Mel Shields: Kenny Loggins brings Blue Sky Riders to Cache Creek

"My parents used to talk about how fast time goes and I never knew what they were talking about. But I do now.

"Still, I'm at a phase in my life I am enjoying more than I have in a long time. I am sort of reinventing myself," said Kenny Loggins, who plays Saturday at Cache Creek in Brooks.

"I get a chance to open with music along with Blue Sky Riders and then do my own stuff. It's hard work, but I'm loving it."

Blue Sky Riders is the latest collaboration for Loggins. It consists of Gary Burr, the former lead singer of Pure Prairie League, "who managed to write 13 No. 1 songs but has never broken through as an artist," and Georgie Middleman, a "very strong singer and a part of the Nashville songwriting mafia."

"Actually, Gary was going with Georgie and I called him and said we needed a strong female singer. Did he know of any? 'Yeah, I'm dating her,' he said. It's like singing with Stevie Nicks. We are like brother and sister – the blend is so amazing. It's a total turn-on.

"I feel like I'm part of a family again. I was beginning to feel very alone, out there doing just the Kenny Loggins thing."

Blue Sky Riders will issue a CD this fall on a label of the band's own.

"It's a label dedicated strictly to our records. Instead of using a record company that makes promises and doesn't keep them, we decided to make promises to ourselves and keep them. The rules in the industry have changed so dramatically. The Internet presence is so strong.

"Let's be real. I do not expect to be the next big thing. I'm over 40, and radio is against that. The most analogous thing I can think of for what we're aiming for would be Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Who bought their music? How did they find it? The radio stations didn't play it, and the record companies don't want to ask that question. They're content to push their 17-year-old singer with whom they sold 10 million units, and find the next young act to throw money at.

"The irony is that we're not aiming at the teen market, but we're not aiming at the over-40 market, either. I'd say over-30 because we're kind of a mix of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Fleetwood Mac and Lady Antebellum."

Loggins performs Saturday at Cache Creek (8 p.m.; $55, $65, $75; 800-225-2277 or www.cachecreek.com)

Reno Rockabilly Riot

Reno's newest car show and music festival returns for its second year to the Grand Sierra starting today and running through Sunday. The Reno Rockabilly Riot is a traditional show featuring hot rods, all hosted by the Taildraggers CC and featuring drag races, burnouts, the Von Hot Pinstriping Circus, a pin-up contest, the Most Rockabilly Tattoo Show and a banked-track roller derby. ($10 one-day pass, $35 three-day pass, includes T-shirt; www.renorockabillyriot.com, www.grandsierraresort.com).

The entertainment kicks off tonight with Wanda Jackson, the "Queen of Rockabilly" as she is billed. She was certainly around when it all started, first touring in 1955 and 1956 with Elvis Presley also on the bill. The two became friends and Presley urged her to go into rockabilly, a move that eventually found her inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Most recently, Jackson recorded "The Party Ain't Over" with Jack White, an album that includes covers of Bob Dylan's "Thunder on the Mountain" and Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good." (9 p.m.; $20, $35)

Saturday, the Grand Sierra Theater will feature ZEKE, best known for "Death Alley" and "Long Train Runnin'," two songs that have appeared on Tony Hawk video games. ZEKE is far more heavy metal than rockabilly, but rockabilly favorites the Chop Tops will open. (9 p.m.; $17.50 general admission)

Other festivals

The Reno River Festival opens at 1 p.m. today in Wingfield Park for three days of activities and concerts based on, in and beside the Truckee River. Contests include popular freestyle, boatercross and slalom kayaking; the very popular and very muddy Run Amuck fun run; Yoga in the Park, and free concerts. This year also welcomes the new Splash Dog Competition and the Biggest Little Dog Jog.

The major concerts kick off tonight at 5:30 with the award-winning reggae group Tribal Seeds. Saturday at 5:30 p.m. finds the rootsy-funk of Jelly Bread. Sunday has San Francisco's Monophonics at 2 p.m.

Scattered throughout the three days are other concerts, such as Ben Fuller at 1 p.m. today, followed by Keyser Soze at 3 p.m. Saturday, Moondog Matinee at 1:30 and the Mark Sexton Band at 4. Sunday finds Peter Joseph Burtt and the Kingtide at noon, leading into the Monophonics.

• The Seventh Annual Tahoe City Solstice Festival starts today, along with the second Adventure Sports Week at Tahoe. Through June 24 there will be stand-up paddle-boarding events, runs, kayaking and swimming competitions. Highlights include: the Tahoe Gal Cruise with Mumbo Gumbo on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.; the Bridgetender Restaurant Fireworks Fundraiser Street Dance June 22 at 7 p.m.; the Lakeside Plaza Aaron Wilson Comedy Show on June 23 at 8 p.m.; and the concerts at Commons Beach, starting June 24 with the Blues Monsters at 7 p.m.

Complete information is at www.visittahoecity.com, www.adventuresportsweek. com.

Also this week

Collin Raye returns to the Carson Valley Inn on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ($25; 775-783-6606); the Edgar Winter Band plays Harrah's Tahoe on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; $27.50; Ticketmaster); the Average White Band performs at Cache Creek tonight at 9. ($25 standing, $39 seated; 800-225-2277 or www.cachecreek.com); Bret Michaels is joined by Night Ranger and Slaughter for the kickoff of Thunder Valley's summer concert series tonight at 7. ($29.50, $34.50, $53.50, $69.50, $79.50; for information visit thundervalleyresort.com or Ticketmaster).

CASINO GUIDE

John Ascuaga's Nugget, Sparks -

Celebrity Showroom: WAR, June 23. (800) 648-1177.

Carson Valley Inn –

Cabaret Lounge: Vinny Messina, Wednesday, June 27; Paul Covarelli, June 24-26; Vegas Road Show, today-Saturday; Dale Poune, Sunday-Tuesday; Escalade, Thursday-June 23. Ballroom: Collin Raye, Saturday. (775) 782-9711.

Eldorado, Reno –

The BBQ, Brews and Blues festival, next Friday-June 23. Showroom: "Man in the Mirror," through Aug. 3. (800) 648-5966.

Harrah's Reno -

Sammy's Showroom: "Persuasion," Thursdays-Sundays, through Sept. 29. Comedy at The Zone: Quinn Dahle, today-Saturday; Sam Fedele, Thursday-June 23. (800) 427-7247.

Harrah's Lake Tahoe –

South Shore Room: Edgar Winter Band, Saturday; Starship starring Mickey Thomas, June 23. (800) 427-7247.

Harveys, Lake Tahoe –

Improv: Todd Glass, Daniel Kinno, today-Sunday; Bob Zany, Larry "Bubbles" Brown, Wednesday-June 24. (800) 427-8397.

Horizon, Lake Tahoe – Illusion Fusion starring Alex Ramon, today-Sunday, and Thursdays-Tuesdays, beginning Thursday. (775) 588-6211.

MontBleu Resort, Lake Tahoe – Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival featuring Pepper, Katchafire, J Boog, Hot Rain, Keyser Soze, and The Mark Sexton Band, June 30. (888) 829-7630.

Silver Legacy, Reno – Grande Exposition Hall: MC Hammer, June 30. Reno Events Center: Collective Soul, today. (800) 687-8733.

• Read more articles by Mel Shields

Order Reprint