Prelude to Summer

Summertime, when everyone seems to have more free time and more disposable income, is also the season of the music festival, with one nearly every weekend.

There are so many events, music fans will be hard-pressed to spend more than two weekends in a row at home bonding with the significant other, the backyard or those Dodgers. Following is an opinionated guide to area musical events:

One-Time Only:

* The 15th Annual California Strawberry Festival will unfold Saturday and Sunday in Oxnard with a variety of bands, including plenty of locals, playing on four stages.

Headliners this year include Steppenwolf, doing the biker’s theme song “Born to Be Wild” for the zillionth time, and with Tower of Power bringing its amazing collection of horn players. The best act you’ve never heard of this year is Colorado-based Nina Storey (see facing page).

Popular local acts include Teresa Russell, the hardest-working woman in local show biz; Rincon Ramblers, the greatest collection of local talent on the same stage doing its country, bluegrass and jam thing. Papa-Nata will supply a set of reggae-flavored dance tunes; the Guy Martin Group will play searing Texas-style blues with a California attitude, and Caught Red Handed will handle things for the wahoo faction. (888) 288-9242.

* On Saturday, the UCSB Extravaganza will be, once again, just that. A bunch of bands will play for free on the football field at Harder Stadium. This year’s headliner is Social Distortion, heroes to every finhead, skinhead and skatehead. The band will be ably supported by the Roots and swingin’ sounds of Royal Crown Revue.

Also on the bill are the Animal Liberation Orchestra, Mac Swanky, Afrodisiac and House of Monks. The music goes from 11 a.m. to dusk. No booze allowed. (805) 893-3536.

* The Ninth Annual Cajun-Creole Music Festival will be transacted May 23-24 in Simi Valley. What this east county suburban community has to do with the Bayou State is unclear, but the music lineup is cool, dance lessons will be available, plus there will be plenty of Cajun food.

The entertainment includes Eddie Baytos & the Nervis Brothers, Lisa Haley & the Zydecats, Acadiana, Lil Malcolm & the House Rockers, and Joe Simien & the Country Folks. The gig will be at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Tapo Canyon Road. (805) 520-4894.

* In the early ‘60s, before festivals, traffic jams or redevelopment, there was a thriving local music scene. On May 30, veterans of the local scene will converge upon the Oxnard Performing Arts Center for the Musicians’ Reunion Concert. (805) 649-2918.

* Seafest ’98 is a one-day wingding at Ventura Harbor, but Fogfest is probably a more appropriate moniker, considering what the weather is like around June 21. This year’s lineup includes Papa-Nata, Euphoria and Yahman, making for a serious reggae-flavored dance-inducing afternoon.

* The Second Annual Central Coast Blues Festival will be July 10-12 at Live Oak Camp, 20 miles northeast of Santa Barbara.

This year’s serious lineup includes Son Seals, Anson Funderburg & Sam Myers, Roy Rogers, the Chubby Carrier Band, the Paul Delay Band, the Boneshakers, the Holmes Brothers, Monster Mike Welch, and Red Archibald & the Internationals, Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan will again host the event. (209) 533-3473.

* Strummin’ & Struttin’ is the name for an inaugural music festival scheduled July 18-19 that will involve more than 30 bands at four downtown Ventura venues--the Ventura Theatre, California 66, Ash Street Gardens and Cafe Voltaire. Acts slated to appear include John McEuen & the String Wizards, plus such local luminaries as Chris Hillman, Jimmy Adams & Friends and Randy Rich & the Ravens. Lots more to be named later. (805) 641-1743).

Recurring Gigs:

* Camarillo Cafe will hold its 100th show Friday night with the fifth annual “ ‘50s Dance and Sock Hop.” Dance music will be provided by 45 RPM. The Camarillo Cafe provides a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment.

In addition to this special event, Camarillo Cafe has a show the third Friday of every month beginning with an open-mike session, followed by the featured artist and concluding with a jam session. Jean Hibben & Stephanie Eskander and Doug Conrow on June 19, Wally High and Mandela on July 17. (805) 482-1996.

* The Heritage Square Concert series in Oxnard begins with a concert June 19 with Nuestro. The cost is a very affordable two bucks for plaza seating, and lawn seating is free. The series, which began seven years ago, draws between 700 and 1,000 people per show. Performers include Psychedelic Summer, June 26; Sweet Country, July 3; Island Voyage, July 10; Swing Kings, July 17; Sound Effect, July 24; Domino Affect, July 31; Conjunto Hueyapan, Aug. 7; Acadiana, Aug. 14; and Societe, Aug. 21. (805) 483-7960.

* The list of shows coming to Santa Barbara County Bowl is necessarily short because it only books a month or two in advance. But here’s what’s on tap: Widespread Panic, G. Love and Galactic, May 30; the Phil Collins Big Band, June 14; and Los Lobos and Santana, Aug. 18-19. More to be added later.

* The new regime running the Ventura Theatre has booked a bunch of shows, and more are being added every day. This is the top venue in the county to see famous rock stars, and others, too. Geezer rock: Canned Heat, Friday; Dave Mason & Jim Capaldi, May 29; Doug Sahm, June 5; Marshall Tucker, July 1; and Freddy Fender, Aug. 1.

Loud, obnoxious rock: Unwritten Law, June 6; and Mercyful Fate, Aug. 7. Soft rock: Acoustic Alchemy, June 16; Michael Franks, Aug. 5. Soulful rock: Cameo, May 27; the Stylistics and the Chi-Lites, June 17; and Morris Day & the Time, June 26. Annoying techno rock: Front 242, July 26.

Deadhead rock: Cubensis and Mr. Ectomy, May 30. ‘80s ska: the Untouchables, May 23. Rockin’ blues: the Fabulous Thunderbirds, June 25. Bands you’ve never heard of: Switchblade Symphony, Monday. This week’s guitar god: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, June 13.

* A tentative date to keep in mind is Sept. 5, for the appearance of Peter Green, one of the original members and guitar players of Fleetwood Mac. (805) 653-0721.

Cool Concerts:

* The “Bowlful of Buckwheat,” featuring Buckwheat Zydeco, the Numero Uno zydeco band in this life cycle, will take place June 12 at Libbey Bowl in Ojai. Lisa Haley & the Zydecats will open. Cafe Voltaire will provide the authentic Louisiana-by-way-of-California cuisine. (805) 646-7230.

* The biggest concert of the year undoubtedly will be July 20, when Phish phills the Ventura Raceway with swirling Phish Heads and displaced Deadheads. The best thing from Vermont since Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Phish is one of the most popular touring bands in the country, due to its virtuoso musicianship and unpredictable set list. (805) 648-3376.

* There will be two more local rock concerts at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Acoustic duo Zelig will return June 27, and a band showcase will follow Aug. 8, featuring a deejay and four groups--Formula, Hoobastank, Phatty and Fiasco. (805) 449-2787.

Upcoming but Not Firmed Up:

In Ventura County, these events will be happening but the entertainment was not set at press time: Ventura County Fair, Aug. 5-16; Henson’s Acoustic Music Festival, early August; California Beach Party, Sept. 19-20; and the Ojai Bowlful of Blues, Oct. 3.

Santa Barbara has no shortage of festivals, and bands to play at them. The biggies are the Summer Solstice Parade on June 20, and the mother of all parties, the Santa Barbara Fiesta, Aug. 5-9.