This year the parade will run only northbound lanes of Monterey Road, so come early for a good spot.
Entourage performs at the Friday Night Music Series in past years.
By Mark Fenichel
Now that California has reopened, more music spots are slowly bringing back live music at local wineries and restaurants. Clos LaChance, Satori Cellars and Verde Vineyards are just some of the many wineries that have withstood the test of COVID-19 restrictions and continue to shine with their fine wine selections and live music, although the music remains on limited schedules for now.
Kelly Brewing Company is another outdoor music spot that is slowly bringing back the tasty music that pairs so well with their locally brewed beer. And 88 Keys Café is back with their live music throughout the week including their Acoustic Open Mic from 6 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday. Check the individual websites for live music event schedules.
Going forward the schedules are constantly changing and they are likely to ramp up quickly. Live concerts at Bay Area venues such as The Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain Winery and San Jose’s City National Civic are emerging once again with major national acts including The Monkees, The Four Seasons, George Lopez, Little Big Town, Roger Daltry and 3 Doors Down to name a few.
The Morgan Hill Freedom Fest organizers are going forward with their enormous fireworks display July 4 at the Outdoor Sports Center on Condit Road and will feature live music from three bands.
The gates open at 4 p.m. with live music beginning at 5 and continuing right up to the start of the first fireworks explosion about 9:45.
The Downtown “Family Music Festival” also known as the Downtown Street Dance is scheduled the night before (July 3) beginning at 7 p.m. featuring live music with The Recurrents from 8 to 11 p.m. The very next morning (July 4) the annual parade returns in all its glory starting with the Car Cruise at 9:15 a.m. along the parade route.
This year the parade will run only on the east side (northbound lanes) of Monterey Road, so come early for a good spot.
Some of the casualties in the music world locally include Porcella’s Music, Gilroy’s long standing store that offered lessons, instruments, repairs and advice. It has been a favorite of many musicians for many years and has now shut their doors for good.
Also, the Gilroy Piano Outlet is currently running a “Going Out Of Business/Retirement Sale” with drastic reductions on their entire stock of grand, uprights, and digital pianos offering most major brands. Owner Dave Dumont has decided to call it quits after 40 years of selling pianos throughout the Bay Area. They still have a nice selection available.
