Music Lovers Will Get an Earful at Taste of O.C.

EL TORO MARINE BASE —  No musical equivalents of hot dogs, hamburgers or chopped liver are being served at this weekend’s Taste of Orange County festival. Starting with legendary headliners James Brown (Friday), Dick Dale (Saturday) and Merle Haggard (Sunday), the event’s three stages will be stocked with cordon bleu selections.

The contingent of local talent for Taste is exceedingly strong. What Merle is to country music at large, Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts (Saturday) and Jann Browne (Sunday) are to the Orange County country scene--artistically impeccable pacesetters.

Missiles of October (Friday) are on a similar level with their vibrant mixture of folk, rock and soul. Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers (Friday) and John “Juke” Logan (Sunday) are top-shelf figures from the Southland blues scene, while oldies fans visiting the festival on Saturday can look to the Greg Topper Band (rock) and the Derek Bordeaux Band (soul) to deliver the hits with flair.

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The schedule: HEADLINERS on the Lawn Stage

James Brown, Fri., 9:30 p.m.

Dick Dale & the Deltones, Sat., 9:30 p.m.

Merle Haggard & the Strangers, Sun., 8 p.m.

OTHER MUSIC on the Lawn, KTWV Wave and USAir stages

*

FRIDAY

Kelly Rae Band (country), 5 p.m., USAir Stage

Chris Camossi (jazz guitar), 6 p.m., Wave Stage

The Starlights (gospel), 7 p.m., Lawn Stage

Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers (blues), 7:30 p.m., USAir Stage

Jeff Lorber (jazz keyboards), 8 p.m., Wave Stage

Missiles of October (folk, rock, blues), 10 p.m., USAir Stage

Dave Camp (jazz saxophone), 10:30 p.m., Wave Stage

*

SATURDAY:

One World (world beat jazz), 12:30 p.m., Wave Stage

The Torquays (surf rock), 12:30 p.m., USAir Stage

Sapadilla (reggae), 1 p.m., Lawn Stage

Mike Gealer (jazz saxophone), 2:30 p.m., Wave Stage

Greg Topper Band (rock oldies), 3 p.m., USAir Stage

Freddie Brooks (blues), 3:30 p.m., Lawn Stage

Bob Mamet (jazz keyboards), 4:30 p.m., Wave Stage

Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts (country), 5:30 p.m., Lawn Stage

Brian Beirne, the Monte Carlos, Dodi Stevens, Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon (rock oldies), 5:30 p.m., USAir Stage

Michael Paulo (jazz saxophone), 6:30 p.m., Wave Stage

Derek Bordeaux Band (R&B;), 7:30 p.m., Lawn Stage

Avenue Blue (jazz), 8:30 p.m., Wave Stage

The Rippingtons (jazz), 9:30 p.m., Lawn Stage

J. Michael Verta (jazz keyboards), 10:30 p.m., Wave Stage

*

SUNDAY:

George Griffin (blues), noon, USAir Stage

Freeway Philharmonic (jazz), 12:30 and 9 p.m., Lawn Stage

Tony Guerrero & Swingfest (jazz), 1 p.m., Lawn Stage

Thom Rotella (jazz guitar), 2 p.m., Wave Stage

Ruby & the Red Hots (blues), 2:30 p.m., USAir Stage

John “Juke” Logan (blues), 3:30 p.m., Lawn Stage

Doc Powell (jazz guitar), 4 p.m., Wave Stage

Bateke Bateke (African music), 4:30 p.m., USAir Stage

Jann Browne (country), 6 p.m., Lawn Stage

Richard Elliot (jazz saxophone), 6 p.m., Wave Stage

Kari Gaffney Band (blues and R&B;), 6:30 p.m., USAir Stage

The Scarletts (R&B;), 8:30 p.m., USAir Stage

COMEDY at the Improv Comedy Pavilion

*

FRIDAY

Jim Hope, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Kivi Rogers, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

*

SATURDAY

Dan Wedeking, 2, 4 and 7 p.m.

