Catalina: Set sail for the island’s rock ‘n’ roll symposium

Catalina Island’s iconic casino, known as a concert venue for some of America’s most famous Big Band orchestras, will rock to the tunes of a different era Saturday during a rock ‘n’ roll symposium.

The event, “The British Invasion Rocks America,” is being sponsored by the Catalina Island Museum, and is the opening salvo for a trio of events spotlighting ‘60s rock.

Also in the works: an exhibit at the museum, “Gimme Some Lovin’: The Spencer Davis Group,” which opens Saturday and runs through Aug. 22; and a Fourth of July fireworks show and concert at the casino that will feature the Spencer Davis and the Catalina All-Stars.

The symposium, scheduled at 4 p.m., will feature Spencer Davis, Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon, Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz, Radio Carolina DJ Emperor Roscoe and humorist and Beatles scholar Martin Lewis.

“The symposium is the first of its kind,” says Michael De Marsche, the museum’s executive director. “It will examine the movement of the blues from America to Britain and back to America during the British invasion of the 1960s.”

The opening reception for the Spencer Davis exhibit will follow the symposium at 6 p.m. at Catalina Island Museum.

Info: Catalina Island Museum, (310) 510-2414