CHEAP STUFF : Outdoor Summer Concerts Are Music to the Ears

Summertime doesn’t ensure cheap fun. A simple pleasure such as going to the beach can cost $7 in parking fees alone. For big families, the price of an amusement park or even movie tickets can be prohibitive.

To the rescue of those with limited budgets comes the summer concert in the local park, offering a chance to picnic during a lazy afternoon or a cozy evening while listening to live music. The concerts, offered free or for a small donation (cheap at $2), feature music as diverse as mariachi and Dixieland, surf and chamber music.

Although cities throughout the county have been hit hard by budget cuts this year, the concerts are going on as scheduled, many of them supported partly or entirely by corporate sponsorship, private donations and grants.

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a picnic meal and blankets or beach chairs. Organizers for several events advise arriving early to get a good spot. Alcohol is prohibited at all of the concerts.

Many cities already have their summer concert series underway, but the following lists some of the performances scheduled for the rest of the season:

BREA

* City Hall Park, 401 S. Brea Blvd. (714) 990-7735. Concerts every Wednesday, 6:30 to 8 p.m. The public swimming pool is also open during those hours. July 22, Norman Major Dixieland Band; July 29, the Alley Cats (‘50s a cappella quartet); Aug. 5, the Mustangs (country); Aug. 12, Instant Replay (surf music and classic rock); Aug. 19, El Mariachi Zacatecas; Aug. 26, U.S. Marine Corps Band.

BUENA PARK

* Community Recreation Center, 8150 Knott Ave. (714) 562-3888. Concerts every Wednesday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 22, Fullerton College Community Band with director Larry Lowder; July 29. Frank Amoss and the Mississippi Mudders (Dixieland); Aug. 5, Uclatan (mariachi); Aug. 12, Acousticats (bluegrass and folk); Aug. 19, Double Trouble Country Rose Western Band. Summer finale special 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, Cypress Pops Orchestra with director John Hall and the Buena Park Community Chorus with director John Faller.

CYPRESS

* Civic Center Green 5275 Orange Ave. (714) 229-6780. Concerts are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Some concerts are co-sponsored by Target stores. Aug. 8, the Mississippi Mudders; Aug. 15 and Sept. 12, Cypress Pops Orchestra.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

* Recreation Center, 16400 Brookhurst St. (714) 839-8611. Concerts from 6:30 to 8 p.m. July 16, Popular Demand (classic rock); Aug. 6, Long Beach Community Band (big band and show tunes).

HUNTINGTON BEACH

* Huntington Beach Central Park Amphitheatre at Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue. (714) 536-5258. Concerts every Sunday, from 2 to 3 p.m. July 19, City of Orange Symphonic Band and Jazz Dance Band (pop/show tunes and light classics); July 26, Huntington Beach Concert Band (show tunes and patriotic music).

IRVINE

* Wednesdays in the Park Series sponsored by Winthrop Management. (714) 851-1660. Concerts from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 22, Bobby Cochran and the Rhythm Rockers (oldies); July 29, Kevyn Lettau and Friends (Latin jazz).

LA MIRADA

* City Hall Park, 13700 La Mirada Blvd. (213) 943-7277. Concerts from 6:30 to 8 p.m. July 16, Society Swing (‘40s and ‘50s music); July 30, Somewhere in Time (folk music); Aug. 13, Leon Guide Band (pop); Aug. 27, Howard Reynold’s Big Band.

NEWPORT BEACH

* Jazz Series ’92 sponsored by Fashion Island in the Neiman Marcus/Broadway Courtyard, 600 Newport Center Drive. (714) 721-2022. Concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. July 16, Keiko Matsui; July 23, Flora Purim and Airto; July 30 Da Siegel with the Maxx Band; Aug. 6, Stix Hooper and Viewpoint with special guest Juan Carlos Quintero; Aug. 31, Rob Mullins’ All Stars; Aug. 20, The Leading Edge; Aug. 27, Poncho Sanchez.

