Written by Ronnie Sweeting —
MARIPOSA — Now in it’s 25th year, the free summer concert series, Music on the Green kicks off the 2016 season with a weekend of electric blues, presenting Soul Galaxy on Friday, June 3, and on Saturday, June 4, it’s Steve Johnson & Those BobTones. The series is brought to you by The Mariposa County Arts Council and its many fine sponsors.
Soul Galaxy has, over the last three years, performed as a sextet, quintet, quartet and trio, but always with the same nucleus of Northern California guitar phenom Tim Hagar and Los Angeles session percussionist Jon Kidd.
Soul Galaxy – photo courtesy Mariposa Co Arts Council
This powerhouse group will be performing blues/rock based originals, along with guitar-centric, deep cut covers. Bay Area blues singer/harp player, Mr. Ronnie Lee will be Soul Galaxy’s special guest for the evening. Read and hear more of this dynamic combo at www.soulgalaxy.net.
Those BobTones assembled in Merced in the late seventies gaining instant popularity in the area, with some members going on to success on the broader music scene.
Original member/guitarist Steve “Mouse” Johnson, moved east to the New York City area, where he enjoyed immense success as a respected performer and session recording artist for over 30 years. Johnson won Guitar Player Magazine’s 1992 competition as “Best Blues Guitarist,” has been twice voted “Best Blues Band” by the New York Jazz & Blues Society, recorded numerous CDs, toured internationally, and established himself as as one of the busiest and most popular blues singer/guitarists on the East coast.
Steve Johnson and Those Bobtones – photo courtesy Mariposa Co Arts Council
Mouse and his west coast cohorts, Those BobTones, gather for a reunion once or twice a year and have performed at Music on the Green/Mariposa Evenings six out of the last thirteen seasons, often breaking attendance and tip records in their past performances at the Art Park.
This year’s performance will again include a horn section, featuring Tim White and Julie Sax.
Check www.mariposaartscouncil.org for the complete 2016 season line-up & more.
All performances begin at 7 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) at the Mariposa County Art Park, located on Highway 140, between 4th and 5th Streets, in historic downtown Mariposa, Calif. Free parking on 5th Street along the Creek Walkway to the Park, also providing handicapped access.
The shows are free to the public –- tips for the performers will be solicited, encouraged and appreciated.
The Mariposa Arts Council, sponsor of Music on the Green, is funded in part by Mariposa County, the California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.Mariposa County Arts Council
The MARIPOSA COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL, INC. is an incorporated not-for-profit organization, created to promote and support all forms of the cultural arts, for all ages, throughout Mariposa County.
Ronnie Sweeting is the producer of Music on the Green
(209) 966-3155
info@arts-mariposa.org
www.mariposaartscouncil.org
