Music ranging from classic R&B and funk to Latin, freestyle and old-school favorites filled River Bluff Regional Park on Saturday afternoon into the evening as the third annual Ceres Music Fest brought an extensive lineup of performers to the city.
The all-ages festival was held from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday at River Bluff Regional Park on Hatch Road, with music scheduled from noon to 7 p.m. In addition to live entertainment, the event featured food and merchandise vendors, a beer garden and margarita and michelada stations.
The event was sponsored and organized by the Doghouse Taproom in Ceres. The event was promoted by Tony and Connie Escobedo as a celebration of the idea that “music is universal,” with the wide-ranging lineup reflecting that theme. Advance early-bird tickets at $20 apiece sold out before the event, while general admission, children’s and VIP tickets were also offered at $40, $12 and $125 respectively.
Rosalinda Vierra, a member of the Ceres City Council, attended to enjoy the music and dance and noted that attendance seemed less than last year and surmised that unseasonably hot temperatures approaching 100 degrees had a lot to do with it.
With nationally recognized performers joining regional and tribute acts, Saturday’s Ceres Music Fest transformed River Bluff Regional Park into an outdoor concert venue and gave local music fans an opportunity to hear familiar songs spanning R&B, funk, freestyle, Latin and old-school music without leaving the Ceres area.
The Odd Eights, an eclectic, two-piece indie-rock and alternative-rock band based in Stanislaus County) was the opening act infusing high energy from the outset.
Among the biggest names on the bill was Troop, the R&B vocal group best remembered for hits including “All I Do Is Think of You,” “Spread My Wings” and “Sweet November.”
Also appearing was Raydio, the funk and R&B group founded by Ray Parker Jr. The group scored major hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s with songs such as “Jack and Jill” and “You Can’t Change That.”
Adding a strong California flavor to the festival was A Lighter Shade of Brown, the Latin hip-hop group known for “On a Sunday Afternoon,” “Latin Active” and “Homies.” The lineup also included Afro-Rican, known for the dance hit “Give It All You Got,” and freestyle singer Timmy T, whose “One More Try” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
Freestyle artist Nyasia, known for songs including “Now & Forever” and “Who’s Got Your Love,” was also among the performers. Other scheduled acts included Artie the 1 Man Party, Brandon Michael, Joey Kidd, Los Reales Del Norte, a Selena tribute performed by Mayra Alejandra, and The Michael Jackson Experience featuring Q Star, a local resident.
The festival offered an unusually diverse mix of musical styles, bringing together performers associated with several decades of popular music.
The Escobedos took time to reflect on the success of the concert in a Facebook post: “When we started this crazy idea, we never could have imagined what it would grow into. What we saw this weekend wasn’t just a music festival — it was people coming together, families and friends making memories, strangers becoming friends, and our community showing up to celebrate together.
“There are so many moving pieces behind an event like this, and there were definitely moments when we wondered, ‘What did we get ourselves into?’ But then we looked out at the crowd, heard the music, saw everyone smiling, dancing and having a good time… and it all became worth it.”