ORANGE

* Hart Park Bandshell, 701 S. Glassel St. (714) 744-7272. Concerts from 7 to 8 p.m. July 29, Orange County Junior Pops Orchestra; Aug. 19, Orange Symphonic Band.

PLACENTIA

* Tri-City Park, 2301 Kramer Blvd. (714) 993-8232. Concerts from 4 to 5 p.m. Aug. 2, Mariachi Tlaquepaque; Sept. 6, Pandemonium (steel drum); Oct. 4, Smokewood (country and bluegrass).

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

* 31495 El Camino Real. (714) 493-1752. Concerts 7 and 9 p.m. A $2 donation per person is requested. Aug. 1, Klebber Jorge & Brazilliant (samba and bossa nova); Aug. 22, Huayucaytlia (Andean New Age jazz); Sept. 5 Marcos Ariel (Brazilian New Age jazz pianist).

SANTA ANA

* Concerts are Sundays, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., throughout the city. (714) 571-4203. July 26, the Al Sanada Band at Birch Park, 210 N. Birch St.; Aug. 9, Children’s Musical Variety at Centenniel Park, 3000 W. Edinger St.; Aug. 16, the Alienz at Thornton Park, 1801 W. Segerstrom.

SEAL BEACH

* The 18th annual Seal Beach Chamber Music Festival at McGaugh School Auditorium, 1698 Bolsa Ave. (310) 431-3447. Sponsored by the Haydn Orchestra. Donations are accepted. Concerts every Thursday, from 8 to 10 p.m. July 16, cellist Alan Parker and pianist John Jensen performing Brahms Sonata in E minor, Hendemith Sonata Opus 11; July 23, pianist Mark Sullivan playing selections from Beethoven, Ravel and Chopin; July 30, winner of Young Artist Guild Competition--to be announced; Aug. 6, pianist Max Levinson playing selections from Schubert, Schoenberg, Bach and Ravel; Aug. 13, Pacific Trio featuring violinist Endre Balogh, cellist John Walz and pianist Edith Orloff performing works by Beethoven, Martineau and Dvorak.

TUSTIN

* Peppertree Park at 1st and C streets. (714) 544-8890. Concerts from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Parking available in Tustin Unified School District Lot on B Street. Co-sponsored by the Irvine Co., Pacific Bell, Great Western Reclamation, Tustin Hospital Medical Center, Silicon Systems and Signature Salon. July 22, All Southern California Concert Band; July 29, Howard Reynolds and the Big Band Sounds; Aug. 5, the Stingers (‘60s and ‘70s); Aug. 12, El Toro U.S. Marine Corps Band.

WESTMINSTER

* The Concerts in the Park series takes place throughout city parks every Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (714) 895-2860. Nonprofit service groups will sell sandwiches, snacks and desserts. July 16, Hooray for Hollywood & Horseshoe Review at Civic Center Sunken Gardens, 8200 Westminster Blvd., and Dia de la Familia (Latin music) at Sigler Park 7200 Plaza St.; July 30, Mike Henebry Orchestra (big band) at Civic Center Sunken Gardens; Aug. 6, Children’s Concert at Park West Park, 8301 McFadden Ave.; Aug. 13, Hot Frogs Jumping Jazz Band at Civic Center Sunken Gardens; Aug. 20, Men’s Harmony Barbershop Chorus and the Nicholson Pipes & Drums (Scottish) at the Civic Center Gardens; Aug. 27, Andy Rau Blue Grass Band at Gillespie Park, 9801 McFadden St.; Sept. 3, Huntington Beach Community Band at Civic Center Gardens.

YORBA LINDA

* Hurless Barton Park Amphitheater, 4601 Casa Loma Ave. (714) 961-7160. Every Sunday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be sold to benefit the Women’s Club. July 19, Instant Replay (‘60s hits); July 26, Twentieth Century Jazz Band; Aug. 2, Alley Cats (‘50s doo-wop); Aug. 9, Verdugo Swing Society; Aug 16, Jazz Caribe (calypso and reggae); Aug 23, Kelela (pop); Aug 30, Long Beach Community Band; Sept. 6, Penny Day (country and Western).