Pub Crawl to Feature New Folks

Encouraged by the results of his first attempt at running a concert, a fledgling folk music promoter plans to mount a series of shows at the Rose & Crown British Pub & Restaurant in Anaheim.

Kenneth Zwick, a Costa Mesa attorney and folk musician, took the plunge into promotion last month, staging concerts by the British folk duo of Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle at the Anaheim Rose & Crown and its sister location in San Clemente.

The Anaheim show attracted 90 folk fans, and the San Clemente show drew 42, out of a capacity of 100 at each site, Zwick said.

“I was very pleased” both with the attendance and the way the concerts went, Zwick said. Well aware that there is little money to be made promoting traditional folk music, he said he will continue doing shows to provide a platform for worthy performers--and, as an indirect benefit, to gain exposure for his practice as an entertainment lawyer.

Zwick has added three more bookings in April and May. Andy M. Stewart & Gerry O’Beirne, a veteran Scottish-Irish duo, play two concerts on April 15.

Orange County bluegrass guitar ace Dan Crary performs two concerts on May 1, and English duo Martin and Jessica Simpson appear May 22.

Tickets cost $14 at the door and $12 in advance. (Prices for the Dan Crary shows are $12 at the door, $10 in advance, 6 and 8:15 p.m.).

The Rose & Crown is at 20 S. Anaheim Blvd. Information: (714) 778-5606 or (714) 662-3721.

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OVER AND BACK: A concert trip to Switzerland and Holland awaits country singer Jann Browne this month, but she already has made her homecoming plans. Browne and her band will play May 6 and 7 at the Rio Grande Bar & Grill in the Capistrano Depot, 26701 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano. The second night is a jam night, with musical associates of Browne sitting in as guests.

Browne’s new album, “Count Me In,” will be available at the concerts. Released on Red Moon, a Swiss label, the record will be available here only at Browne’s shows, at least until she is able to arrange for U.S. distribution.

The Laguna Hills-based singer will be keeping good company on her upcoming European tour. Besides Browne and her five-member band, the “Western Beat” tour features Costa Mesa’s Chris Gaffney and his guitarist, Danny Ott, Rosie Flores, the Zydeco Party Band and Alan Whitney.

Browne said that the entire cast will appear on three festival bills; on other nights in the 12-day tour, the entourage will split up, with various performers branching off to do shows of their own in smaller venues.

Fans who can’t stand to wait until May to hear Browne can catch her in concert Wednesday at the Big Stone Lodge in Poway in San Diego County.

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AIDS BENEFIT: Local rock bands Standard Fruit, Giant Ant Farm, Eli Riddle and Willoughby will play a benefit for the California AIDS Ride on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Que Sera, 1923 E. Seventh St., Long Beach. $5. (310) 599-6170.

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MASTER CLASS: After playing a concert at the Coach House on Monday with his band, bluegrass pioneer Ralph Stanley will stay on locally another day to host a banjo workshop at Shade Tree Stringed Instruments in Laguna Niguel on Tuesday. Appearing by himself, the 67-year-old Virginian will demonstrate playing techniques, answer questions and discuss his life and times. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. workshop cost $30 at the door, $25 in advance. (714) 364-5270.