Point Loma Summer Concerts has announced its 17th season of concerts at Point Loma Park.
The all-volunteer committee organizing the annual community event is bringing back some old favorites and introducing two new bands in the five-concert series. In addition to crowd-pleasing Main Stage acts, the concerts will again feature the Junior Stage, where talented youth from Point Loma and Ocean Beach show off their musical chops.
The concert series was founded 17 years ago by Bridget Cantu Wear, wife of former City Councilmember Byron Wear of Point Loma. In its inaugural season, the Point Loma Summer Concerts series was sponsored by the community’s then Chamber of Commerce. The Point Loma Association picked up sponsorship of the event the following year.
Concert committee spokes person Kerri De Rosier said event organizers strive for variety in their band lineups.
“What we find is that people really like cover bands, and bands you can dance to,” De Rosier said, adding this year the summer concert lineup includes a Tom Petty cover band for the first time.
The event itself is free, but raffle tickets benefiting local education are sold before and during the event.
“Proceeds support local education programs at Point Loma High and Point Loma elementary schools,” De Rosier said, adding Moment Bicycles in Liberty Station is donating this year’s top prize, five bicycles to donors in five successive weeks.
“It’s a wonderful give-back to the community,” she said of the concert raffles, tickets for which cost $1 a piece, 6 for $5 and 25 tickets for $20. Another raffle prize is a Bose mini sound system.
The concerts board welcomed new sponsors Jensen’s, Epsilon, Haute Spa and McGann Facial Design – and also welcomes back the Peninsula Beacon.
The concerts are supported by generous sponsors, many who come back year after year. Willis Allen Real Estate has been there since the very beginning, as well as the County of San Diego, San Diego Arts and Culture Commission, Council District 2, Point Loma Association and David P. De Rosier D.D.S.
Not far behind are Stump’s Family Marketplace, Dorothea Laub, Point Loma Nazarene University, UPSES, and the Lion’s Club – to name just a few.
“More than ever, we appreciate – and depend on community support,” said Martha Phillips, concert committee chair noting, The concerts cost $15,000 each week.”
The concerts lost a major sponsor this year, so to make up for it, the concerts board decided to try something new.
“We had an idea, the event is truly a neighborhood event: why not ask our neighbors to sponsor the concerts?” said Phillips. “The neighborhood with the most donations will get reserved seating at their concert of choice – complete with signage.” 
Those interested in donating on behalf of their neighborhood can go to www.plconcerts.org, click on the donate button at the top of the page, enter a donation amount, and – this is critical – click “write a note,” then enter their NextDoor neighborhood name.
The concerts are run by a volunteer committee and depend on support from volunteers during the concerts. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, MADCAPS, Point Loma High School band students, and others cheerfully greet concert goers and hand out programs, while other volunteers sell raffle tickets, which support music education programs.
Due to the success of last year’s raffle ticket sales, the Summer Concerts board of directors announced their continued support for music education, with donations to Point Loma High, Correia Middle, Dana Middle, Recreational Music Center, and Glen Fisher’s First Friday Club.
“Get there early – because the concerts are getting bigger and better every year,” said De Rosier.
Concertgoers should bring their own seating and/or blankets – and can order dinner from one of the concert’s catering sponsors.
Free parking is provided at All Souls’ Episcopal Church at 1475 Catalina Blvd. Enter the parking lot on Chatsworth Boulevard. The free shuttle runs between All Souls’ parking lot and the Point Loma Park from 5 to 8:45 p.m.
For more information and to sign up to volunteer, go to www.plconcerts.org. Point Loma Summer Concerts
Where: Point Loma Community Park, 1049 Catalina Blvd., near the intersection of Varona Street.
When: All concerts are on Fridays with two sets of Junior Stage bands performing at 5 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. headliners on the Main Stage.
Info: www.plconcerts.org Band lineup:
July 14: The Mighty Untouchables – Motown to classic rock, with a little bit of Latin, country and pop thrown in;
July 21: Detroit Underground – “Smokin’” horns, Motown, and tunes from artists such as Earth, Wind, and Fire, Chaka Kahn and Stevie Wonder;
July 28: PettyBreakers – The premier Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute act;
Aug. 4: Cash’d Out – As close to Johnny Cash as you can get;
Aug. 11: Beatles vs. Stones – The Greatest Show That Never Was.