Jim McDonald, 2:15, 4:15 and 7:15 p.m.

Johnny Sanchez, 2:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Gerry Swallow, 2:45, 4:45 and 7:45 p.m.

*

SUNDAY

Sam Fedelli, 2 and 4 p.m.

Ron Morey, 2:15, 4:15 and 7 p.m.

Sean Morey, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Gerry Swallow, 7:30 p.m.

COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS at the Gas Co.’s Chef’s Pavilion

*

FRIDAY

James Boyce (Azzura Point & Lowes Coronado Bay Resort), 6 p.m.

John Sharpe (Bistro 201, Diva, Kachina and Topaz Cafe restaurants), 7 p.m.

John Capiricci (Long Beach Marriott), ice-carving demonstration, 8 p.m.

*

SATURDAY

Lasse Sorensen (Kellogg West Conference Center & Lodge and Cal Poly Pomona), 1 p.m.

Joe D. Cochran Jr. (Duane’s Prime Steaks at the Mission Inn), 2 p.m.

Pascal Olhats (Pascal and Pascal Epicerie), 3 p.m.

Maria Foscari (Foscari Italian Cuisine), 4 p.m.

Cliff Huffstetler (Cliff’s Ragin’ Cajun Cafe), 5 p.m.

Dennis Burrage (Capistrano Depot), 6 p.m.

John McLaughlin (J.W.’s at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel), 7 p.m.

John Capiricci (Long Beach Marriott), ice carving demonstration, 8 p.m.

*

SUNDAY

Tim Godell (Aubergine), 1 p.m.

Gary Palm (Hotel del Coronado), 2 p.m.

Jim Strausbaugh (Club Bar & Grill at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel), 3 p.m.

Paul Buchanan (Renaissance Cafe, Laguna Beach), 4 p.m.

Don Hamilton (Chanteclair), 5 p.m.

Joe Gonzales (McCormick & Schmicks), 6 p.m.

FOR CHILDREN at the Radio Aahs Kids’ Stage

*

FRIDAY

Cory the Clown, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Erock (musical group), 6 and 8:30 p.m.

Brian Batastini (magician), 7 p.m.

“Alice in Wonderland,” performed by Little Note and World Co., 8 p.m.

*

SATURDAY

“Alice in Wonderland,” performed by Little Note and World Co., 12:30 and 6 p.m.

Kids on Stage for a Better World, 1:15 p.m.

Parachute Express, 2 and 5 p.m.

Erock, 3:15 and 8:45 p.m.

Jim Rule, 4:15 p.m.

Ashley Ballard & Children Choir, 6:30 p.m.

Scott Land Marionettes, 7:15 p.m.

Kids Are Music, 8 p.m.

*

SUNDAY

“Alice in Wonderland,” performed by Little Note and World Co., 12:30 and 2:45 p.m.

Enrico Lopez, 1 p.m.

International Children’s Choir, 1:15 and 3:30 p.m.

Southern California Trampoline Academy, 2 p.m.

Radio Aahs & the Fun Bunch present “Aahsome Games,” 4 p.m.

Beckwith & Towner (from ABC’s “Kids’ View”), 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

The Happy Crowd, 5:30 and 8 p.m.

Brian Batastini, 8 p.m.

FIREWORKS FINALE, Sunday, 9:45 p.m., near the USAir stage

--Compiled by Kenneth Williams and James McCaffrey

* What: A Taste of Orange County.

* When: Friday, 5 p.m.-midnight; Saturday, noon-midnight; Sunday, noon-10 p.m.

* Where: El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

* Whereabouts: Take either the San Diego (405) or the Santa Ana (5) freeways to either the Jeffrey Road or the Sand Canyon exit and head inland.

* Wherewithal: $3-$8.

* Where to call: (714) 808-8463, Ext. 9420.