30th anniversary celebration

If you like Western swing, you probably already know Lost Weekend. They’ve been around the Bay Area since 1985, when they started playing Tuesday nights at Paul’s Saloon. Herb Caen gave them several plugs back in the day, Phil Elwood lauded them in his reviews, and the band expanded its lineup to perform at the SF Jazz Festival, the city’s New Year’s Eve Show, and the Black and White Ball. They’ve recorded three great albums over the years, and continue to play at music festivals, traditional Western events, and nightclubs throughout California and the West. Tonight they’re celebrating their 30th anniversary!

The band includes three original members – Don Burnham on vocals and rhythm guitar, Bobby Black on steel guitar and vocals, and Bing Nathan on bass – as well as featured vocalist Pam Brandon, Bob Schulz on cornet and vocals, Dale Mills on clarinet and sax, Kevin Porter on trombone, Mark Holzinger on lead guitar, Shota Osabe on piano, Rick Alegria on drums, and Paul Shelasky and Blaine Sprouse on fiddles. Don and Bobby belong to the Western Swing Hall of Fame, and Bobby is also a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. The dozen dynamic musicians in the band are a Who’s Who of Bay Area jazz and country-western – and they all swing!

Photo by Kai Shuman

visit the Lost Weekend website