Standing, from left to right, Ed Moore and Phil Mathewson; sitting, from left to right, Michael Brennigan, Lavonne Moore and Karen Priest. Photo by Joanne Bateni.

LOWER LAKE – There was a traffic jam in the vineyard as all the musicians unloaded their equipment for the free Friday night concert, Aug. 10 at the Tuscan Village in Lower Lake.

This week, instead of the usual single performer, four different performing acts took the stage and kept things hopping for three hours.

Phil Mathewson opened with a few of his original Lake County songs, including "Pine Grove" and "Lake County, CA."

Then Ed and Lavonne Moore came up to sing a few country tunes including "Bobbie McGee" and "Have I Told You Lately that I Love You." Ed played the guitar and harmonica while Lavonne sang and strummed her guitar.

Then CLPSO came on stage. That stands for Clear Lake Park Symphony Orchestra. Karen Priest; singer-guitarist, Chris Laubenthal; keyboard player, singer-songwriter; and Tony Jarvis, bass player, are founding members.

Karen sang her own songs "Sailing" and "Who Knows What the Mole Knows" and Chris accompanied Karen on keyboard and sang and played a few solos as well.

The Moores came back with "Your Cheating Heart," "Cotton Fields" and "Little Darling."

Michael Brennigan, who can play five instruments, played a Bulgarian folk dance on his tambuca, which is a Bulgarian guitar. Ed Moore insisted he saw Zorba the Greek dancing in the vineyard during the tune, or maybe his ghost. Michael then sang some old Spanish poetry that he had put to music.

Phil came back wearing and singing about his "Walking Shoes." The audience seemed to identify with the lyrics of "Lakeport Blues" and tapped their feet to "Lakeport Polka."

"Y'all Come" was done by the Moores with help from Phil. Karen Priest sang "Forever" another one of her originals. There was a request for "Little GTO" and that became the grand finale with everyone on the small stage singing and strumming.

The show ended on a quiet note with William Schlick, wearing a tie-dye suit from his onsite tie-dye shop, reciting the entire "Ode to a Nightingale" by Keats from memory. The capacity crowd reluctantly headed home with one member, Charlie, sitting on the edge of the stage and playing his guitar and singing while the musicians packed up.

Phil and Friends may be back in September and will be at Café Victoria in Lakeport next Saturday, Aug. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Dennis Milliken is booked at the Tuscan Village next Friday, Aug. 17, and Dave Hooper, guitar, harmonica player and singer-songwriter, fresh from Austin City Limits, will be on stage Aug. 24. A special concert will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 21, featuring Don Kaufmann and his band.

Call 2Goombas at 994-DELI (3354) for updates or check terrillcellars.com.

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