Summer is in full swing, the Fourth of July holiday is at our doorstep. Here is a quick rundown of what you’ll have to choose from on the musical side of the celebration.

My top pick is at the Seaside City Hall where the White Album Ensemble will headline the afternoon’s entertainment following performances by Yeobo and The Transducers. Beatles’ music performed by the White Album Ensemble is almost always uplifting. The Seaside celebration takes place between 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. anid is free.

On the other hand, the Monterey celebration has a couple of tribute bands that celebrate American musicians and their contributions to our national pride. Besides all the other Americana events like the Pancake Breakfast and the Parade earlier in the day, the lawn at Colton Hall again serves as the place where patriotic celebrants can enjoy the music of The Pfeffers (Alternative Rock/Pop/Top 40 cover tunes and originals), Carnaval! (Santana Tribute Band), Wild at Heart (country and classic rock), and Foreverland (Michael Jackson Tribute Band). The Monterey Big 4th of July Celebration and Backyard Food Fest takes place 10:45 a.m. — 5 p.m., free entry, food for sale.

Carmel has its annual Monterey County Pops! concert on the lawn at Devendorf Park. The 90-minute concert with the nonprofit orchestra dedicated to bringing pops and patriotic music by professional musicians throughout Monterey County begins at 2 p.m. and is opened with a performance by Estillo Efficient under the direction of Eliodoro Vallecillo. Other holiday fun and games will also be presented.

Marina has their July Fourth Block Party featuring the music of The Money Band (Top 40 rock and pop) and Dirty Cello (Blues, Americana & Rock). It takes place at the Marina Airport, 781 Neeson Road from 3:30-9 p.m.

There are other celebrations throughout Monterey County, but these are the ones I can recommend for music and a great party. Another event that has become a semi-annual event for lovers of Led Zeppelin takes place Sunday at Heirloom Pizza Co. at 344 Main St., Old Town Salinas, 8-11 p.m. The Bonzo Show is a celebration of the late, great drummer John Bonham, who with his passing in 1980 signaled the end of the great Zeppelin. There has only been one reunion concert with the remaining three members, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, yet there are numerous tribute bands that draw the band’s fans to continue to revel in their legendary music.

Former local resident, drummer Jason Tobosa, organized the first of these events back in 2021 I believe, just when people were emerging from the pandemic lockdown period. There have been a couple more since and local musicians come out in joyous support and a chance to perform Led Zeppelin’s music with a series of locally based drummers in the driver’s seat.

Last year he made the move from the Monterey Peninsula to Salinas, mostly because the venue is so much better than what is available coast side. Classic Zeppelin songs are played by the core band, Houseband of the Holy (in reference to one of the band’s albums). Members include Tobosa on drums, Donnie Dickman on keyboards, Daniel Lewis, bass; Taylor Safina, vocals; and Joao Brandi on guitar. Special guests are invited up to sit in on various parts of the band, and of course a long list of drummers under the moniker of the Levee Breakers, put their best efforts toward recreating the sound of one of the most powerful and creative rock drummers of all time. Tickets are still available for $10 advanced, and $15 at the door. You can also reserve a table for four for $60. Here’s where to secure you place: https://heirloompizzapie.com/salinas/event/the-bonzo-show-back-by-popular-demand/.

The Golden State Theatre continues to impress with its commitment to bringing top-notch entertainment to our area with big name artists, tribute bands, popular contemporary musicians, comedians and mind expanding lectures/programs that not only entertain our local audience but draws fans from other areas and provides for an added bonus for tourists who come to enjoy our area. The folks there continually add to the lineup so it’s worth having their website in your bookmarks folder, www.goldenstatetheatre.com. For this coming two-week period. you have a couple good Americana style music ensembles to choose from. Unfortunately the Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela had to cancel their appearance.

