01.24.2012
January 17, 2012, Monterey, CA. The Turf Club Music Series at the Monterey County Fairgrounds is being launched to benefit the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit organization). The Turf Club Music Series will provide an intimate new venue for professional live music events with top nationally and internationally known entertainers. It is also designed to publicize and bring the community to the beautiful Monterey County Fairgrounds and the Turf Club, located at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey. Publicist Wendy Brickman and concert promoter, Lenny Leon, have teamed up with Kelly Violini, CEO of the Monterey County Fairgrounds, to hold a series of exciting live music events at least once a month in 2012. The first event will be a Mardi Gras Celebration on Saturday, February 18th from 7:00 PM – 12:00 Midnight.
The first show will feature live music with the internationally renowned Persephone’s Bees (www.persephonesbees.com)
featuring former Monterey residents, Tom Ayres and Angelina Moysov. Persephone's Bees' songs have been featured in movies and TV, including "Weeds" and "The Sopranos". After 10 years in the Bay Area, Persephone's Bees recently relocated to NYC and they're bringing their edgy pop sounds to Monterey for your enjoyment. The vocals of Russian-born lead singer Angelina Moysov fall somewhere between Feist and Pink, according to the Onion A/V Club -- who also described their music as "instantly likeable." Also performing is The Amazing Refrigerators featuring Tom Ayres and friends performing good time rocking Mardi Gras music, plus many more surprises to keep you in the Mardi Gras/Carnival spirit. Let the Good Times Roll/Bon Ton Roulet! Come in costume to win great prizes! There will be complimentary delicious Red Beans and Rice, Creole Gumbo and Mardi Gras Drink Specials! Tickets at the door (age 21 and over) are $15/adults and $10/military/students. For more information and to be added to the upcoming concert email list, contact Wendy Brickman at (831) 633-4444 or email brickman@brickmanmarketing.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Saturday, March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day Party with Wake the Dead, (www.wakethedead.org) a Celtic Tribute to the Grateful Dead, on.
Saturday, March 31st is singer/songwriter and country fiddle player, Amanda
Shires (www.amandashires.net)
May 5, 2012 - Cinco de Mayo Party
About Lenny Leon
A longtime music industry professional and concert promoter, Lenny Leon, was involved with booking Doc’s Night Club on Prescott near Cannery Row in Monterey at its peak period from the mid-1990’s – 2001 before Doc’s moved to downtown Monterey. Some of the more well-known acts that Lenny booked included Eric Burdon (Animals), Dave Wakeling (The English Beat), Missing Persons (“Walking in LA), Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross (Lambert, Hendrix and Ross – Clint Eastwood and Diana Krall attended), Dave Alvin (The Blasters), Los Lobos, and many others. He also booked the successful Monterey Live Festival at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. He has been in the music industry for over 30 years and worked in management and marketing with Concrete Marketing in New York City in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Lenny worked with Ozzie Osborne, Bob Dylan, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, AC/DC, and many others. He also did music marketing promotion for Black Olive Records, a local record label that had much national success. Lenny’s longtime experience in the music industry has enabled him to acquire many valuable contacts so he can professionally book the bands and create a successful music concert series. Lenny is dedicated to filling the live music void that many will agree exists in Monterey.
About Wendy Brickman
Wendy Brickman serves on the Monterey County Fair Heritage Board and has handled the publicity/marketing/sponsorships for the Monterey County Fair for four years. She also helped to produce a series of concerts at the Turf Club with Mike Beck and the Bohemian Saints for several months in 2010. She has had an award-winning marketing and public relations firm since 1990 that represents a wide array of clients including the Monterey County Fair, Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival, and hundreds of other for-profit and non-profit organizations. She is a big fan of music and has continually attended concerts in all musical genres since she was a teen. She worked for the Tour Manager of the Doobie Brothers at Studio Instrument Rentals and for Michael Nesmith of the Monkees. She also worked at Paramount Home Video before moving to Monterey. She holds an MBA in Marketing/Management, an MA in Broadcast Journalism and a BA in English from UC Berkeley.
