This year’s Music in the Park series is ready to kick off with a blast next Thursday evening. A blast from the past that is with a pair of 80’s rock tribute bands. Long Gon Bon (AC/DC tribute) and Evolution (Journey tribute) lead off another fantastic lineup of free concerts at Music in the Park. The weekly free concert series presented by the San Jose Downtown Association is filled a wide range of musical genres including alt rock favorites Third Eye Blind (wow!), popular reggae artists Eek-A-Mouse, to a Beatles tribute from White Album Ensemble. A couple of other big names are part of the music series this year including pop rock sensation Better Than Ezra, local favorite Pete Escovedo, and Colin Hay of Men at Work. Can you say “I come from a land down under”?

In addition, if you can carry a tune, Music in the Park wants to hear you. In the mode of “American Idol,” this year’s Music in the Park will also be presenting “San Jose’s Got Talent,” a musical competition to be held during July and August. So for all those in-the-shower or in-the-car crooners, sign up and let’s hear what you got!

The music starts at 5:30pm each Thursday evening starting June 4 through August 27 at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Full schedule with artists scheduled to perform below.

Scion Music in the Park
Plaza de Cesar Chavez
5:30 pm to 9:15 pm

June 4: Evolution (Journey tribute) and Long Gon Bon (AC/DC tribute)
June 11: Sierra Leone’s Refugee Allstars (world/reggae)
June 18: Third Eye Blind (alternative rock); supported by Pilot Speed playing a full set
June 25: Pete Escovedo (Latin Jazz)
July 2: The Tubes (classic rock)
July 9: Eek-A-Mouse (reggae)
July 16 Pato Banton (reggae)
July 23: Matt Nathanson (pop/rock); supported by MiGGs
July 30: Colin Hay of Men at Work (pop)
August 6: Anthony David (R&B)
August 13: Better Than Ezra (pop/rock)
August 20: Sonny Landreth (blues/rock)
August 27: White Album Ensemble (Beatles tribute)

If you haven’t been to the San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar, this is your chance to discover a hidden gem here in downtown San Jose. The San Jose Downtown Residents Association (SJDRA) will be hosting its evening social at the San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar this Thursday evening, May 28, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar is a sophisticated urban restaurant with a truly international flavor. Mix in a wide selection of fine wines and you have a fantastic dining experience. Come out with the SJDRA and meet your neighbors, talk about events and issues affecting downtown, and discover a great new restaurant! All SJDRA attendees will receive a 20% discount off menu items on Thursday evening courtesy of San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar.

San Jose Downtown Residents Association (SJDRA) Evening Social
Thursday, May 28, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar
20 N. Almaden Ave.
Downtown San Jose
(408) 298-WINE (9463)

SJDRA attendess will receive 20% off menu items.

Keep your head up at the Downtown Farmer’s Market at San Pedro Square this Friday as a cherry pit-spitting contest will be in full effect. The pit-for-distance contest will start promptly at 12:30 pm on Friday with contestants spitting for a chance to win a gift certificate to Morocco’s Restaurant and other Downtown Farmer’s Market merchandise. There will be two categories to enter: those wearing business suits (tie or jacket) and those not-wearing business suits. If a good ol’ fashioned cherry pit spitting contest isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of shopping to be done at the weekly Downtown Farmer’s Market. It’s a long, three-day weekend so stop by the Downtown Farmer’s Market and stock up on fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, organic produce, and flowers. The Downtown Farmer’s Market takes place every Friday in San Pedro Square through December 18, 2009.

Downtown Farmer’s Market
San Pedro Square
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Every Friday through December 18, 2009

Music lovers from all genres and generations are set to descend upon downtown San Jose in the first ever Left Coast Live music festival. Left Coast Live is set to hit downtown San Jose May 11-15 and is being billed as “A Giant Live Music Event.” The week-long event will feature a speaker series, free preview concerts, an outdoor movie cinema, and culminate in a spectacular music festival including what is expected to bring over 100 local and world-renowned bands and musicians. A variety of music will be featured at Left Coast Live including alternative rock, classic rock, Jazz, indie/pop/ska, urban soul, and world music. Headlining the main stage will be Miggs, Grammy Award-winning Booker T. Jones, and best-selling artist Lyrics Born. The Friday night music festival will kick off with two main stages and then spill out to over 40 different venues throughout downtown San Jose including cafes, museums, bars, and restaurants.

The week-long live music event is the creation of a group of local musicians, venue owners, and arts supporters with a vision to grow live music in downtown San Jose and the Silicon Valley. The discussion series will include topics addressing the future of live music and the outdoor cinema will feature the film “Before the Music Dies” and also show shorts from Alice 97.3’s 3-minute Film Festival. This should be an amazing event, so be sure you don’t miss out on Left Coast Live.

Left Coast Live
May 11-15
Downtown San Jose
For schedule and description of events, click here.
For complete list of bands and musicians, click here.

To purchase tickets or for more info, go to LeftCoastLive.com. Use the code “svlofts” to get a discount when purchasing tickets.

*Silicon Valley Lofts & Condos is a sponsor of Left Coast Live.