Music for lunch and dinner

Kick your weekend off right today with a free concert by The Mudskippers.
The Dixieland jazz group performs at noon First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo, 981 Marsh St. It’s part of the church’s monthly Brown Bag Concert series.
Doors open at 11:45 a.m. Don’t forget to bring your own lunch to munch.

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Want to warm up for mariachi singer Manuel Enrique’s performance at the California Mid-State Fair this weekend?
Fans of the traditional Mexican music can get their fill at the 12th Annual Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival, 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
The play list includes Mariachi Cobre, Omar Arreola, Mariachi Imperial, Mariachi Divas and Chula Vista Youth Mariachi. Concert-goers will also catch performances by Mercedes Castro and Amparo de la Jilguerillas
Tickets are $38.50 to $88.50, and can be purchased at the Santa Barbara Bowl box office, 1122 N. Milpas St. in Sant Barbara. For more information, call 962-7411 or visit their Web site.

On Sunday, watch Atascadero singer Manuel Enrique perform with Mariachi Mexicanismo at the fair’s Budweiser Fort Frontier Stage. The concerts, which are free with fair admission, take place at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The Paso Robles Event Center is located at 2198 Riverside Ave. in Paso Robles.
Call (805) 239-0655 or visit www.midstatefair.com for more information.

SLOCO locals rockin' Downtown Brew, fair

It’s a great day for local bands.
While San Luis Obispo’s own Rhodes is opening for rock icons Aerosmith, another band with Central Coast ties will take the stage before Canadian indie rockers Hot Hot Heat.
The Deadly Syndrome opens for Hot Hot Heat tonight at Downtown Brewing Co. in San Luis Obispo.
Two of the band members are UC Santa Barbara grads: Templeton native Jessie Hoy, who plays drums, accordion and keys, and guitarist Will Etling, who grew up in Santa Ynez.
Etling is the younger brother of Tribune staffer Leah Etling and the nephew of Bert Etling, editor of The Cambrian.
The Deadly Syndrome releases its debut album, “The Ortolan,” on Dim Mak Records in September. (The name refers to tiny birds that were captured alive, fattened and then roasted and eaten whole by French gourmands.)
Folks are already starting to take notice of the fledging Los Angeles-based band.
“Unbridled euphoria — and wry touches such as onstage cutouts of ghosts — helped the Deadly Syndrome go from zero to signed in a few short months,” wrote Los Angeles Time columnist Kevin Bronson. “Well, that, and explosive, unaffected songs right out of the Arcade Fire/Modest Mouse/Wolf Parade playbook.”
The concert is tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $16 at the door.
For more information, call 543-1843 or visit the Downtown Brew Web site.

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Still hungry for the sounds of the Central Coast?
You can catch these SLO County voices at the California Mid-State Fair. They’ll perform the national anthem before concerts on the Main Grandstand Arena throughout the 12-day event.

TONIGHT
Chief Lisa Solomon of the Paso Robles Police Department
Sings before: Aerosmith

THURSDAY
Amanda Brown of Paso Robles
Sings before: Stevie Nicks

FRIDAY
Tara Twisselman of Santa Margarita
Sings before: Bob Dylan

SATURDAY
Celestina Ripley of Greenfield
Sings before: Daughtry

SUNDAY
Marie Pyle of Santa Maria
Sings before: Godsmack
Also performing are: Kyla Norton of Atascadero (Monday), Callie Twisselman of Cholame (Tuesday), Julie Beaver of Paso Robles (Wednesday), Aimee DeGuzman of Nipomo (Aug. 2), Fascinatin’ Rhythm of San Luis Obispo (Aug. 3), Madison Stowell of Atascadero (Aug. 4), Alicia Eatherly of Atascadero (Aug. 5) and Jennifer Eckerman of Paso Robles (Aug. 5).

All concerts are at the Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Ave. in Paso Robles. Call 239-0655 or visit the Mid-State Fair Web site for more information.

-- Sarah L.

Ready to rock?

