A fashionable summer concert lineup

Jennifer K Mahal

NEWPORT BEACH -- While setting up Fashion Island’s 34th annual Summer

Concert Series, Shayne Voorheis and her colleagues found themselves

trying to sing the proposed performers’ most famous songs.

They knew the tunes, of course.

“If you get lost between the moon and New York City . . . .”

“We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll . . . .”

“And I ran, I ran so far away. . . .”

“When we had to get approval, we were literally singing to some of our

owners and managers,” said Voorheis, director of sales and marketing for

Fashion Island.

The free concert series, which starts Wednesday evening with a

performance by five-time Grammy Award winner Christopher Cross, will

bring such diverse artists as Royal Crown Revue and A Flock of Seagulls

to the shopping center. Performances will be held 6 p.m. every Wednesday

through Aug. 22.

“We wanted something that was in the middle of the week to celebrate

the summer and give people something fun to do,” Voorheis said.

In the past, an average of 2,500 people have attended each concert,

with the most popular group, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, bringing in an

estimated 10,000 listeners in 1997.

This year’s lineup includes Starship on July 25, Scott Wilkie on Aug.

1, Royal Crown Revue on Aug. 8, the Nelsons on Aug. 15 and A Flock of

Seagulls on Aug. 22.

Wilkie, a Newport Beach resident, said he is looking forward to his

first performance in the concert series.

“I worked quite a bit in the past with the folks who booked the

series,” said the jazz pianist who records on the Narada label. “Since I

live in town, we’re at Fashion Island all the time. I spoke with my

manager and said, ‘Hey, I would love to do this.’ ”

Los Angeles artist Brooke Ramel will open for each of the concerts

this year. The singer-songwriter’s music has been featured on a number of

television shows, including “Dawson’s Creek” and “Ed.”

“I think what’s nice is that [her music] will create an ambience,”

Voorheis said. “And she’s wonderful.

Besides music, there will also be food booths and sponsorship

giveaways. Added enticements for people to come to Fashion Island,

Voorheis said.

“All of the concerts are complimentary. Anybody can enjoy the

concerts,” she said. “You can stroll through and hear the music.”

FYI

Fashion Island’s Summer Concert Series is free, with preferred seating

available for $15. Concerts start at 6 p.m. in theBloomingdale’s

Courtyard. Fashion Island is located at 900 Newport Center Drive in

Newport Beach. Information: (949) 721-2000.

* Wednesday -- Christopher Cross

* July 25 -- Starship featuring Mickey Thomas

* Aug. 1 -- Scott Wilkie

* Aug. 8 -- Royal Crown Revue

* Aug. 15 -- The Nelsons

* Aug. 22 -- A Flock of Seagulls