Music In the park

Update:

This weekend the following tribute bands were scheduled to playing on both Friday and Saturday nights. 

Petty Fever (Tribute to Tom Petty)                                                                           CC Seger (Tribute to Bob Seger)                                                                        Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (Tribute to ZZ Top)

Friday night began with 107 degree temperatures. Only two bands played for an hour and a half each. We sat out and listened to CC Seger. 

Tonight there were more people on the RV side of the fence listening to the concert then any other night in the entire concert series. Now, keep in mid that you can hear the concerts from any place inside the campground, so you can just as easily sit in your own 'yard' and listen as be up against the fence. Many nights, we have just opened our windows and listened to the music without even going outside.

With the flies being particularly bitey and the heat sweltery, we went back to our trailer after the first band finished. Therefore, I don't know which band played second and which was not at the show at all.

Music in the Park

We are rolling around on a full year of RV life. The vast majority of that time has been spent living in the Alameda Fairgrounds. Thanks to the COVID, we didn't even have to move out during the Fair because, sadly, the fair was canceled this year.

In it's place, the fairgrounds has been holding weekend concerts for most of the weekends since the end of June. They took a short break when we were placed back into full lock down for a couple of weeks, but the concerts are now back.

We also get music most afternoons on Fridays and Saturdays as the bands 'warm up'. Since they practice for literally hours, I think they just enjoy have a chance to play out on a real stage after months of lock down due to this worldwide pandemic.

The 'venue' charges $100 per car, and all concert goers must remain with the vehicle...AND wear masks. If they have a back hatch, they can open it, but it must be tied down to the same height as the car so as not to block the view of those behind them, Plus, if they have a truck, they are allowed to watch the concert from the bed of the truck. 

Again, they must wear masks at all times. 

Remember, this is summertime in California. It gets hot and the cars can't be left running so windows will be open. Lots of security to make sure people follow the rules. So far it seems to be running smoothly.

We move every few weeks, but this was our view over the Fourth of July week concert, just sitting at our trailer. During this concert, there was a Queen cover band. With a campground filled with kids, there was a homey quaintness to watching them ride round and round the dusty camp to

I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle

I want to ride my bicycle

with the evening sky darkening around us.

The first week had just a few rows of cars. But still, ten rows of about fifteen cars each is still a good bit of money. As the weeks have gone by, the crowds have grown and grown. They have increased so much, in fact, that they have added food trucks to the back end of the parking area. The last two weekends they were offering both street tacos and hot dogs and brats. 

All just a few yards from our RV! Nom, nom, nom!

This past weekend, instead of tribute bands of 'old time rock and roll,' they had a weekend of country. For they first time since the very beginning, the crowds were down to nothing. There half as many people as that first weekend, before anyone know about the concerts.

Unless people are just getting tired of concerts suddenly. This coming weekend should give a clue on that. I doubt they will schedule an entire weekend of all country music, again.

Update: The next weekend, with temperatures well over 100 degrees, the concerts were completely SOLD OUT. I guess Northern California is just not a Country music loving area.

With the unofficial start of fall just around the corner. And, the concert series set to end with the Labor day weekend, it probably doesn't matter much anyway. All good things must come to end. Even our free seats to a summertime of musical bliss.

The Alameda Fairgrounds is not giving up on their opportunity of offering entertainment to us stir crazy COVIDians. Starting in October and running throughout the months, there will be a drive haunted experience happening here. http://www.piratesofemerson.com/ 

I doubt very much that we will have the same front row seat advantage, but maybe we will have the chance to drive through. At least one time. At $96 dollars a car, it may be a bit steep for our budget this year.

I am sure they will will do great. It is nice to see people getting inventive is this strange world we have found ourselves.