Fab 4th

AmericaFest brings West Coast’s largest fireworks show

By Pasadena Weekly Staff

The Rose Bowl celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, but first it’s honoring America’s birthday with the 96th AmericaFest celebration.

Set for Monday, July 4, to Saturday, July 9, the event was shuttered in 2020 and host to go virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic. AmericaFest returned to in-person in 2021, adding a poignancy to last year’s events.

“We came back last year after one year of not being able to do in-person events, but with restrictions in place, masks, a decreased capacity,” said Meredith Thomas, the Rose Bowl Stadium communications director.

“So, for a venue that turns 100 (years old) this October, to celebrate America’s Birthday, in America’s stadium, in-person, following that, is just remarkable. To have guests come through our gates again is very special for us, it is not something we take for granted.”

AmericaFest will kick off with a 30-minute show by TNT Freestyle Motocross. Riders perform stunts and jumps in this Rose Bowl encore act.

Drake Milligan, who just appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” follows. (See related story.)

The evening’s events culminate in the largest, longest-running fireworks display on the West Coast, courtesy of Rialto-based Pyro Spectaculars by Souza. The company has been bringing firework displays to the Rose Bowl for the last 35 years.

Opened in October 1922, the Rose Bowl Stadium was designed by architect Myron Hunt, based on New Haven, Connecticut’s Yale Bowl.

The National Historic Landmark has played host to the annual college football showdown, The Rose Bowl, and the NFL’s Super Bowl in 1977, 1980, 1983, 1987 and 1993.

Musicians including Beyoncé, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones have made appearances there. Previous years of AmericaFest saw acts such as soul singer Mendelyev, Maximo Marcuso and Michael Jackson tribute artist Michael Knight.

“The Rose Bowl Stadium is so iconic for many things, but the annual AmericaFest at the Rose Bowl is an event that brings all of Pasadena, and beyond, together,” said Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo in a statement.

Pasadena’s Independence Day festivities begin with AmericaFest and ends with the July 9 Palomino Festival, featuring the likes of Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves and Old Crow Medicine Show.

AmericaFest WHEN: Various times Monday, July 4, to Saturday, July 9

WHERE: Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena COST: Tickets start at $20 for AmericaFest; $179 for Palomino Festival INFO: 626-577-3100, rosebowlstadium.com, palominopasadena.com

Singer Drake Milligan ‘pumped’ to be back in Pasadena

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Pasadena Weekly Executive Editor

Elvis-inspired country singer Drake Milligan was reintroduced to the world through his audition for “America’s Got Talent” at Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

This July 4, he returns to the City of Roses to celebrate Independence Day at the Rose Bowl.

“We’re bringing a lot of energy — and a lot of good country music, too,” Milligan said. “We’re really pumped to be playing a crowd of that size.”

The 24-year-old “American Idol” veteran easily won over the “America’s Got Talent” judges shortly after his June 1 birthday.

He performed an original, “Sounds like Something I’d Do,” from his 2021 self-titled EP. The move was a surprise because he is a well-known Elvis impersonator, and played “The King” in CMT’s “Sun Records.”

“I knew I wanted to go with something really upbeat with a lot of energy,” Milligan said about his “AGT” song choice.

“I close my shows with ‘Sounds like Something I’d Do.’ It’s such a rocker. I knew I couldn’t just go up there and sing a ballad, even though I love singing ballads. I would be even more nervous.”

So, he took that “nervous energy” and poured it into his song and performance. It paid off, but Milligan admitted he was shocked by the reaction of the judges and crowd to his self-penned song.

“I was worried what Simon would think,” he said about judge Simon Cowell. “He’s a tough crowd. It was really cool, to say the least. My music is based in traditional country. To see them react the way they did to my kind of music, it gives me a lot of hope not only as an artist, but a country music fan.”

He said on “America’s Got Talent” that he was used to stepping in front of crowds as “Elvis,” not as “Drake Milligan.”

“I know Elvis’ music like the back of my hand,” he said on “America’s Got Talent.”

“I love it but what I feel like is my calling is country music. I’m a country boy at heart. I haven’t stepped in front of too many people as myself. It’s always been this kind of disguise as Elvis. Stepping in front of these celebrity judges is a really vulnerable side of me.”

Milligan — who saw a surge in his streaming numbers after the “AGT” appearance — started taking guitar lessons at age 5. He discovered Elvis and “then my whole world changed.”

