Taste of Newport 2009

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2009 Live Entertainment

The Taste of Newport appeals to all your senses, not just your taste buds! Your ears will be in for a treat as some of the biggest names in entertainment jam on the Taste of Newport Sound Stage. And best of all, live entertainment will be featured continuously throughout the weekend and is included with your admission! So while you’re enjoying some of the best food around, we'll keep the finger-snappin', toe-tappin', foot-stompin tunes going all weekend.

Below is a taste of the headline live entertainment featured this year at the 2009 Taste of Newport. The Taste also features continuous live entertainment, featuring great opening bands listed below...

Entertainment Schedule
For a printable Taste of Newport Sound Stage Bio Sheet and Entertainment Schedule, click here (PDF) >

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18

SUGAR RAY

After a five year hiatus, Sugar Ray is back and better than ever. After headlining the Taste of Newport in 2003, The Orange County natives make their long awaited return with “MUSIC FOR COUGARS,” an exuberant reiteration of the band’s signature sound, with particular focus on songcraft and sonic invention.

As ever, musical styles – from dancehall to disco, punk to pure pop – are mixed and matched, resulting in a celebratory, swaggering collection that is distinctively and delightfully Sugar Ray. Songs like the buoyant first single, “Boardwalk,” or the Rivers Cuomo-penned “Love Is the Answer” are fit to burst with the wit and energy that once saw the band rule over the Top 10.

Sugar Ray can claim credit for some of the most indelible pop hits of the previous decade, including the unforgettable #1 smashes, “Fly” and “Every Morning,” as well as several breezily infectious singles such as "Someday", "When It’s Over", "Falls Apart" and "Answer the Phone." They have been featured on numerous television shows including The Today Show, as well as video play on MTV and VH-1.

Sugar Ray was in fact quite active during their hiatus, busting out the hits at private corporate events, county fairs, and countless summer festivals, but by 2008, the band was itching to get back into the studio. The band’s longtime friend, producer Josh Abraham (Velvet Revolver, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park), invited them to cut a new album for his just-launched label, Pulse Recordings.

From the get-go, Sugar Ray has gleefully traversed all musical boundaries, for no other reason than it tickled their artistic fancy. Sugar Ray are now getting set to take their classic songs – both new and old – on the road for their first full-scale tour in many a moon. Its myriad artistic successes aside, “MUSIC FOR COUGARS” allows the band to live up to its mission statement from the very beginning – to hang out together and make high-energy rock ‘n’ roll.

The Taste of Newport featured Sugar Ray in 2003 and it still holds the record for best attendance, so this year should be THE place to be on Friday night with Sugar Ray!

Also Appearing on Friday, September 18

The music on Friday kicks off the Taste of Newport with a bang, featuring two great opening bands, including THE L.A. ALLSTARS with an energetic, party packed show of pop and funk from the 70s to today. Then, straight out of Huntington Beach, THE DIRTY HEADS take the stage, with their own blend of hip-hop and classic reggae ripping through the sonic surf with bold beats, fun rhythms and the relaxed vibe of feel-good lyrics.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19

TRAIN

Grammy Award-winning rock band Train was formed in San Francisco and to date, three of their albums have peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and have sold a total of over 4 million albums in the US. Three of their songs have been top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including their biggest hit "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)." Train has found success on modern adult contemporary radio stations, where they have had eight songs in the top 20 of the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart, including "Calling All Angels."

The group started out in San Francisco with only two members, and by 1997 they were touring nationally, opening concerts for groups such as Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows.

Their song "Free" saw significant airplay on mainstream rock radio, later being featured in the TV show Party of Five. Train then released the song "Meet Virginia" as a single. The song became a major hit on modern adult contemporary radio stations, and became a top 20 pop hit. The success of "Meet Virginia" helped their album graduate from the Top Heatseekers chart and enter the top half of the Billboard 200 album chart.

Prior to the release of their second album, the band issued the single "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". The song entered the Hot 100 on March 10, 2001, and spent over a year on the chart (53 weeks) before being relegated to the recurrents chart. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement.

The album Drops of Jupiter was released on March 27, 2001, and became Train's first multiplatinum album, due in part to the strength of the leading single. The album was Train's first top 10 album, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard 200. The album was also a top 10 hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 8.

Saturday night at the Taste of Newport is always a great night with fantastic rock and roll, so make plans to join us with Train!

Also Appearing on Saturday, September 19

The music never stops on Saturday at the Taste of Newport. First, a regular at Disneyland and having played to over 15 million fans over the years, INSTANT REPLAY will bring high energy rock and pop to the stage. Then, THE L.A. ALLSTARS will kick in with a party packed show of pop and funk from the 70s to today and everything in between.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 20

American Idol Winner

David Cook

Just one week after being named the winner of the seventh season of "American Idol," 25-year-old David Cook rewrote chart history, with a record-breaking 14 debuts on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs survey. He also had 11 songs jump onto the Hot 100, the highest number of new entries ever, and the second-highest amount of simultaneous hits since the Beatles in 1964. All that, and his single, "The Time of My Life," instantly became the highest debuting title of 2008, entering the Hot 100 at No. 3.

