Sun Theatre, Talent Buyer Cut Ties

The Sun Theatre and veteran Orange County talent buyer Ken Phebus have parted ways, but Phebus says he’ll be heard from again soon. Not that he’s lounging in the pool since leaving the Sun.

“After 21 years in the business, I’m not going away,” Phebus said this week. “If anybody thinks I am, they’re crazy.”

Along with plans he declined to outline, Phebus continues booking several clubs outside Orange County, working with Omega Entertainment in lining up talent for the Doheny Days, Doheny Blues and Pasadena Jazz festivals, as well as securing acts for county fairs and the annual Lake Mission Viejo summer concert series, among others. He’s also managing a local rock group, Sunchild.

The SMG corporation that owns the building is now booking concerts out of its Philadelphia headquarters, with significant help from Phebus’ former assistant, Lisa Sexton, Sun general manager Steven Lazar said. Phebus and Sexton moved to the Sun when it opened in September 1999 after long associations with the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano and the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana, both owned by Gary Folgner.

SMG terminated its contract with 3MK, a company Phebus formed with three partners to book and manage the Sun Theatre when it was owned by Ogden Corp. Ogden sold its entertainment division last year to Aramark Corp., which then turned over operations of the Sun to SMG, in which Aramark holds a 50% stake. Over time, 3MK’s role was scaled back to talent booking only.

“Being facility managers ourselves,” Lazar said, “it made most sense for us to manage the facility in-house.”

Phebus said the bloom faded from the rose for him when SMG officials nixed his attempts to bring high-profile--and highly expensive--acts to the Sun, including the Who’s Pete Townshend, Tom Petty, Erykah Badu, Robert Plant and Jeff Beck.

“SMG and my company agreed to disagree,” Phebus said. “Initially, when we were working with Ogden, it was a very positive, exciting experience to launch a great building like that. With the current ownership, it became obvious that they didn’t want to participate aggressively in the concert business. And that was not the right place for me.”

Lazar said the Sun is working with other outside promoters to add some shows to the Sun’s schedule, one of which is an Aug. 10 ska-punk bill with L.A.’s Goldfinger and O.C.’s Reel Big Fish, promoted by Goldenvoice Presents.

“We’re still pursuing opportunities with other promoters to bring acts to the facility,” Lazar said. “The door is open to anybody.”

Concerts “are still a major portion of what it is that we do,” he added. “I think the mix will always be in flux as to whether it’s a big time of year for corporate events, or important time for talent. Summer is a great season for talent.”

Hootenanny, O.C. Fair,

Summerfest Return

Speaking of summer, three mainstays of the Orange County pop and rock summer season will be back come July.

The lineup for Hootenanny 2001 brings rock poet laureate Chuck Berry and veteran Orange County punk band Social Distortion together for the roots-rock-meets-punk extravaganza.

Also on the bill for the July 7 show, moved this year from Oak Canyon Ranch in Santiago Canyon to the more freeway-accessible Hidden Valley grounds adjacent Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, are The Rev. Horton Heat, Lee Rocker & Scotty Moore, Cadillac Tramps, Big Sandy, John Doe, the Blasters, the Supersuckers and about a dozen others. Information: (949) 263-4552.

For the first time since Hootenanny began in 1995, you won’t have to live in or trek to Orange County to take part in Hootenanny: Promoters of the Vans Warped Tour are assembling a road-worthy version that will begin a national tour. Details are forthcoming.

On a very different note, the Orange County Fair rounds up many of the usual suspects for its July 13-29 run in Costa Mesa.

Rock oldies acts once again dominate the fair’s fare, with “The Twist” singer Chubby Checker embodying the fair’s “Twist & Shout” theme on opening night. Also filling that bill are “Twist & Shout’s” originators, the Isley Brothers, who play July 17. Among the fair’s other twists are Dennis Quaid and his band, the Sharks, performing July 28, and Christian pop singer Carman, on July 23.

The rest of the nightly entertainment includes “Beatlemania With Yesterday” (July 14); Village People (July 15); En Vogue (July 16); Tanya Tucker (July 18); Three Dog Night (July 19); Blood, Sweat & Tears (July 20); comedian Gallagher (July 21); Billy Ray Cyrus (July 21).

R.E.O. Speedwagon plays July 24, followed by Hall & Oates (July 25); Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (July 26); a country triple bill with Billy Dean, Suzy Bogguss and John Berry (July 27); and Lee Greenwood (July 29).

Concerts are free with fair admission. Information: (714) 708-3247 or https://www.ocfair.com.

Finally, oldies acts of another stripe--R&B; groups of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s--rule the day for radio station Mega 92.3’s (KCMG-FM) annual Summerfest, returning to Irvine on July 22. The lineup consists of the Gap Band, the Ohio Players, Brenton Wood, the Dazz Band, Morris Day & the Time, Teena Marie, the Barkays, Rose Royce and Midnight Star. The show starts at 2 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and tickets run $28.50 to $55.50. Information: (714) 855-8096.