Summer Strummer Music Festival, September 17, noon
With exciting acts such as The Donnas, John Doe, The Vacation, Matthew Sweet and Agent Orange on tap, the Upcoming Summer Strummer Music Festival is certain to be a definite hoot. Make your way on down to Santa Monica’s historic Bergamot Station for a day of rocking, dancing and flat-out partying. Enjoy the day with that special somebody in tow, or simply make some new friends while grooving to the 36 bands or so on three stages. Lots of great refreshments will be available, too. Don’t forget your belly shirt!
Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., 213.480.3232, www.myspace.com/thesummerstrummer, www.ticketmaster.com, $25
Al Stewart, September 16, 8pm
The last time I saw Al Stewart perform was at the Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills, where he opened for Donovan. Bad idea for the “D man.” Stewart literally blew him off the stage. With his entertaining stories and extensive catalog of seventies and eighties offerings such as “Year of the Cat,” “Time Passages,” “Running Man” and “Here in Angola,” the Glasgow, Scotland native brings a likeability and humor to his live performances that are quite infectious. The warmth and down-home looseness of Santa Monica treasure, McCabe’s Guitar Shop, is the perfect venue to enjoy this very talented, classic singer/songwriter.
McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Blvd., 310.828.4497, www.mccabes.com, $20