a jazz quartet and a Latin jazz band will headline the second half of August.
Parking is free underneath City Hall, and dozens of dining options are available within walking distance. See www.culvercity.org.
Courtyard opens at 4:30 on concert evenings
• Thursday, July 7 at 7 — Fiery Spanish flamenco and percussion with Incendio, followed by Argentinian rock with Los Pinguos.
• Thursday, July 14 at 7 — Reggae with Ghanaian star Rocky Dawuni and his 11-piece band.
• Thursday, July 21 at 7 — Afro-Cuban salsa with Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca.
• Thursday, July 28 at 7 — Acoustic Celtic band Molly’s Revenge with special guest vocalist Christa Burch.
• Thursday, Aug. 4 at 7 — Rock and rockabilly from guitar legend Albert Lee, backed by the Carl Verheyen Band.
• Thursday, Aug. 11 at 7 — Beatles tribute band, 4 Lads from Liverpool.
• Thursday, Aug. 18 at 7 — Jazz Bakery MovableFeast presents jazz quartet Woodford, Ehling, Ratner & Wallace with guest vocalist Dwight Trible.
• Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7 — Jazz Bakery MovableFeast presents living Conguero legend Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band.
