Gregory Page and friends to perform free Balboa Park concert

While a Balboa Park centennial committee blew through $2 million before it was disbanded after coming up with nothing, a group of accomplished acoustic artists are banding together for an old-timey, low-tech, free-admission concert Saturday at Casa del Prado Theater in Balboa Park.

“I was asked by Michael Ruiz, who works at Balboa Park, if I could put together a show,” says local singer/songwriter Gregory Page about his invitation from a longtime fan and current city employee.

Page recruited Tom Brousseau, actor John C. Riley, and other “surprise guests” whose names Page says he could not divulge.

“We will use just one microphone just like the old bluegrass days when everyone would hover around one mic,” Page tells the Reader.

Page will be accompanied by his longtime keyboardist Sky Ladd. He says famed local musicologist Lou Curtiss and his wife Virginia will tell stories and resurrect 100-year-old songs. “They will pontificate about life in 1915 with their dry, humorous wit. Think of this as a variety show.”

Page says a promotional budget for the show does not exist.

“We don’t even have a sponsor. This is a gift from us and the city of San Diego. We have a volunteer running the p.a. system and a volunteer running the spotlight. All the promotion will be by word of mouth.” Page says the Casa del Prado Theatre holds about 500 people. “It is usually used for junior high and high school theater productions.”

Page will feature some of his new material from his upcoming album Let’s Fall In Love Again, which is set for a U.S. release this fall.

“I lost track which album it is. It’s either my 22nd, 23rd, or 24th…I recorded it at Jason Mraz’s studio [at his Oceanside home],” Page explains. “We’ve been recording and collaborating together for years. I brought him up for his first local show ever at Java Joe’s. We’ve been pals ever since.”

This year Page tunes were featured in an episode of Showtime’s Ray Donovan and in the children’s movie series An American Girl.

Let’s Fall In Love Again will be released first in Europe to coincide with his 13-date tour of The Netherlands in October where he will be backed by a four-piece band.

“It’s strange being really appreciated in one part of the world while being anonymous in the rest of it,” says Page, who says he has built up quite a Dutch following over the past five years. “One of the best things about Holland is that 90 percent of the people over there speak English.”

Gregory Page, Sky Ladd, Tom Brousseau, John C. Riley, Lou and Virginia Curtiss, and surprise guests appear Saturday, August 29, 7 p.m., at Casa Del Prado Theatre. All ages. Free admission.