Lloyd Gregory is scheduled to appear at the Brentwood Art, Wine & Jazz Festival on Aug. 27-28.
Photo courtesy of Jack Gaughan
Photo courtesy of Jack Gaughan
“I’ve ordered calm weather for the festival – no gale force winds,” laughed Gaughan of the last year’s surprise wind storm and abnormally cool temperatures. “It’s going to be a great event.”
Celebrating its 10th anniversary and second showing at The Streets, the admission-free, family-friendly event features 44 artist booths, six wineries, two microbreweries plus local food vendors. The Brentwood Kiwanis Club, Sutter Medical Center and John Muir Medical Group will also operate booths, as will the Broadway Under the Stars group.
The children’s area includes last year’s popular Wall of Art, featuring the work of local students, and the potentially messy – but fun – Kids N’ Clay sculpting area. Artist Al Lopez will draw caricatures, and a Lego play area provided by Bricks for Kids will offer plenty of play for builders of all ages.
New this year are the Liberty High School singing groups “Divas,” “Pink Ladies” and “Jag,” strolling through the grounds, entertaining visitors with sweet a cappella offerings. Also new and located at the west end of the promenade will be an exhibition of Liberty High School students creating chalk sidewalk paintings.
“My long-term objective is to have a street-painting festival someday in Brentwood,” said Gaughan. “And the chalk paintings are a way of demonstrating that street painting is a lot of fun.”
But plenty of fun will be provided for the non-painters at this year’s event. Nine musical performances – on two entertainment stages – will play continuously throughout the weekend.
Saturday’s musical lineup includes the Heritage High and Liberty High School big bands. Also scheduled are Bob Belanski’s Specdrum Orchestra, featuring Duane Lawrence, Holly Penfield and her father Ray Penfield; The Marshall Otwell Jazz Quintet; Alvon Johnson and Friends, featuring Sax Man Danny Hull; and the Raul Ramirez Latin Jazz Quintet.
Taking the stage Sunday will be the Swing Fever Sextet, featuring Denise Perrier; Anna Maria Flechero; and the Lloyd Gregory Jazz Septet.
Dancers from Red Door Dance Studio will show off their fancy footwork during some of the musical performances, and artist Leroy Jackson will set up his easel near the stages, capturing the ambiance of the crowds and musicians in a painting to be auctioned off during the weekend.
Record-breaking crowds are expected again this year, something Gaughan credits to the outstanding lineup and quality vendors, as well as The Streets’ prime location.
“We have never had more than 7,000 or 8,000 attend the event,” said Gaughan. “But last year we had close to 15,000, and I know the great venue had a lot to with that. I expect we will have about the same number this year. We’re looking forward to a great weekend.”
The Art, Wine & Jazz Festival is hosted by The Streets of Brentwood and produced by the Brentwood Art Society, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships and assistance to arts in the city. The festival runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Streets is located at 2565 Sand Creek Road in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-513-3863 or go online at www.brentwoodartsociety.net.
Post a Comment