photo: Jamie Manser
This summer Bonnie Vining, founder of the non-profit Live Acoustic Venue Association (LAVA), has the perfect staycation for weather-weary Tucsonans seeking escape from the urban heat island effect. It’s free. It’s family-friendly. It’s Music on the Mountain, an outdoor concert series held on Mount Lemmon in Summerhaven Sunday afternoons at 1 pm all July and August.
“I’m just a music lover who enjoys sharing music I love,” says Vining, who from 2004 to 2008 booked bands at the now-defunct Javalina’s Coffee and Friends before selling the café. Realizing she missed being involved in the local music scene, Vining formed LAVA and organized acoustic music showcases at Beaudry RV Park, Pantano Stables and Civano Neighborhood Center, among other locales. Music on the Mountain then began as a way to revitalize Summerhaven as a summer destination after an Aspen Fire-related visitor exodus.
Music on the Mountain features Tucson acts such as The Kevin Pakulis Band on July 4 and The Last Call Girls on August 22, with intervening weeks held down by The Wyatts, Strait Country and more. “Bring a lawn chair, sunscreen, and money to buy some great food and drinks,” Vining encourages.
Check out LavaMusic.org for details on all the bands scheduled to perform this summer.
