[photo credit; SAN GABRIEL MISSION PLAYHOUSE]
The band trades in the sun-warmed sound that defined a Southern California summer — the kind of set built for a lawn chair, a warm night and a singalong. It is the first of two free outdoor concerts the Mission Playhouse is hosting this summer; an ABBA tribute, The Swedes, follows on July 23. Both are part of the City of San Gabriel’s long-running Summer Concert and Movie Series, which brings live music and films to parks and plazas across town through July.
The playhouse itself adds to the atmosphere. Built in 1927 to stage John Steven McGroarty’s epic “Mission Play,” the Spanish-style landmark — with its ceiling murals, pendant lights and warm golden interior — is one of the more striking performance spaces in the San Gabriel Valley, and its plaza makes an easy, welcoming spot for an outdoor show.
The concert is free and begins at 7 p.m. Foldable chairs are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and guests are welcome to bring their own seating and picnic blankets.
Woodie & the Longboards will perform on Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m. at the Mission Playhouse Plaza, San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel. For more information, call (626) 308-2875 or visit sangabrielcity.com/summer. Admission is free.
