Still rockin’ after all these years

Angelique Flores

The surf culture that thrived here in the 1960s will resurrect for the

Endless Summer Rock ‘N’ Roll Jam in Newport Beach later this month.

Like the Rendezvous Ballroom Reunion concert that began in 1999 and

has twice sold out, the legendary lineup includes Dick Dale, The

Chantays, The BelAirs, Jon and The Nightriders, Deke Dickerson and the

Johnny Lopez Band.

“It’s not just the bands that are going to be there performing, but

it’s the whole surf music community who is going to be represented

there,” said Bob Frederickson, chair of the Huntington Beach

International Surfing Museum.

In part to benefit the museum and in part to rock out like the old

days, the event will host seven hours of music, vintage woody cars, the

museum’s mobile exhibit and concessions.

The night will culminate with the All-Star Jam to include notable surf

musicians from bands such as The Nocturnes, The Del Tones, The Vandells

and others.

“We wanted to get the guys together,” said Jim Frias, executive

producer of the event and original member of The Chantays and The

Nocturnes. “There’s a lot of camaraderie between us.”

Whether it was to meet the pretty girls, dance with their friends or

celebrate surf culture, the musicians and their audiences alike got

together weekly at the local concert halls back when these bands played

regularly.

Striking up as many chords as memories, the surf bands will play their

hit music as well as more current songs. And some of the older musicians

from the 1960s will show the youngsters that they can still rock as hard

as they did back then.

Premiere Entertainment, producers of the concert, hope to make it an

annual event. But some of these same musicians won’t wait for next year’s

Endless Summer Jam to return. They will come back out for the Rendezvous

Ballroom Reunion show scheduled for October. This concert is named after

the Rendezvous Ballroom, which was the hot spot for surf music during the

1960s. Located on the Balboa Peninsula, it burned down in 1966.

The surf museum dedicates its exhibits to the surf culture and houses

not only visual arts but music, film and archived material. Proceeds from

the concert will help the museum continue its current exhibitions as well

as help fund the Ultimate Museum that is in the works.

FYI

The Endless Summer Jam will be at the Hyatt Newporter Hotel in Newport

Beach from 2 to 10 p.m. June 23. Tickets are $45 general admission, $60

reserved seating and $150 for the VIP package. (714) 960-3483.o7 https://www.ESJAM.comf7 .