On Tuesday, The Oak Ridge Boys, a fitting band to appear around the July Fourth holiday week. Described as being synonymous with “Americana, apple pie, baseball and country music,” they’ve sold over 41 million units worldwide and have awards not only in the country music field, but have received five Grammy Awards, nine GMA DOVE Awards and two American Music Awards and can claim more than 30 Top 10 hits. They started out as a gospel quartet in the 1940s, and by the late ‘60s they began to mix rock into their music, grow their hair long and wear bellbottoms. The organization has seen a large number of members coming and going over the years, currently featuring Duane Allen, Richard Sterban, William Lee Golden and Ben James. Some of their hits include “You’re The One,” “Sail Away,” and “Cryin’ Again.” Doors open 7 p.m., concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $62.23-$95.18, available on the venue website listed above.

I know a lot of you are excited about seeing Robert Earl Keen again July 15 at the State. He’s been a staple of the beloved KPIG radio station and has appeared locally numerous times over the years, mostly up in Santa Cruz. I’ve been a big fan and have attended many of his shows put on by Snazzy Productions at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. One in particular I’ll never forget was on the night of the 9/11 attacks. Everyone was pretty stunned, but Keen was a true professional, staying with the gig and bringing us all together with his music and his communications with the audience. It was a solemn evening, yet our spirits were uplifted nonetheless.

The Houston native debuted with his 1984 recording “No Kinda Dancer,” and has since recorded 18 full-length albums. His songs have been covered by many great country, folk and Texas country music musicians, including George Strait, Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, the Dixie Chicks and The Highwaymen. His music spans styles from folk, country and bluegrass to rock, which generally speaking can all be placed under the Americana label where he has had so much success. He’s been inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012 along with Lyle Lovett and the late Townes Van Zandt.

If you’ve been a fan of this great songwriter and performer, you might remember his 2022 Final Tour “I’m Comin’ Home: 41 Years On The Road.” His signature song, “The Road Goes on Forever” was first heard on his third album “West Textures,” and gained even more attention when fellow Texan Joe Ely recorded the song on his 1993 album “Love and Danger,” along with Keen’s song “Whenever Kindness Fails.” Well, evidently at the time he retired from the road, he decided he wasn’t game to be touring the rest of his life. Instead he’s been hosting a popular podcast titled American Podcast and producing music to record and writing a novel. Currently he’s at work on a photography book about his guitar collection and in writing and producing a new album, to be released this year or next. But, yep, he’s come back out on the road headlining a tour that has been active this spring and now into the summer. He did stop to open for his friend Tyler Childers at the Hollywood Bowl and will continue through to Sept. 12 at the Tanglefoot Festival in Temple, Texas.

There are tickets available for this show, with Kolton Moore & the Clever Few opening at 8 p.m., but the better seats are getting scarce, so don’t sit on it. Visit the venue website to purchase yours, ranging in price from $47.81-$107.03.

July 12, Jazz in the Forest takes place at the outdoor Forest Theatre in downtown Carmel, presented by SLV Management as a fundraiser for the Monterey Jazz Education programs. Appearing will be the Monterey Jazz Trading Fours Jazz Ensemble, the Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Vocal Ensemble and Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Big Band. The concert begins at 4 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for those under 18, ticket fees not included. Direct purchase page with more information is https://ci.ovationtix.com/35556/production/1238450?performanceId=11638661.

The Carmel Plaza Summer Music Series gets started on Friday, July 11 as always with The Money Band. This year there are only three concerts, the next one is on July 18 with the Chicano All Stars, and the closing event is Friday, July 25, with The Money Band. Each event has food and drink packages available for $25, only those 21 and over can purchase. Otherwise the free public show is from 5-7 p.m., open to all ages.

Just a quick note on the Summer Solstice party put on by Pebble Beach Food & Wine June 20. I had the chance to attend and enjoy the celebrated chef’s food offerings as well as wine, champagne and tequila, and there was also a couple of whiskey options. Held along the third fairway of the famed Pebble Beach golf links, the attendance was great, the sunny weather held, and the DJ’s choice of music was a blast to bop around to. The next event planned for this fall is titled Whiskey & Fire, Saturday, Nov. 1, 6 — 9 p.m. at The Inn at Spanish Bay. Details are here: https://www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com/event/whiskey-and-fire/.