The Dennis Dove Band is a Northern California-based group known for a high-energy, "dance-driven" repertoire that spans several classic American genres. He is unique for his ability to handle lead vocals while simultaneously playing drums.

The band draws from a wide variety of influential soul, rock, and blues legends:

-Motown/Soul/R&B: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, Otis Redding, and The Spinners.
-Blues: B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan, T-Bone Walker, and Albert King.
- Rock/Pop: The Doobie Brothers, Michael Jackson (MJ), and Curtis Mayfield.

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck (Tacos El Jesse). Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

PET ROXX is an authentic, fun-filled tribute to the great songs of the '70s. The roots run deep as their musical connection actually started in the '70s while attending Aptos High School together. (now that’s “Old School”!)

The group is composed of: Fred Thompson (guitar/vocals), Clay Wrede (guitar/vocals) and Rob Ouse (drums and vocals)who all graduated from Aptos High School in 1980 or 1981 and Soquel High grad Daniel V Lewis (on bass guitar). It's always like a high school reunion with these guys so join us and see some old friends or make some new ones. Favorite songs include acoustic Singer-Songwriter era songs of: America, Elton John, Cat Stevens, & Seals & Crofts and Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty & many more!

From Bob: Enjoy a trip down memory lane with Pet Roxx, to a simpler, more gentle time of beautiful music!

Prepaid reservations are $10 (via El Vaquero ticketing system reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Seats, if available, day of the show are $15. We’ll have award winning wine and food by a quality local food truck.

Hailing from Aptos, in Santa Cruz County, California, Big Bad Wolf howls with a special off-the-beaten-path brand of tasty and danceable blues-based classic rock from groups and artists like Creedence, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Jon Hiatt, John Don’t Fogerty, The Hollies, and many more. A party with The Big Bad Wolf is always a high octane, rip-roaring good time.

From Bob: Jefferson's John Fogerty vocals are spot on! Big Bad Wolf’s “One Headlight” rendition is as good as the Wallflowers! They are one of the most popular rock cover dance bands at El Vaquiero Winery.

Prepaid reservations are $10 (via El Vaquero ticketing system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Seats, if available, day of the show are $15. We’ll have award winning wine and food from a quality local food truck.

Suns of Surf is a reggae/groove band made up of surfers and musicians from south county Santa Cruz, along with a very talented singer/guitarist (Christian Stringer) from San Jose. The Suns have all played together in various bands for many years. The band captures the sound and vibes of friends coming together through the highs and lows of life on earth.

John Benedetti, local wine maker for Sante Arcangeli Family Wines and Lester Estate Wines, is a member of the band.

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck . Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

We're especially excited about this Friday May 22 show at El Vaquero because it will be Steve's actual 70th Birthday! That's a big number and most of it has been spent here in Santa Cruz County... playing music since 1974, riding and selling bicycles since the mid 80's and being a part of the community of Santa Cruz. So expect VP to pull out the stops and maybe have some extra special surprises and guests too.


Vintage Point hails from right here on the sunny shores of Santa Cruz and always brings the good vibes to every dance floor. Our mission is simple - to play for you, serenade you, and most importantly, get you dancing the night away.


We love nothing more than putting our own spin on timeless tunes that span generations. From catchy guitar riffs to foot-tapping backbeats and nostalgic choruses, our playlist is chock-full of hits that will have you reminiscing and grooving along.


What makes a song "vintage"? We like to think it's a combination of everything - the genre, the era, the instruments used - it all plays a part. That's why we're dedicated to delivering a mix of old and new classics that are perfect for both dancing and singing along. Whether you're a fan of classic rock legends like The Beatles and Tom Petty, want to hear some Motown or Queen of soul, or prefer more contemporary artists like Elle King and The Black Keys, we've got something for everyone.


So who is Vintage Point? In our 13 years as a band we have had the pleasure of working with some of the best players in the Monterey Bay area. At our core, are founding members Steve Jonsson (lead vocals/percussion) and Paul Robbins (keyboards). Holding down the rhythm section are Grant Foster (vocals/bass) and Eric Gunn (drums). Our newest and featured members are the extraordinary player Rebecca Kachnan (lead guitar) and our powerhouse new singer Belle Tuttle (lead vocals) With our vast bandwidth of experience and talent, we truly believe we can tackle almost any genre.


We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck (Tacos El Jesse). Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Make reservations for a special Memorial Day Matinee Show of El Vaquero Favorite “The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash” Monday May 25th, 2-5 pm.

Described by Rolling Stone as "pure Americana heart and soul", The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash are the voice and vision of songwriter Mark Stuart. Stuart was personally given permission to use the band's name by Johnny Cash himself.

“Makes you remember why you liked Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and Marty Robbins, not to mention Bastard Sons’ adopted dad.” - New York Post

This band sold out quickly last year so we suggest you make reservations early.

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck . Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Make reservations to see KPIG and El Vaquero favorites JefferyHalford and the Healers with Special Guest Singer/Songwriter PreacherBoy.

"Jeffrey Halford delivers a uniquely American melting pot of roots, blues, rock and kick-ass pop. Take some Southern soul, add a heap of Texas storytelling, a dash of Bay area's free-wheelin' spirit /liberal spirit/literary leanings/seedier side, then throw in some desert sunshine and dirt, stir with an architect's eye for detail and durability and you got yourself an idea of why Paste magazine once named him to their Ten Most Influential Artists of The Decade. Halford, with the Healers, makes some of the best records today — a beautiful and dark journey through America — like a great vinyl record."

