Written by Ronnie Sweeting –
MARIPOSA – Now in its 28th year, the free summer concert series, Music on the Green – brought to you by The Mariposa County Arts Council and it’s many fine sponsors – kicks off the 2018 season with a weekend of great live music, presenting The Foothill Billies on Friday, June 1; and Steve Johnson & Those BobTones on Saturday, June 2.
Gathered around a single condenser microphone like an old time radio show, The Foothill Billies perform a Roots style of Old Timey/Americana (traditional & original) that’s pure as a mountain stream. Singing and playing their traditional instruments (guitar, banjo, and upright bass) and brought together by their mutual love of this distinct American style of music, this acoustic trio’s performance on the Art Park Stage at this year’s Butterfly Festival was a big hit.
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,” 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.
Mouse and his west coast cohorts, Those BobTones, gather for a reunion several times a year (made easier by Johnson’s return to his home state in 2016) and have performed at Music on the Green/Mariposa Evenings eight out of the last sixteen 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.
Visit www.mariposaartscouncil.org for the complete 2018 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 (see map below). 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 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.
