Steve Vagnini is the kind of guy that follows the sage advice of, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Add to that “when one door closes, another opens.” His recent departure from his long-held position as event coordinator for the Sand City West End Celebration came as a surprise to many, although he was in process to eventually retire from the position. Someone who is well known for putting his all into whatever he works on, Vagnini was surprised by the Sand City City Council’s decision to bypass his plan to train a successor and instead to issue what is known as an RFP (request for proposal). In so many words, his plan didn’t suit the city’s agenda to procure a new event coordinator.

“What was disturbing to me was that I was the last one to find out about it and, in fact, heard the news from various vendors at this year’s West End Celebration,” Vagnini said in a personal statement. “Whereas it has been an honor to work with this event for over two decades and to work with so many great artists, food vendors, nonprofits and musicians I believe that it is best to move on.”

And so he has, building upon a relationship he’s enjoyed with Stephen Moorer from the PacRep Theater organization. For several years they’ve worked together to present a summer music series at Carmel’s outdoor Forest Theater, which is under the supervision of PacRep, and where the theater company presents its biggest musical productions. Music in the Forest more often than not presents local bands on a large professional stage in contrast to the club or restaurant settings the bands are more accustomed to playing.

Recently Vagnini teamed with the Monterey Jazz Festival to bring its “off-festival season” bands, supported through the festival’s education department, to a big stage. It’s a natural for him to do whatever he can to support Monterey County’s youth, as he’s done with the development and ongoing support of the Monterey County chapter of Guitars Not Guns, a program to help at-risk youth find a healthy outlet and fill their free time with music instead of finding trouble.

The next phase of his ongoing love of producing live music events involves a new business designation as SLV Presents. The first event is a co-production with PacRep to feature founding member of The Beach Boys Al Jardine and his Endless Summer Band and the Big Sur-based group called the Big Survivors in two benefit shows for PacRep at the recently completed remodel of the Golden Bough Theater in Carmel. The concerts are Dec. 17-18, 7:30 p.m.

“Stephen has wanted to book Al for quite a while and I helped make it happen,” Vagnini said. “I will be promoting, and, along with Stevie Heger, I will be coordinating the production of the show.”

The Endless Summer Band is Jardine’s vehicle for touring the music of The Beach Boys and other music he’s composed and enjoys performing. The name recalls the famous 1966 surf documentary of the same name, as well the double album compilation of hits The Beach Boys released in 1974. Jardine decided on the name because of his love of the movie that depicts two California surfers traveling the world in search of new surf spots during the colder winter months.

The band has toured all year although it’s not currently on the road. Jardine’s assistant Spud said that the Big Sur resident is excited to end the year with these two intimate shows in his “neighborhood.” Band members are Jardine’s son Matt Jardine on guitar, percussion, backing vocals and lead vocals on select songs. On drums and backing vocals is Bobby Figueroa, on keyboards and backing vocals is Debbie Shair, on bass and backing vocals is Randell Kirsch, and on lead guitar and backing vocals is Probyn Gregory.

Members of the Big Survivors, who are Big Sur locals performing the music of band member Peter Konikowski and who have a new recording coming out early next year, are in addition to Peter, Krystle Konikowski, Shaun Ellen, Benjamin Andrews and Cordell Spencer.

“I’m thrilled to start a new musical chapter and share my creative ideas with you,” Vagnini said from a prepared statement. “Get ready for an amazing journey filled with talent, inspiration and unforgettable moments.”

Besides his collaborations with PacRep, he has been producing occasional shows at Wave Street Studios in Monterey. No doubt, Vagnini will continue to build his programming portfolio to the delight of his many fans and supporters in Monterey’s music-loving community. Cheers Steve!

While in the announcement mode, there are a few other important bits of news to pass along. There are a smattering of tickets left for the (((FolkYeah!))) produced Father John Misty benefit for Big Sur’s Park School to be held at Carmel’s Sunset Cultural Center, Dec. 7. Don’t delay. Buy your tickets online at www.sunsetcenter.org, prices range from $71-$116. Or call the box office at (831) 620-2048.

