Photo of the Day

3rd Annual WINTER SURF FEST
Saturday, January 18, 2013
12 Noon - 7PM

The Starting Gate
5052 Katella Ave.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720

While the weather in Southern California might be getting colder this time of year, it certainly doesn’t affect the spirit of the thriving instrumental Surf Music scene. For the 3rd year in a row, the organizers responsible for one of the largest Surf Music events of the year, the Surf Guitar 101 Convention, have assembled some of the world’s best contemporary live Surf Music bands for an incredible seven-hour extravaganza of reverb-drenched guitar goodness.

From the San Diego area comes Jason Lee and the R.I.P. Tides, a hard-edged trio that will be promoting the debut of their first full length LP on Dionysus Records. From Northern California comes the masters of traditional Jewish tunes gone Surf, Meshugga Beach Party, complete with beards, outfits and shtick. In a special reunion performance comes San Diego’s The Sand Devils, who bring their unmistakable brand of dark and ominous Surf. Local San Gabriel Valley favorites The Volcanics will don their trademark sweaters, take the listeners into a 60s time machine and perform many of the newer tunes from the recent release of their second album The Lonely One on Double Crown Records. Out of the ashes of one of the most influential of the 90’s Surf revival bands, The Ghastly Ones, comes Boss Fink, a Hot Rod-themed romp including former members of The Huntington Cads. And, rounding out the bill comes the day’s annual opener, High Tide, an all-star band featuring some of the best veteran players from the scene including members of The Torquays, The Planktones, The Reventlos and Insect Surfers.

In addition to the exceptional talent on stage, the event will feature a shopping area spilling over with specialized vendors selling Surf Music records, CDs, posters, t-shirts, books, magazines, musical instruments and other related accessories and collectibles.

The venue offers a full kitchen and bar throughout the show, so prepare to settle in, relax and enjoy an entire day of some of the very best pounding drums, throbbing bass, and dripping with reverb twangy guitars anywhere!

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Here is a playlist of the fantastic Eddie & The Showmen tribute set from Winter Surf Fest 2013. The band consists of John Benton (guitar), John Blair (guitar), Dick Dodd (drums), Jim Frias (sax), Jonpaul Balak (bass), and Matt Quilter (guitar). Video by SG101 user darrenk. Thanks Darren!

One of the Most Important Surf Music Events of the Year!

Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Starting Gate
5052 Katella Ave.,
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
10AM-6PM,
$20 Admission

Summer really is a state of mind, especially during the cold months in Southern California. Nothing can prove it more than the right live musical soundtrack. For many fans the world over, this soundtrack is Surf Music, the instrumental genre created in the early 60ʻs by legendary bands such as The Belairs and Eddie & The Showmen. Helping to keep this instro torch alive and well are the members of the online forum SurfGuitar101.com, who have put together some of the most significant live Surf Music events in recent years. The 2nd annual Winter Surf Fest will continue along these lines, featuring an entire day of the reverb-drenched goodness, complete with rare tribute and reunion performances, and the US public debut screening of the new Surf Music documentary film Reverb Junkies. This special Sunday event coincides with one of the most important music weekends in Southern California that includes Deke Dickersonʼs Guitar Geek Festival and the NAMM trade show in Anaheim, and the So Cal World Guitar Show at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

2nd Annual Winter Surf Fest Highlights:

• A very special US public debut screening of the brand-new Surf Music documentary film Reverb Junkies at 10AM, with the filmmakers present. DVDs of the film will be available for purchase.
• A tribute performance by John Blair (Jon & The Nightriders), Dick Dodd (The Belairs, Eddie & The Showmen, The Standells), Jim Frias (The Nocturnes) with High Tide, to the great Surf Guitar pioneer Eddie Bertrand (The Belairs, Eddie & The Showmen), who recently passed away
• A Rare Belairs reunion performance featuring original members Paul Johnson, Dick Dodd, and Jimmy Roberts with special guests
• A rare Southern California performance by modern Bay Area Surf masters The TomorrowMen
• A performance by Surf/Garage/Frat band extraordinaire The Volcanics
• A performance by San Pedro traditional surf maestros The Riptides
• A performance by Southern California 60s tribute band Banned From the Beach

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Announcing the So. Cal. Winter Surf Fest 2012!

Sun. Jan. 22nd, 11 am to 7pm, at The Starting Gate, 5052 Katella Ave. Los Alamitos, Ca. 
$20, raffle tix for CDs and T-shirts $2 ea. or 3 tix for $5

Line up and schedule for the Winter Surf Fest

• 11am to noon - TikiTena and Sean DJ, (and between sets)
• noon to 1:15 - High Tide (with special guests)
• 1:45 to 2:45 - The Breakaways
• 3:00 to 3:50 - The Tequila Worms
• 4:00 to 4:50 - Secret Samurai
• 5:10 to 6:00 - The Eliminators
• 6:15 to 7:00 - Slacktone

Facebook page for the event

Need more reasons to come? The Winter Surf Fest is the day after Deke Dickerson's Guitar Geek Festival, and is on the big NAMM weekend. Also the same weekend is the Vintage Guitar and amp swap meet at OC fairgrounds.