Your band could open for heavy metal favorite Godsmack at the California Mid-State Fair.
Fair officials are looking for local musicians interested in opening for Godsmack, which plays Sunday, July 29, at the main grandstand in Paso Robles.
The winning band will perform a 20-minute opening set. They’ll also meet the members of Godsmack and score ten tickets to the show.
First and second runners-up receive signed copies of Godsmack’s most recent album, “Godsmack IV.”
Nominated for three Grammy Awards, Godsmack soared to success in the late 1990s with hard-hitting songs like “Whatever,” “Keep Away,” “Voodoo” and “Bad Religion.
Three of their albums — their self-titled debut, “Awake” and “Faceless” — went platinum.
Godsmack’s 2006 album, “Godsmack IV” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 record sales chart.
Chances are, you’ve also heard the band on the silver screen. Godsmack appears on the soundtracks of "Any Given Sunday," "The Scorpion King," "Mission: Impossible II" and "Scream 3" as well as commercials for the U.S. Navy.

To enter your band for consideration, send a DVD or MPEG with two songs from a show performed in the last year to:
KURQ FM
Attn: Andy Winford
51 Zaca Lane, No. 100
San Luis Obispo, California, CA 93401

Call Andy Winford at 545-0101 for more information.

Stars, stripes and song

You hear it everywhere — at baseball games, rock concerts and high school graduations. It’s familiar, yet moving. Sweet and surprisingly easy to mangle.
And chances are, you only know the first verse.
Officials at the California Mid-State Fair are searching for local singers to belt out "The Star-Spangled Banner" in front of thousands of music fans this summer.
Performers will sing the national anthem a capella before Main Grandstand Arena shows.
That could mean a chance to meet some of the fair’s stars, including Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Martina McBride and “American Idol” fan favorite Chris Daughtry.
Participants say performing the national anthem is a great way to gain experience and confidence about public singing.
“I could never get bored with the national anthem. I like it,” Paso Robles High School grad Briana McPartlan told The Tribune last year. She’s sung the national anthem at the fair three times.
Fair officials recommend that singers have experience singing for large groups, but auditions are open to all area residents. Past performers include an accountant, a personal trainer, a music teacher and a beauty salon owner.
The California Mid-State Fair runs July 25 through Aug. 5 at the Paso Robles Event Center. This year’s theme is “Country Days and Rockin’ Nights.”

Interested?
Send a VHS videotape or DVD showing your performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to: California Mid-State Fair, Attn: Nancy Paasch, P.O. Box 8, Paso Robles, CA 93447.
All entries must be received by Friday, June 22, at 5 p.m. Tapes will not be returned.
For more information, call the fair administration office at 239-0655.

-- Sarah L.

It's true: "Mr. Tambourine Man" coming to Paso Robles

The rumors are true: Bob Dylan is blowing through to the California Mid-State Fair.
Fair officials confirmed Monday — nearly a week after The Tribune initially broke the news — that the music legend will perform in Paso Robles on July 27.
Expect to shell out $26 to $52 to see him perform on the main grandstand stage.
Known for his gravelly voice, anti-establishment politics and mercurial music career, Dylan released his 44th album, "Modern Times," in 2006.
His numerous hits, which have garnered him Grammy Awards and an Oscar, include "Blowin' in the Wind," "The Times They Are A-Changin'", "Like a Rolling Stone" and "All Along the Watchtower." He’s also one of the most covered contemporary artists, with U2, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Guns ’n’ Roses doing versions of his songs.
As the Tribune’s April 24 article noted, Dylan is a familiar face in San Luis Obispo County. He played the fair’s grandstand in 2003 and in 1986 — the earlier show as part of a tour with fellow rock legend Tom Petty. Dylan also performed at Cal Poly in 1996 and 2000.
His son, Jakob Dylan, performed at the fair in 1998 and 2005 with his band, The Wallflowers.
Also announced as performing at this year’s California Mid-State Fair are “American Idol” favorite Chris Daughtry, jazz instrumentalist Chris Botti and Christian rock band Jars of Clay.
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 18.

-- Sarah L.