During the summer, the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California is teaming with people who flock there to leisurely stroll and soak up the laid-back beach atmosphere, partake of an array of dining and entertainment choices, bask in the sun and cool ocean breezes, and enjoy often fabulous sunsets. On the weekend of June 6 and 7 there’s even more to lure acoustic music fans to the famous pier. That’s when the inaugural LA Acoustic Music Festival takes place.

The festival will feature performances by notable artists from noon to 10 p.m. both days in an area adjacent to the pier’s Ferris wheel and historic carousel (circa 1922). The Refugees (Wendy Waldman, Deborah Holland and Cindy Bullens) kick things off on Saturday, while Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo and granddaughter of Woody) and Johnny Irion gets things going on Sunday.

Folk-rockin’ Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn closes the evening on Saturday, while the festival culminates with a performance by Nanci Griffith and the Blue Moon Orchestra on Sunday evening – just a couple of days before Rounder is set to release her 19th album, The Loving Kind.

Also on the bill for the weekend are acclaimed British folk-rocker and guitarist Richard Thompson; virtuoso Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster; singer-songwriters Slaid Cleaves, Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy LaFave, David Lindley and Joel Rafael; country rockers Stonehoney; David Bromberg and the Angel Band, and The Kingston Trio. Homage will be paid to America’s troubadour through the “Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway” Woody Guthrie tribute.

“My heart has always been to get the music out there in whatever way it can,” says Renee Bodie, the festival promoter, who also is vice president of Folk Alliance Region – West (FAR-West) and hosts house concerts and a series at the Thousand Oaks Library. “This is about our community and being able to buck the odds and have a celebration of acoustic music in a time when our hearts need it most.” The festival also is part of the famed pier’s 100th Anniversary Celebration of Summer.

The LA Acoustic Music Festival benefits the California Acoustic Music Project (CAMP), which provides artists in residence to schools to help ensure that every student gets the experience of daily music instruction. Instruments (primarily guitars, mandolins and banjos) are also provided, while songwriting, instrumentation and performance are taught. The semester culminates in both a CD project and a concert performance.

Visit www.laacousticmusicfestival.com
for more information on the festival and to purchase tickets.