The Pacific Amphitheatre, located on the Orange County Fairgrounds property has announced its 2010 concert lineup. The Pacific Amphitheatre’s concert season will start on Friday, July 16th and end on Sunday August 15th. The 8,500 seat Costa Mesa venue has hosted headlining acts such as Fergie, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Aerosmith, Guns n’ Roses and the B52’s in the past and will, with this year’s lineup, live up to expectation.

We will outline our personal must-see list.

The Pink Floyd Experience: I don’t know how I feel about this but I have only been hearing good things about the show. If you are a Pink Floyd band and would like to hear it with more of a rock-ish edge to it complete with a lightshow and a live band this could be a great find!

Bad Company: Even if you don’t think you have heard of this band I am willing to bet you have – you just might not know their name. Everybody has heard Feels like Makin’ Love and Can’t Get Enough. This band from the 1970’s has gone through lineup changes but three original members (including lead singer Paul Rodgers!) is back for their North American tour which will have its 2nd stop in Costa Mesa.

Train: This band having lots of commercial success having one album going double platinum and another going platinum. With hit songs like “Hey, Soul Sister”, reaching top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100 list and reaching top 10 on many other lists worldwide.  Train has other hit songs you are sure to have heard of before like “Drops of Jupiter” and “She’s On Fire”. From what I have seen and read about their live performance, it’s a lot of fun with crowd interaction and joking on stage. If you have a girl that likes good live music, this is definitely a show to consider taking her!

Adam Lambert:  argued by some to have been robbed of the American Idol title this superstar has a huge following (the world?) and a good voice. Adam is also not shy at all, so expect funny things on stage. He will supported by Orianthi, the world’s most famous unknown singer-songwriter and guitarist. Orianthi was Michael Jackson’s lead guitarist as well as having played with Prince and Carrie Underwood among others.

The B52’s: do I really need to say anything here? Great live show. Trust me!

The Dirty Heads and Sublime with Rome: Oddly the website of the Pacific Amphitheatre doesn’t list the Dirty Heads or Sublime with Rome, but trust me they will be playing on July 31st, 2010! Sublime with Rome will make any old sublime fan happy and The Dirty Heads is just great music all around. We have had the chance to check them out two times this year and if we could go two more times I would jump at that opportunity.

Blondie: Seriously guys? Debbie Harry! Need I say more? Let’s try “Heart of Glass”, “One Way or Another”, “Call Me”, “Rapture”? I could go on and on….. You might be broken if you don’t see Blondie =)

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: Not many people can say they have a Hollywood picture written about their lives. Not many can say they have had a #1 hit for 3 months straight. Not many have been named by Rolling Stone magazine one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Just listen to “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” or “I hate myself for loving you”.

Their semi-complete lineup is below (they were missing Sublime With Rome/Dirty Heads so who knows what else its missing):

Friday, July 16th: The Pink Floyd Experience
Saturday, July 17th: Bad Company
Sunday, July 18th” Train
Wednesday, July 21st: Jeff Dunham (comedian)
Thursday, July 22nd: Martina McBride
Friday, July 23rd: Ziggy Marley with Common Sense
Saturday, July 24th: Faith Hill with Jennette McCurdy
Sunday, July 25th: Blue Oyster Cult with Foghat
Tue./Wed., July 27th/28th: Adam Lambert with Orianthi
Thursday, July 29th: Julianne Hough
Friday, July 30th: John Legend
Sunday, August 1st: Ratt with Dokken
Wednesday, August 4th: Sammy Hagar and The Wabos
Thursday, August 5th: The B-52s with w/ DJ Richard Blade
Friday, August 6th: Styx
Saturday, August 7th: The Fab Four (Sgt. Pepper's Experience)
Sunday, August 8th: Blondie with w/ Special Guest Gorevette
Wednesday, August 11th: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts with Cherie Currie
Thursday, August 12th: LeAnn Rimes
Friday, August 13th/14th: "Weird Al" Yankovic
Sunday, August 15th: ZZ Top

Till next time...