From Bob: Jeffrey is one of our favorites, a great showman, excellent slide guitarist and amazing songwriter. He’ll become a favorite of yours! Enjoy Adam Rossi playing drums and keyboards - simultaneously! Some of his songs transport me to some of my favorite locations, like the Sea of Cortez in Mexico!

For more than three decades, Preacher Boy, the pioneering "godfather of alt blues" recognized internationally for his rough-edged voice, poetic storytelling, and masterful slide guitar work, has conjured up a sound that has earned him comparisons to everyone from Howlin' Wolf and Bob Dylan to Tom Waits and Dr. John.

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck (Tacos El Jesse). Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

The Joint Chiefs Band is the premier dance band in the Santa Cruz area, captivating audiences with electrifying performances and infectious grooves. Element of Classic R&B, Funk and Soul, creating a signature sound that keeps the dance floor alive and pulsating.
As one of the most versatile and exciting dance bands the band’s enchanting music resonates throughout Santa Cruz County and beyond!
We’re stoked to have Special Guest Tony Lindsay! Tony Lindsay is an American vocalist and longest-tenured lead singer of Santana, including when Santana released “Supernatural” which won 11 Grammy Awards!
We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck (Tacos El Jesse). Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Experience down-home foot-stompin music with Santa Cruz’s newest country band The Swell City Opry!

Founding member Lizzy Smith of Kentucky Mule grew up fiddling in her family’s theater, The Wisconsin Opry, in Wisconsin Dells, Wi. She missed playing the classic country tunes and harmonies she was raised on so she hit up some of her favorite local musicians, got a few beers in them, and talked these busy dudes into starting a guilty pleasures cover band. She loved
the idea of passing the mic around and featuring every band member on vocals. Jaime Coffis agreed to bring his tasty chops on the keys to the band and his brother Kellen Coffis
wanted to mix it up from guitar and beat on the drums for a change. Furthermore, one would be hard-pressed to find better harmonizers than these two brothers. Kyle Poppen on lead
guitar taps into his outlaw side igniting a six-string wildfire with a twang. Drawn from the band “Wolf Jett” we are lucky to have the boot-shakin’ groove machine that is Duncan Shipton on bass.

From Willie Nelson to The Old Crow Medicine Show, Merle Haggard to Lucinda Williams, The Allman Brothers to Emmylou Harris, the Swell City Opry aims to dish up some of your favorite country tunes.

In a rare and special California appearance, the Dickinson family Band (Lizzy Smith’s fam) from the Wisconsin Opry in Wisconsin Dells will be playing an opening set of country favorites to kick off the day. Get ready for some twin fiddling and little sister Steph slapin that big ol bass!

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck (Tacos El Jesse). Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

From the artist:

As the “Mark Twain of American songwriting,” John Prine was one of the most celebrated singer/songwriters of his generation. A master storyteller, his work is often witty and always heartfelt, frequently offering a sly but sincere reflection of his Midwestern roots, writing about the lives of ordinary people in a remarkable and perceptive way.

You are invited to spend an intimate evening with the acoustic duo “Diamonds in the Rough” featuring Jim Rosenberg and Paul Logan as they perform a sweeping assortment of John’s many masterpieces. From “Sam Stone” and “Illegal Smile” to “Summer’s End” and “When I Get to Heaven” as well as the in-between, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and most likely even reconsider just how you view this goofy ‘ol world we live in.

Please join us at the beautiful El Vaquero winery on Sunday, June 14th from 4 – 7pm and experience the magic and the memory of John Prine.

Admission is $10 for this OUTDOOR show. As usual, food truck service will be available. Reservations are strongly recommended. To reserve your seats visit reservations.elvaquerowinery.com. Tickets, if available the day of the show, are $15 at the door.

Thanks!
Jim

From Bob (EVW): This is a very special show, just like John Prine himself. If you’re familiar with John Prine, great, if not treat yourself to an introduction to one of the best songwriters ever. JIm Rosenberg and Paul Logan do an excellent job covering John and telling fun stories about him between songs. We will appreciate folks working with the “shh” rule we learned from the Listening Room in Nashville. Between songs we’d like all customers to keep their voices to a whisper so you and all others can enjoy the fun stories between songs. Thanks so much in advance. Bob

El Vaquero Winery welcomes Nick Danger and the Lava Lounge with special guests the Whiskey Hill Wildcats for a lively night on Saturday, June 20, 5–8 PM.

From Watsonville, the Lava Lounge features singer/songwriter Nick Danger, guitarist/
keyboardist/vocalist Doug Pohorski, bassist Shep Kett, guitarist/vocalist Skip Esch and new drummer/vocalist Billy Martini.

Once known as The Dwellers (together since 1980), Danger, Doug, and Shep reunited with Esch in 2021 to form the Lava Lounge. Expect an opening set of new originals and some timeless Americana (Johnny Cash and Van Morrison) followed by two energetic dance sets; first by the Whiskey Hill Wildcats, playing high energy rockabilly, swing and vintage rock and roll.

Note from Bob: Yes, this is Billy Martini (also from Watsonville) of The Billy Martini Show. Along with laying down the drums for the night, Billy shares vocal chores with Doug and Skip for the Wildcats set! Expect sparks to fly!

The final set of music, also known as "Lava Lounge Levitation," will feature Nick Danger leading the new Lava Lounge through a collection of high energy '60s/'70s rock and soul favorites; Wilson Picket, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Beatles, the Stones and Elvis Costello, to name a few of their favorite artists.To raise the temperature even higher, special guest Steve Bloomquist (from Watsonville and the band Teaser) will step into the Lounge and stretch those guitar strings like no other!

Tickets are $10 each, available online at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com. If available, tickets day of the show at the door at El Vaquero Winery will be $15. Tables will go fast—reserve yours early.