Thanks to Laguna Beach Live’s efforts these last few years, Laguna Beach has become a well-rounded hub of musical variety, and a known destination spot for national acts.
While the folks at Laguna Beach Live! are just a few weeks away from announcing the incoming artists for next February’s popular Laguna Beach Music Festival, their focus these days is on one thing only: a lot of jazz.
Laguna Beach Live’s annual Jazz Wednesdays Summer Festival is a series of seven, every-other-week events featuring well-known legacies and treasure trove finds. The jazz festival has gotten so popular that it’s outgrown the Rose Garden at Hotel Laguna, so the non-profit organization has graduated to overlooking the gorgeous, rolling green next to The Ranch’s main hall and banquet room. The renowned food-and-jazz series’ Wednesday, July 2nd event features Rickey Woodard’s Quartet – Rickey was a member of the Ray Charles band for 8 years. To hear his great sax sound, click here:
So here’s what we have:
1. A great, 7-event summer lineup of jazz greats that began June 18th. This is an every other week event with performances also scheduled for July 2nd, July 16th, July 30th, Aug. 13th, Aug. 27th, and Sept. 10th.
2. Live jazz festival performances that run a healthy two hours in length
3. The almost surreal new setting overlooking the greens (with tables and chairs) at The Ranch
4. New Ranch Executive Chef Camron Woods’ optional menu of food and drink for additional purchase (when you see this menu, you won’t be thinking anything is optional) See the Jazz Wednesdays Menu here
And the entire season pass for all seven jazz festival events is just $105. Individual tickets are just $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
I don’t know how they do it. Granted, if you want to eat and drink, there’s that cost, but even The Ranch has set its menu prices at very friendly rates.
If you’re just interested in attending a couple Jazz Wednesday events, you pay just $15 a ticket … I can’t even get a movie ticket for that price, and I’m sitting in a popcorn-infused chair with a sticky floor beneath me.
For anyone who loves great jazz (and a little bit of blues, of course), this is a no-brainer. Just 250 attendees are allowed at each event, and “season ticket holders” get the VIP tables right up front. Go to www.LagunaBeachLive.org to see the Jazz Wednesday lineup and purchase your $105 season pass or any number of individual tickets.
Each of these Wednesday events have sold out in the past with waiting lists to boot, so get moving for a great season of jazz.