Saturday’s mega Melody Hall Music Festival melds music,
culture & history

Over the centuries as cultures evolved and melded to create a more inclusive society, music also changed. 

Beats and rhythms that used to be heard only in particular countries or communities now come together for a musical celebration of diversity that also reflects the rich history of Santa Paula at Saturday’s 2nd Annual Melody Hall Music Festival.

The Santa Paula Historical Society (SPHS) is staging the event, a free day and evening of music with seven top bands, food trucks, a fenced-in Beer Garden and more at the festival adjacent to the California Oil Museum (1001 E. Main St.).

The June 6 Melody Hall Music Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Festival-goers will have a 24 foot by 36 foot dance floor to kick up their heels for seven hours to a lineup that include Charles Law Band, Deuce, Juano & Friends, Bob DeSena Latin Jazz, Fender Bros., R&B Bombers and House Arrest. 

But the festival is more than music: it is also a “tribute to the impact music has had in our community and a tribute to the musicians of Santa Paula,” said Festival Chairman Ed Arguelles of Santa Paula, who serves on the SPHS board.

Arguelles sees music “as the catalyst that throws us back into history. It is difficult to think of one’s history without the impact of music,” he said. “History is so much more than written documents and photographs. It is art, literature, history, war, politics, sports, music. They are all pieces of the puzzle that make the mosaic of history come alive.”

And last year that mosaic brought about 500 people to the inaugural festival, a turnout that is expected to be larger this year as word of the musical treat has spread.

Arguelles said the SPHS “gave me full rein and control,” of the festival including selection of a subcommittee of musicians that “Grew up in Santa Paula…they in turn know these bands,” that are performing Saturday and were able to help secure their talents.

Those in the committee including Bobby Torres, a “great drummer, have played over a span of 40 to 50 years,” including at times with those in the musical lineup.

Nominated in 2014 for the Los Angeles Music Awards Solo Artist of the Year and again this year for International Artist of the Year, vibes/trumpet jazz artist Bob DeSena is bringing his polished showmanship and swinging Latin Jazz Band direct from Las Vegas to the streets of Santa Paula for the fourth set which Arguelles is particularly looking forward to.

DeSena’s vibrant ensemble performing classic and Latin standards with energetic salsa flair is “Not only wonderful music, he’s a real showman, he’s fun.”

Another highly anticipated act is the late afternoon first time Santa Paula appearance of the 10-piece R&B Bombers, a “powerhouse” of talent with the melding of genres and styles that incorporates 1940s big-band swing, modern blues, piano boogie and ’40s, ’50s and ’60s R&B.

And, noted Arguelles, their four-horns and “big-voiced singer are sure to invigorate and test the stamina of the most ardent dance couples still boogying on the dance floor.”

Although it seems complicated and obviously must have entailed long hours of work, Arguelles said organizing the festival “was pretty easy…we wanted to have a variety of music,” that include bands that have distinct melded styles and the committee had the connections.