Taste of Newport adds new musical flavors

Young Chang

Expect more than a culinary buffet at this year’s Taste of Newport

in September.

With Big Bad Voodoo Daddy headlining Friday’s entertainment, Kool

and the Gang on Saturday and Michael McDonald on Sunday, visitors to

the 14th annual street fair can fill their plate with a lil’ bit of

swing, a side of disco and a slice of classic rock for dessert.

“Each year, we want to give people who come to Taste of Newport a

good mix of music, and staying with that formula has worked for so

long for us,” said Doug Stuckey, spokesman for the Newport Beach

Chamber of Commerce.

The three-day food and wine fest will run Sept. 13 through Sept.

15 on Newport Center Drive in Fashion Island, featuring foods from

more than 30 Newport Beach restaurants and vino from 15 wineries in

the state.

Jeff Parker, vice president of the chamber, said this year’s

lineup is stronger than in previous years in terms of artists’

stature and variety.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a big band-swing group performing Sept. 13,

was chosen for its high-energy presence. Stuckey said the group

appeals largely to a younger demographic, but the band’s upbeat

revival of big band music allows multiple generations to groove.

“And we’ve never had a big band before,” Stuckey said. “We looked

at this year and said, ‘What can we do that’s a little bit different

from what we’ve done in the past?’ ”

Kool and the Gang will return this year after a wildly successful

Taste concert two years ago.

“It’s a fun disco feel, and people still love disco,” Stuckey

said.

Michael McDonald, formerly the lead singer of the ‘70s group the

Doobie Brothers, will round out the entertainment lineup Sunday. The

performer is best known for solo hits including “I Keep Forgettin’

(Every Time You’re Near)” and “Yah Mo B There,” which was sung with

James Ingram. The Doobie Brothers hit big with such tracks as “What a

Fool Believes” and “Taking It to the Streets.”

Parker said he’s looking forward to hearing someone so

established.

“He’s one of those sort of ... [who have] been in the world of

music for so long and he’s got so many great songs,” he said. “I

think he’ll be great for a Sunday afternoon.”