Neville Brothers Set to Headline O.C. Fair : Along with the New Orleans group, country and oldies bands will play, for the first time in the Pacific Amphitheatre.

The nightly concerts at the Orange County Fair will have a bigger, fancier venue this year, but the musical slant and the profile of the performers remain about the same.

For the first time, headliners will perform in the 8,500-seat Pacific Amphitheatre, which the fair acquired last year in a $12.5-million buyout of a long-term lease held by the Nederlander Organization.

Among the most interesting performers booked for the 1994 fair, which runs July 8-24, are the Neville Brothers, a heralded R&B; band from New Orleans; rapper Queen Latifah, and the veteran Jamaican reggae group Wailing Souls. As usual, there is a heavy country and oldies accent: Tim McGraw, Kentucky HeadHunters and Three Dog Night are on the list. Also as usual, the musical attractions are not hot-ticket acts but performers who play clubs and small theaters on their regular Southern California tours.

The schedule:

* July 8: Color Me Badd

* July 9: Three Dog Night

* July 10: Queen Latifah

* July 11: Michael McDonald

* July 12: Ben E. King, the Shirelles, Chuck (Tequila) Rio & the Champs, and the Monte Carlos

* July 13: Restless Heart

* July 14: Loverboy

* July 15: Neville Brothers

* July 16: Tom Scott and John Tesch

* July 17: Comedians Kevin Nealon, Steve McGrew and Steve Kelley

* July 18: Kentucky HeadHunters

* July 19: Wailing Souls

* July 20: Tim McGraw

* July 21: Marshall Tucker Band

* July 22: Crystal Gayle

* July 23: Jan & Dean

* July 24: Vicki Carr

In the past, fair headliners would play two shows each night in the 6,000-capacity Arlington Theatre. This year, says fair media officer Jill Lloyd, there will be a single performance each night, at 8. Seating will be on a first-come basis; the amphitheater lawn, which can hold about 11,000 people, will not be used. There will be no charge for the entertainment beyond the regular fair admission, $5 on weekdays and $6 on weekends ($4 advance tickets will be available along with $2 children’s tickets and $3 seniors’ tickets). Information: (714) 708-3247.

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BEACH PARTY: The 12th annual Beach Fest in Long Beach on April 30 and May 1 will offer a feast of local roots music and alternative rock bands. Steve Zepeda, who used to book Bogart’s, is coordinating talent for the event, which will raise money for more than 70 Long Beach charities and social service agencies.

The bands will play on four separate stages each day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; two of the stages will be devoted to roots music and two to alternative rock. A fifth stage will be devoted to hard rock.

The schedule:

April 30:

* Stage 1:

Cisco Poison, 11 a.m.

Sherry Clarke & the All Stars, 12:15 p.m.

The Brophy Dale Band, 1:45 p.m.

The Kid Ramos Band with Stephen Hodges and Joseph Simon, 3:45 p.m.

* Stage 2:

The Eric Ekstrand Ensemble, 11 a.m.

Big Drum with Stephen Hodges, Smokey Hormel and Larry Taylor, 1:30 p.m.

The Gary Eaton Band, 2:45 p.m.

Mystery Train, 4 p.m.

* Stage 3:

Loungefly, 11 a.m.

Honeydust, 12:15 p.m.

The Trouble Dolls, 1:30 p.m.

Joyride, 2:45 p.m.

Cake, 4 p.m.

* Stage 4:

Moving Day, 11 a.m.

Standard Fruit, 12:15 p.m.

National People’s Gang, 1:30 p.m.

Bazooka, 2:45 p.m.

Eli Riddle, 4 p.m.

May 1:

* Stage 1:

The Sun Demons, 11 a.m.

The Rhythm Lords, 12:15 p.m.

Eddie Reed with Johnny Noble and Meghan Ivey, 1:30 p.m.

Big Blue, featuring Lee Rocker, 3:30 p.m.

* Stage 2:

Whistle Bait, 11 a.m.

Russell Scott & the Red Hots, 12:15 p.m.

Top Jimmy & his Blues Band, 1:30 p.m.

Ronnie Mack, 4 p.m.

* Stage 3:

The Grabbers, 11 a.m.

Rule 62, 12:15 p.m.

One Hit Wonder, 1:30 p.m.

Manic Hispanic, 2:45 p.m.

Sublime, 4 p.m.

* Stage 4:

Enduring May, 11 a.m.

Violet Burning, 12:15 p.m.

Lidsville, 1:30 p.m.

Candida, 2:45 p.m.

Water, 4 p.m.

* KNAC Stage:

Toxic Undershorts, noon

Love/Hate, 12:50 p.m.

Blue Murder, 2:10 p.m.

Great White, 3:30 p.m.

Beach Fest will take place at Shoreline Park, at Shoreline Drive and Pine Avenue. Admission: $10 at the gate, $8 in advance via Ticketmaster. Students, military personnel and seniors pay $5. (310) 436-7727.

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A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE: The Righteous Brothers will headline a benefit May 29 for the Orange County Musicians Foundation, which makes cash grants to local musicians and their families during uninsured medical emergencies.

Other performers on the bill at the Airporter Garden Hotel, 18700 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine, include Jann Browne, Derek Bordeaux & Friends and Jason Chase.

The concert will start at 4 p.m. and run through the evening. Tickets: $20 (available in advance at the Airporter). Information: (714) 362-4200.