     When this most recent season of "American Idol" began, Cook wasn't on anyone's radar to win the whole thing - including his own. "I like that I 'snuck up' on people," he says. "During those early shows, when there were 24 people, I knew I didn't have to be one of the best, but I didn't want to be one of the worst. So it was fun for me because there wasn't a lot of pressure and I could find my own footing."
     Cook won fans with his unique renditions of songs like Lionel Richie's "Hello," Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." He explains, "When I began, I told vocal coach Debra Byrd I wanted the season to be like a set list, so people would feel like they were at one of my concerts."
     It was May 21, 2008 when at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, Ryan Seacrest pronounced David Cook the winner of "American Idol."
     It's all come with lessons learned, according to Cook. "The whole process has given me a brand-new lease on life in that I am more sure of who I am now that ever before. I've learned that when I'm singing live on stage to embrace that moment and if doesn't work, it's OK, move on."
The Taste of Newport is excited about welcoming its first American Idol winner to the sound stage - David Cook!

Also Appearing on Sunday, September 20

Opening for the Taste of Newport on Sunday is local singer/songwriter JEFF WRIGHT, college & concert hall favorite, entertaining audiences with his reedy tenor & distinctive blend of alternative/pop songs. Then, Taste audiences will enjoy the WILD CHILD, a celebration of Jim Morrison and Doors, frequently hailed as the best Doors tribute band anywhere.

Also on Sunday, Taste fans will be pleased to know that THE DEREK BORDEAUX GROUP will be returning once again. A regular to the Taste Stage, Derek and the guys will bring their own blend of soulful R & B and Motown sure to bring you to your feet. Finally, young, energetic rockers THE BOLTS return to the Taste, making waves and playing to screaming audiences all over Southern California. Sunday at the Taste will be THE place to move and groove.

Here is a list of some of the great entertainers that have played at the Taste of Newport in past years.

Ambrosia (‘93, ‘95)
Average White Band (‘90)
The B-52's ('05)
The Bangles (‘01)
B.J. Thomas (‘96)
Berlin (‘00, ‘04)
The Beach Boys (‘00, ‘03)
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (‘02)
Billy Vera & the Beaters (‘89–’93, ‘95)
Blondie (‘04)
Buffalo Springfield (‘91)
Christopher Cross (‘92)
The Classic Rockers (‘00, ‘01)
Kevin Costner and Modern West ('07)
The Coasters (‘93)
The Commodores (‘98)
Derek Bordeaux (Many years)
DEVO ('07)
The Diamonds (‘92, ‘94)
Disco Inferno (‘03)
Eddie Money (‘97)
FireFall (‘92, ‘95)
The Go-Go's (' 06)
The Guess Who (‘96)
Harry James Orchestra (‘94)
Hootie and the Blowfish ('05)
Huey Lewis and the News ('07)
Ink Spots (‘91)
Juice Newton (‘91, ‘94)
Jack Mack and the Heart Attack (‘90, ‘92, ‘94-97)
KC and the Sunshine Band (‘96, ‘97, ‘01)
Kool and the Gang (‘00, ‘02)
Kenny Loggins ('06)
The L.A. Allstars (many years)
Macy Gray ('05)
The Al McKay Allstars present the Music of Earth, Wind and Fire ('07)
Men at Work (‘99)
Michael McDonald (‘02)
Missing Persons (‘99)
Pat Benatar (‘98)
Poncho Sanchez (‘90)
The Pointer Sisters (‘99)
Rick Springfield (‘98)
REO Speedwagon (‘99)
Sergio Mendez (‘95)
Smashmouth ('06)
Starship (‘93, ‘95, ‘98)
Stix Hooper Jazz (‘89, ‘90)
Studebaker Hawk (‘98, ‘99)
Styx (‘08)
Sugar Ray (‘03)
Super Diamond (‘03, ‘04)
Third Eye Blind (‘08)
Three Dog Night (‘94)
Toto (‘01)
UB40 (‘08)
The Ventures (‘89)
Wang Chung (‘00)

If you have any question regarding the
Taste of Newport please contact the
Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce
at (949) 729-4400 or
eMail the Information Desk.

Admission includes all musical entertainment. Due to the size of the event, advance ticket orders may cease at any time prior to the event. Children 8 years and under will be admitted free. However, the promoters of this event stress that due to the high volume of people at the event, parents are discouraged from bringing young children in strollers on Friday or Saturday night. Beach chairs, coolers and personal beverages are strictly prohibited at the Taste of Newport. Bags are subject to search. Health code requirements prohibit animals at the event (special assistance animals are permitted). Failure to comply will result in denial of admission to the event.