“I didn’t quite know what I wanted to be at that point,” he said. “But I knew I could get up there, wear flashy clothes and sing songs. I’m still falling in love with his music every day.”

Besides Elvis, Milligan is inspired by Merle Haggard, George Jones and Roger Miller, right on through to big band and the “crooner stuff” like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Milligan’s music has been inspired by Elvis and the country songs of his childhood.

“I do love all country music,” he added.

“I grew up listening to Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and the newer singers. My mom and dad listen to a lot of old country music. Being in Texas, you’re submerged in a country music pool. It’s all around you. You can’t help but being around it.”

The then-19-year-old left Texas after pulling the plug on his “American Idol” run in 2018. He performed “You Look So Good in Love” by George Strait and earned a ticket to Hollywood from judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

“Been getting a lot of questions about no longer appearing on ‘American Idol,’ after my audition, just thought I’d let y’all know what’s goin’ on!” he wrote in Instagram.

“After my audition, I decided that I wasn’t quite ready for that platform yet, and that it would be a better step for me to move to Nashville and focus on my music first! It was a very tough decision, and it in no way reflects my experience during the audition process...Everyone on the show was very kind and I feel absolutely blessed and gracious to have been a part of it!”

In Music City, he dove headfirst into songwriting with the “old guard,” those who penned tunes for or with George Strait, Alan Jackson and Gary Allan.

“The Nashville songwriting community is a cycle,” he said.

“You have the new young guys who come in with fresh ideas, and then you have the older guard, who have been here for a long time and know how to craft those songs.”

They take fresh ideas and teach young writers how to turn a hit song, he explained.

“It was a lot at first,” he said. “The key is to be respectful of people’s time. Nashville has a small-town feel and within that, there’s a songwriting community.

“Everybody knows each other and is very respectful. People are really human in Nashville. People aren’t afraid to be themselves.”

This year, he’s bringing his original music across the country. He’ll fly to Pasadena from Detroit, where he’ll hit the stage at Tin Roof.

“I also have new music recorded,” he said enthusiastically. “I’m hoping it’ll be out pretty soon. I’ll be playing some of those songs for fans.”

Valerie June honored to be part of Palomino

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Pasadena Weekly Executive Editor

Singer-songwriter Valerie June is looking forward to the July 9 Palomino Festival because, after all, “all we need is music, live music.”

“The quarantine wasn’t too bad,” she says. “I’m a loner. It was just me and my plants. I was in Tennessee for half, New York for the rest of it.”

She honed her musical skills during the pandemic to fulfill her need for music. All of this will be reflected in her Palomino set.

“I try to leave everyone levitating out the doors or off the stage,” June said.

“It’s very uplifting and hopefully fans feel deep emotions — like joyful — and use that joy as a positive form of activism.”

She said her “joyful” shows are exactly what fans—and the world— need these days.

“I really feel like so many artists are trying to do that and put that energy out there,” she said. “Every day we’re faced with more drama and all of us are tired of it. How do we create more joy and gentleness in our day? We’re figuring it out. I don’t have the answers.”

The Grammy-nominated singer is set to release “Under Cover,” an eight-song covers collection, on Friday, Aug. 26.

“Under Cover” features interpretations of Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed,” Joe South’s “Don’t It Make You Want to Go Home,” Gillian Welch’s “Look At Miss Ohio,” and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ “Into My Arms.”

The EP also includes two tracks that appeared on June’s (digital-only) “The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers” deluxe edition, John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon.”

Bob Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You,” (previously available as an Amazon Original exclusive) and June’s previously released reading of Mazzy Star’s “Fade into You.”

“I didn’t think it was possible for me to even release one album,” she said. “The whole experience of being who I am now and doing what I’m doing is a dream fulfilled. It’s an example of how to manifest a dream.

“At this level, it’s quite something. I say to myself, ‘Where do I want to go from here?’ I try to live in a dream state all the time. Dreams are never totally fulfilled. There’s always another dream to fulfill.”

She’ll perform some of these songs at Palomino, an event she’s excited about.

“The whole lineup is amazing,” she said. “Charley Crockett, I haven’t seen him live yet. I haven’t seen Kacey Musgraves and she’s been huge for years. Being in the same space as Willie Nelson is great. I haven’t seen him perform for a long time. It’s a really nice event. I’m honored to be invited.”

Palomino Festival

WHEN: Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 9 WHERE: Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena COST: General admission starts at $179 plus fees, while VIP passes are $399 plus fees INFO: palominopasadena.com