Mark Wood and The Parrot Head Band to appear at OC Fair

Mark Wood and The Parrot Head Band, the nation’s foremost tribute to the music of Jimmy Buffett, presented by MWE, Inc. will be appearing at the Orange County Fair, July 29, 30, and 31 at 8:15 p.m. on the new Main Mall Stage. This is a free show with fair admission.

Mark Wood has been an active member of the Newport Beach community for more than 15 years, as a leader in the local PTA and a music instructor at Newport Elementary School. Since 1983, when Mark moved here from Phoenix, he has been entertaining audiences at Southern California venues, large and small, performing his original music and also playing selections from a 2000 song repertoire of classic favorites. Mark has received plaudits in the regional press as a guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter and performer.

Mark began listening to and playing Jimmy Buffett tunes in the early 1970s. He loved the stories that Jimmy told in his songs along with the great melodies, and many of these songs became staples in Mark’s solo performing career.

Nine years ago, a friend in the corporate event planning business needed a “Jimmy-style” band for an event. Mark enlisted longtime friend, Doug Legacy, formerly of Oingo Boingo, and his group, the Zydeco Party Band. After adding a cast of talented and versatile sidemen, all the pieces of this incredible band were in place: a Cajun/Zydeco rhythm section, a Reggae keyboardist, a Country guitarist, an R&B; sax man and a Latin percussionist.

This tremendous combination is what makes Mark Wood and The Parrot Head Band the next best thing to Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band. They have been the highlight of the program for corporate events, private parties, community concerts and other high profile functions from Cabo San Lucas to the islands of the Caribbean and from Maui to the Florida Keys.

After recent shows in Monterey and Austin, the group is pleased to make its OC Fair debut. Mark is especially proud that his daughter, Lacey, an alumnus of the Orange County High School of the Arts and a graduate of Newport Harbor High, will return from her new home in Ohio to perform with the band.

Although Mark Wood and The Parrot Head Band were featured as opening entertainment for Jimmy Buffet’s 2003 concert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, most of their performances are either out of the area, private or not widely publicized. Therefore, this is a rather rare opportunity for Southern California’s legions of Buffett’s loyal and devoted fans, who call themselves Parrot Heads, to hear Jimmy’s music performed by this great 11-piece band. And in this case, they will actually be playing the fans’ favorites. The OC Fair arranged for voting on its website to determine the band’s playlist for these shows. For more information contact:

Ray Wolf

Mark Wood Entertainment, Inc.

18003 Sky Park Circle, Ste. F-2

Irvine, CA 92614

(949) 748-6850