Concert this weekend put on by Arts Council, Centro Ollin
A variety of musicians will be performing at Dunne Park on Aug.
21 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., as part of a free Music in the Park event
sponsored by the San Benito Arts Council and Centro Ollin (Center
for the Working Artist), with support from the Community Foundation
of San Benito County and the California Arts Council.
Concert this weekend put on by Arts Council, Centro Ollin
A variety of musicians will be performing at Dunne Park on Aug. 21 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., as part of a free Music in the Park event sponsored by the San Benito Arts Council and Centro Ollin (Center for the Working Artist), with support from the Community Foundation of San Benito County and the California Arts Council.
“All cities have these,” said Emiliano Valdez, a coordinator for the Artists in the Schools program and Centro Ollin. “We are hoping next year to do a couple of days and have a lot more bands available.”
Valdez also is a member of the band Somos, which plays funk and soul and will be performing.
“We’ve played a lot,” he said. “That’s how the idea for the concert came about. It went in line with their scope of work and what (the Arts Council) wanted to accomplish this summer.”
In past years, the Arts Council has sponsored a series of summer concerts performed on the roof of the Briggs Building in some recent years.
“The turnout wasn’t so exciting and the budget is one-fifth of what we had last year,” said Cesar Flores, a member of the Arts Council. “We can’t really afford to have a four-band concert series, but we wanted to see what we can do.”
Collaborating with Valdez, the groups decided to try a one-day event with a few different artists. The artists all agreed to perform for free.
“There was no way we could afford Daniel Valdez [one of the performers,]” Flores said. “He commands big bucks and he happens to live in Hollister. He also happens to be Mino’s (Valdez’) dad.”
Daniel Valdez and the other bands agreed to do the first year’s concert for free.
“I don’t like to really ask them to come play for free,” Flores said. “Artists need to be paid. I am an artist. I know what that’s all about.”
Valdez said when putting together the line-up, the response was positive.
“We had a couple that said yes, but the timing didn’t work out,” he said. “We are pretty happy with the turnout. We are hoping to have an even wider selection for next year.”
Valdez’ father Daniel plays Chicano folk and traditional music, he said. Daniel Valdez has performed with Linda Ronstadt, toured with Carlos Santana and put out an album of farm workers’ rights music in the 1970s.
“He recorded with A&M Records,” Valdez said.
Musicians Tim and Frances Galvan live in San Juan Bautista and also have recorded albums as “Gallop Away.” The pair have been involved in musical arrangements for El Teatro Campesino such as the annual Christmas shows and the summer performance of “Corridos.” The couple play a violin and cello.
Mike Annotti, who has participated in past summer concert series, plays reggae soul acoustic.
“His music is really cool,” Valdez said. “It’s all over the web. He has recorded a few songs with other people.”
The program will also feature Mariachi Alma de Mexico, a Mariachi band with students ages 7 to 18.
“It’s a brand-new group that is just coming to Hollister,” Valdez said. “They started their academy in Gilroy. I had a chance to see them at the Dual Language Academy …They are a powerhouse. The singer is not 12 years old when you close your eyes.”
The Mariachi group will be accepting students in Hollister, where they will use space at Centro Ollin for rehearsals.
“It’s like a four component,” he said. “They learn instruments, vocalization, regional dances and they do theory.”
In choosing a venue, Valdez said he thought of Dunne Park because through his work with the Hollister Youth Alliance he had seen some studies from the Health Trust about reclaiming the park.
“If we have some activity that is positive hopefully we can have that space be available for other events and that sort of thing,” Valdez said.
Flores added that the turnout at past summer concerts held in front of the Veterans Memorial Building or on the roofs had been low so he said he hoped the new location would draw a bigger crowd.
“Music and arts are central in the community,” Flores said. “We will survive, and I think the arts offers a little time off to the side so people can relax and smile and say, ‘Hey, life’s okay.'”
Music in the Park
Dunne Park, West and Seventh streets, Hollister
Aug. 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The event is free to the public, guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and picnic.
Musicians and bands include:
Daniel Valdez – Chicano folk and traditional
Mike Annotti – Reggae soul acoustic
Gallop Away – violin and cello
Somos – funk and soul
Mariachi Alma de Mexico – Mariachi (youth ages 7-18)
