Downtown's weekly farmers market and monthly art walks are two places to sample local musicians,
as is the Stockton Ballpark. Stockton promoter Middagh Goodwin wants bands with a mellower sound
to perform at the monthly Art Walk, as well as acoustic musicians to play at Java Aroma,
2233 Grand Canal Blvd. For more information, e-mail beathappymusic@aol.com or
check out www.myspace.com/stocktonrocks.

Auditions also will be held this summer at Valley Brewing Co. for local musicians to perform
at the ballpark before Thursday-night Stockton Ports games.

Still, the number of live music venues in Stockton pales in comparison with some similar-sized cities.
The homepage for the Modesto Area Music Association lists more than 20 venues that support
local music there.

Goodwin, 39, who has been promoting area shows for two decades, said fans should expect
the recent increase in concerts to be the start of a local music explosion.

"The flux and wane of the local music scene is frustrating. You know even when it's going really well,
right around the corner, you'll have dry times," he said. "We all hope things are coming. ...
There's talk of good things going on. Until we have it established for a nice run when
everybody's supportive, it's just a musical rain. We'll get a musical drought soon."

NYT: Music by a Stockton native's band is on a CD recently featured in The New York Times.
Massachusetts punk group A Hero Next Door, founded by bassist and Stockton native Ryan Secor,
is part of the "Dorm Sessions Volume 3" compilation CD.

The album, released by the Berklee College of Music's Heavy Rotation Records, was featured in
an April 23 Times article about student-run record labels. A Lincoln High School alumnus, Secor, 22,
is set to graduate from Berklee in May with a degree in music business. For more, check out
www.berklee.edu/music/dormsessions3.html or www.aheronextdoor.com.

Show: Local metal band Split Personnel will open for nationally known rocker Bif Naked on Saturday
at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles. For more, check out www.splitpersonnel.com.

Latin: The Cinco de Mayo party continues this weekend at La Spranza, with the Latin jazz
and R&B sounds of Bobby Escovedo and Friends. The group will perform at 9 p.m. Friday
and Saturday. Cover is $7, and ladies are admitted free before 10 p.m.

Fair: "American Idol" finalist Bo Bice, comedian Sinbad and classic-rock band Styx are among
those slated to perform in June at the San Joaquin County Fair.

The fair announced its concert schedule last week. Also performing: the Beach Boys,
Three Dog Night, Tracy Lawrence, Los Originales de San Juan, the Four Tops, War, Little Texas
and Chelo Y Yeni. For more, check out www.sanjoaquinfair.com.

Calendar: This week at the Amaraen Cafe, 1720 Pacific Ave.: Arcanum and a second band, 6 p.m.
Wednesday; Little Jeans, Astrid and Stadium Drive, 5 p.m. Thursday; and These Words Kill,
Elysia and Mean Streets, 6 p.m. Friday.

Rockers Variation, Blesk and Burgandy will take the stage at 7 p.m. Friday at the 180 Teen Center,
17 W. Lockeford St., Lodi. Cover is $5, and the show is open to those 21 and younger.

Indie bands A Colourado and Little Jeans will play a free concert at 8 p.m. Friday at Borders,
10776 Trinity Parkway.

Peaceable Jones will perform a free show at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Rusty Hook,
955 E. Yosemite Ave., Manteca. The show is open to those 21 and older.

Contact reporter Ian Hill at (209) 943-8571 or ihill@recordnet.com

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