FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
A Sonorous, Sentimental Summer of Music at The Bankhead
Livermore, CA – (June 23, 2025) – Livermore Valley Arts is excited to satisfy both the ears and the souls of Tri-Valley music lovers this July and August. From “five women who know their way around a bandstand,” Mustangs of the West are making a triumphant return visit to The Bankhead on Friday, July 25, to Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience on Saturday, August 2, which will pay tribute to Taylor Swift’s Iconic Eras Tour, The Bankhead will be filled with girl power music concerts for all ages this summer. Both of these electric concert events will be at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
On July 25, Mustangs of the West will be returning to the Tri-Valley. As the poets often say, there is a time for everything, and–once again–it is time for the Southern California band Mustangs of the West to make a break for daylight. The all-female quintet first made waves in the burgeoning Los Angeles music scene, starting in the late 1980s. When the Mustangs (as they were known then) appeared, they immediately turned heads and developed an energetic following that tagged them as leaders of a new musical brigade. Now named Mustangs of the West, band members have reunited to take up where they left off in the mid-’90s and make good on their early promise. Original Mustang and lead guitarist Sherry Rayn Barnett is again playing music with lead vocalist/guitarist Suzanna Spring and bassist/vocalist Holly Montgomery, joined by new members Aubrey Richmond (fiddle/vocals) and Suzanne Morissette (drums/percussion/vocals), on their recent album TIME, released in 2020. Working with noted producer/engineer Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, The Neville Brothers), Mustangs of the West sounds like a band now in the top tier of musicians who can blend a variety of styles into one of their very own. To hear band members talk about their present incarnation is to tune into five women who are dedicated to defining their new destiny with the commitment it takes to share it with the world. Bassist Holly Montgomery feels the recent album title is very telling. “We picked TIME as the album title as a way of saying
that we are only now coming into our own and sound better than ever before.” As Suzanne Morissette (drums/percussion/vocals) also says, “The combination of our different backgrounds makes for a cool blend of styles. It’s one of the band’s greatest strengths.” For Mustangs of the West, this record and reunion are the reward for their belief in what they’d found together. The band had taken a 20-year break and has returned in recent years to show themselves stronger, with the thought that it is never too late to be your best, proving again that time really does take care of those who believe.
Calling all Swifties! Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience, paying tribute to Taylor Swift’s Iconic Eras Tour, is coming to The Bankhead. Taylor Swift has been ranked by Billboard as one of the greatest artists of all time, alongside other legends like The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, to name a few. Swift has deservedly earned this spot and is undoubtedly loved and adored by her fans, known to the world as “Swifties.” After close to 20 years in the music industry, Swift has proven herself as a music icon, being the first and only artist to win a Grammy for Album of the Year 4 years in a row. In 2023, Taylor Swift began her iconic Eras Tour in the US. Since then, the Eras Tour has become a billion-dollar global phenomenon and the highest-grossing tour in history. Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience recreates the magic of the Eras Tour in a spectacular, unforgettable show starring Traci Marie as Taylor. Traci’s attention to detail will not go unnoticed by Swifties. Her authentic costumes, mannerisms, and voice embody the essence of Taylor Swift. This theatrical-style show is filled with everything you’d expect to see from the Eras Tour: choreography, stunning multimedia visuals, costume changes, and audience participation. Traci, a small-town theater girl from the suburbs of Chicago, grew up surrounded by musical talent. Throughout her career, she has opened for national touring artists like Tony Orlando, The Righteous Brothers, Chubby Checker, and others. She’s performed with Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals and Dennis Tufano of The Buckinghams fame. This former “Miss Congeniality” winner was also nominated for Tribute Artist of the Year (2024) for the Josie Music Awards. Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience features a live band tribute to the most successful tour in music history. Whether you’re a Swiftie or new to Taylor’s music, this fast-paced, energetic, captivating show is a must-see event in Downtown Livermore on August 2.
Tickets for all remaining shows in the 2024—2025 Bankhead Presents season and in the 2025—2026 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows. For a complete list of events, visit LivermoreArts.org.
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to eight resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: Mustangs of the West
Date/Time: Friday, July 25, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$50 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Are You Ready for It? A Taylor Experience
Date/Time: Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$70 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20% Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
