Summer Scenes

Ingela Ringbjer

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- When the weather heats up, so does Surf City’s

music scene.

The city treats beach goers to free surf-side music by an eclectic mix

of performers at Pier Plaza on the third weekend of each month.

“We definitely feel they need to have more events like this on the

weekends,” said resident Susan Faulkner, 52, as she reclined on the

concrete stairs to listen to the Zydeco bands that performed for about

four hours Sunday.

Louisiana-based T-Lou and the Super Hot Zydeco Band kicked off the day

at noon. Lisa Haley and Zydecats followed with their blend of Cajun and

Zydeco music.

Backed up by drummer, a guitarist, a bassist and an accordion player,

fiddler Haley created a multi-beat sound that got the mostly middle-aged

crowd moving to the happy, bouncy rhythms.

Pier Plaza was filled with listeners enjoying the tunes. Some brought

their own beach chairs, and others sat or stood on the stairs.

Along with the four hours of music, which begins at 2 p.m. on Saturdays

and noon on Sundays, the Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire on the upper portion of

the plaza features more than 50 vendors who specialize in arts and

crafts. Everything from fine art, handcrafted jewelry, candles, handblown

glass, clothes, incense and henna tattoos can be perused by passersby

from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For Doug Ehlen, it was the perfect way to top off an afternoon bike

ride along the boardwalk.

“I think it’s good,” the 44-year-old Anaheim resident said. “I think

they should do more [events like this].”