Also, Good Vibez Presents recently released its first round of artists confirmed for the 14th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival, May 23 -25 at the Monterey Fair & Event Center. Tickets have already gone on sale and usually you can get an Early Bird discount if purchased now, so check it all out at www.californiarootsfestival.com. Bands you can look forward to seeing include Rebelution, T-Pain, Iration, SOJA, Atmosphere, Steel Pulse, Common Kings, Collie Buddz, The Movement, Taurus Riley, Anthony B, The Hip Abduction, Mike Love, Eli-Mac, Bumpin Uglies, Surfer Girl, Landon McNamara, Auroawave, and Dubbest.

“This year’s lineup is packed with so much talent and good vibes, it’s going to be an unforgettable experience,” says Dan Sheehan, festival producer and co-host of Cali Roots Radio on SiriusXM’s The Spectrum. “It’s been incredible to witness the exponential growth of artists like Common Kings, who have truly come into their own right here on our stages. Cultivating and supporting artists has always been a core focus of Cali Roots, and we’re proud to continue creating a space where both emerging and established artists can thrive. We can’t wait for fans to experience what’s in store this year.”

The Sunset Cultural Center has a super double bill Thursday for fans of female singer/songwriters Shawn Colvin & KT Tunstall. Their collaborative program is titled Together on Stage and it’s sure to be a great show. Following fairly close on the heels of the dynamite appearance of the great Bonnie Raitt at the Sunset, these two ladies are less of a blues-based musical mix and more of a folk/rock combination. I’ve enjoyed their music as stand-alone artists for many years and together this should be a knock-out show.

Colvin stopped the music scene in its tracks when she took home the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album for her 1989 debut, “Steady On.” In the 30-plus years since, she has created a remarkable canon of work, released 13 albums, won two more Grammy Awards, written a critically acclaimed memoir, maintained a non-stop national and international touring schedule and appeared on countless television and radio programs.

Having recently been inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, alongside legendary artists and Sunset Center mainstays Lyle Lovett and Buddy Guy, she was feted by none other than Jackson Browne, praising her as “utterly original in her singing, and original in what she speaks about in her songs.”

Tunstall took the music scene by storm in 2004 with her multi-platinum debut album, “Eye to the Telescope,” featuring global hits like “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See.” She is known as both a skilled singer-songwriter and a captivating live performer, balancing the introspection of folk with the sharper edges of rock’n’roll. In recent years the Grammy-nominated artist released a trilogy of records with specific concepts: soul, body and mind.

Tickets, ranging in price from $65-$95, are available online at www.sunsetcenter.org or by calling the box office at (831) 620-2048.

I don’t often get the info for shows at the historic Fox Theater in Salinas, but I did get a heads up for the Anthony Lane Productions show scheduled for Friday with the Los Angeles-based hard rock band Amber Wild. Formed at the onset of 2023, the quartet features lead vocals and guitar from Evan Stanley, the son of KISS’s Paul Stanley.

Cutting their teeth around the L.A. club scene, the group jumped onto the concert scene by virtue of being booked as the opening act for KISS’s farewell tour “End of the Road.” It appears the elder Stanley is passing the torch to his son, and his band mates, guitarist Marshall Via, bassist Jake Massanari and drummer Thomas Lowrey, who have recently released a double “A” side debut single with the songs “Breakout” and “Silver.”

Santa Cruz-based Anthony Arya Band opens the show at 9 p.m. The Fox Theater is located at 241 Main St. in Salinas. Doors open 8 p.m., 21 and over only, general admission tickets are $20, VIP are $30, available through www.tickets831.com. Thursday at The Monterey Music Store there will be a Meet & Greet with Amber Wild at 4 p.m. With the chance to meet the band, you will also get on the VIP guest list for the show Friday at The Fox. Monterey Music Store is located at 419 Alvarado St., downtown Monterey.