Lookers to Carry on Brewery’s Concert Tradition

After five months of silence, one of South County’s favorite roosts for roots music is returning to action under new ownership and a new name: Lookers.

The 250-capacity club at 24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive featured a steady stream of local and touring acts in its previous incarnations as the Heritage Brewing Co. and the Harbor Lights Brewing Co., which closed in February.

Mark Liddell, who booked both precursors, is back as talent buyer for Lookers. Doubling as a sports bar and music venue, the club will feature live bands on weekends, Liddell said. Its opening month offers a mixture of covers bands and originals acts. Highlights include surf-rock stalwarts the Chantays, who play the Friday night grand opening, blues acts the Rhythm Lords (Saturday), Eric Sardinas (Aug. 17), the James Harman Band (Aug. 24) and Robert Lucas (Aug. 31), and covers-oriented R&B; bands the Derek Bordeaux Group (Aug. 10) and Family Style (Aug. 16). Admission is $5-$7. (714) 488-3106.

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The band Pinwheel is hosting Wednesday nights in August at Linda’s Doll Hut in Anaheim, devoting the four evenings to melodic pop-rock bands and trying to remind the local alt-rock-loving public that punk isn’t the only way to go. The “Orange County Noise Pop Fest,” as it’s billed, offers Pinwheel (formerly Trouble Dolls), plus a collection of guests from the Los Angeles and Orange counties rock scenes. The Customers, the first band signed to Neil Young’s label, Vapor Records, plays Aug. 7 with Backburner. Supernovice, Sleepy and Gingersol play Aug. 14, Superseed, Telegram for Mongo and Colorado-based HFT appear Aug. 21, and Permanent Green Light, Brazil 2001 and Cockeyed Ghost are featured Aug. 28. Admission each night is $2. (714) 533-1286.