About Kelly Violini
Involved with the Monterey County Fairgrounds since she was a child, Kelly Violini has held the position of CEO at the Monterey County Fair for the past four years. Prior to being named CEO, Kelly was the Deputy Manager for five years. In her position, Kelly is responsible for overseeing the Monterey County Fair, the Monterey Bay Race Place, and all interim activities that are held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds.
A 4th generation Monterey County native, Kelly has nearly 20 years experience in the Fairs & Expositions industry. She is currently the Central Coast Area Director of the Western Fairs Association and served as Chairperson for 4 years. She serves as the Northern California Board Chair for California Authority of Racing Fairs and is a member of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions. Under her leadership, the Monterey County Fair has won numerous awards within its industry and from local organizations including the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
Kelly also has an extensive background in the agricultural industry. She is a Director for Monterey County Cattle Women and the Cloverbud Leader for Spring 4-H. In 2005, she was voted “Cattle Woman of the Year” by the Monterey County CattleWomen Association.
Kelly is very active in the business community and recently served on the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Monterey County Hospitality Association Board of Directors. She is currently President of the North Fremont Business District of Monterey. The Fairgrounds is a member of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, Carmel Chamber of Commerce, the Monterey County Hospitality Association, and the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Kelly is also a Council Member of the Monterey Business Association. She is a graduate of the Leadership Monterey Peninsula Class of 2003. Kelly Violini grew up in Salinas off of River Road and attended Notre Dame High School. Kelly has a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies and a Teaching Credential from Sacramento State, and a Master's Degree from Chapman University in Education and Curriculum Development. She taught 2nd and 3rd grade for 6 years and in her last year of teaching was a K-6 Reading Specialist and Reading Recovery Teacher.
About Larry Viales
As owner/operator of Monterey Bay Sound (www.montereybaysound.com), Larry has been an audio professional since 1987. He was head engineer at Dock Ricketts Lab on Prescott (Cannery Row) for 12 years and was head engineer at Planet Gemini (Cannery Row) for 5 years. Larry has worked with hundreds of national and international performers, and worked hundreds of shows with Monterey Bay area bands. He is dedicated to providing professional, reliable service, and the best possible sound for every event.
About The Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation
The Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation supports the functions of the Monterey County Fair and its mission. Primarily, the Heritage foundation funds capital improvements at the Fairgrounds in addition to special projects such as School Tour Day and Special Friends Day. The program benefits Monterey County through increased ag literacy by educating school children about where their food and fiber comes from, encouraging health, nutrition and fitness. For more information, go to www.montereycountyfair.com or call (831) 372-5863.
Check it out on Facebook: Turf Club Music Series
01.23.2012
January 23, 2012, MONTEREY, CA – Competing against many Fairs located throughout the West Coast, the Monterey County Fair has announced that it recently won five prestigious awards in Anaheim at the Western Fairs Association (WFA) Annual Awards ceremony. Founded in 1922, each year the WFA conducts contests for its Fair members which recognize and reward excellence. All contests are judged by WFA member representatives and professionals from respective fields.
The awards for the Monterey County Fair included a 1st place New Children’s Program Award for the “Growums program at the 2011 Fair. The Fair won 2nd place for Television Advertising for its humorous television ad. The Monterey County Fair also won three 3rd place awards for the Fair brochure (“Any Other Advertising Piece), the Monterey National Horse Show (Non-Fair Event Sponsored by the Fairgrounds) and the Beerfest Partnership (Overcoming Challenges/Innovative Fundraising).
The Monterey County Fairgrounds is a premiere event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility. The Monterey County Fair is the 7th District Agricultural Association of the State of California and was recently featured on California’s Golden Fairs with Huell Howser that aired nationally on PBS Television. The “Very Berry Extraordinary: 2012 Monterey County Fair will be held on August 29-September 3, 2012. For more information or to become a sponsor of the 2012 Monterey County Fair, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or www.montereycountyfair.com.
