Classic yacht rock, country-rock favorites launch summer amphitheater lineup in neighboring Amador County
Helwig Winery will open its Summer Amphitheater concert season Saturday night, July 11 with a double bill built for a warm July evening in wine country, as Pablo Cruise brings its nationally recognized yacht rock sound to the Shenandoah Valley stage with Pure Prairie League opening the night.
The concert takes place in neighboring Amador County at Helwig Winery in Plymouth, Gates open at 6 p.m., with the event scheduled to conclude by 10 p.m. General admission tickets are $89, with wine club tickets listed at $84 for members who log in for their discount. Concert tickets and information are available at HelwigWinery.com.
For Northern California music fans, Saturday’s show brings together two bands whose catalogs helped shape the sound of American radio in the 1970s, each with a distinct place in the era’s blend of rock, pop, country and California-inspired live performance.
Pablo Cruise, formed in San Francisco in 1973, became one of the signature names of the yacht rock era with a polished mix of soft rock, soul, jazz and pop. The band’s 1977 album “A Place in the Sun” and 1978 follow-up “Worlds Away” helped push the group into the mainstream, producing enduring favorites including “Whatcha Gonna Do?,” “Love Will Find a Way,” “Don’t Want to Live Without It” and “I Want You Tonight.”
The band’s easygoing name became part of its identity. In the group’s lore, “Pablo” represents an honest, down-to-earth individual, while “Cruise” reflects a fun-loving and easygoing attitude toward life. That spirit still drives the band’s live shows, which continue to lean into the feel-good melodies, smooth harmonies and crisp musicianship that made Pablo Cruise a fixture of the late 1970s pop-rock landscape.
Founding members David Jenkins on guitar and vocals and Cory Lerios on keyboards and vocals remain at the center of the band. The current lineup also features Steve Price on drums and percussion, Larry Antonino on bass and vocals, and Robbie Wyckoff on vocals and percussion, giving the band a live sound that blends its original identity with renewed energy on stage.
In its early years, Pablo Cruise built a following through national television appearances and extensive touring across the United States, Canada and Japan. The band was known for bringing rock and pop into venues that had long been associated with more traditional entertainment, including casino showrooms and the Grand Ole Opry.
After stepping away for nearly two decades, Pablo Cruise returned to the road in the 2000s and has remained active as a touring band. Its live appeal has continued to rest on the same formula that first connected with audiences: bright melodies, tight vocal arrangements, breezy lyrics and musicianship that turns familiar radio hits into a lively concert experience.
Saturday’s performance at Helwig is expected to lean into that atmosphere, transporting fans back to the golden era of California pop rock while giving the band room to stretch out in an open-air amphitheater setting. For longtime fans, it is a chance to hear the hits that defined Pablo Cruise’s peak years. For newer listeners, it offers a direct line to the sound now commonly celebrated as yacht rock.
Opening the evening is Pure Prairie League, one of country-rock’s pioneering bands. From its beginnings in Ohio as a group of friends playing cover tunes, the band has built a career that now spans more than 50 years and continues with a current lineup featuring drummer Scott Thompson, bassist Jared Camic, keyboardist Randy Harper, guitarist and vocalist Jeff Zona, and pedal steel and saxophonist John Heinrich.
Pure Prairie League’s early recordings helped define the country-rock movement, blending folk, rock, country and harmony-driven storytelling. The band’s self-titled debut introduced fans to the group’s trademark “Sad Luke” cover art, while its second album, “Bustin’ Out,” delivered the Craig Fuller-penned classic “Amie,” which remains the band’s signature song and one of the best-known tracks of the genre.
The band continued to build its legacy with “Two Lane Highway,” nine additional albums and years of touring, with a history that includes contributions from notable musicians including George Ed Powell, the Goshorn Brothers, Gary Burr, Vince Gill, Curtis Wright and guest appearances from artists such as Chet Atkins, Johnny Gimble, Emmylou Harris, David Sanborn, Don Felder and Nicolette Larson.
Now in its sixth decade, Pure Prairie League continues to influence generations of country-rock and Americana artists, with a sound that connects the roots of the genre to more modern performers who have drawn from the same blend of storytelling, melody and musicianship.
The pairing of Pablo Cruise and Pure Prairie League makes Saturday’s opener a fitting start to Helwig’s summer concert season, combining the smooth, sun-drenched grooves of California yacht rock with the country-rock storytelling that helped bridge the gap between Nashville, folk clubs and rock stages.
Helwig Winery’s amphitheater has become a seasonal destination for live music in the Sierra foothills, offering an open-air concert setting surrounded by vineyard views. The venue’s layout gives guests the feel of a larger summer concert while maintaining the more intimate setting of a winery show. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the property, food, wine and the Shenandoah Valley setting before the music begins.
Off the Vine Catering will have two service locations during the concert, and the Cowabunga Ice Cream Truck will also be on site. Wine will be sold by the glass and by the bottle, and each ticket includes a TossWare reusable plastic wine glass. Drinking water will also be available.
General admission seating allows low-back beach chairs and blankets in tiered sections. Regular-height chairs will be provided on the ground level on a first-come basis. Security will conduct bag checks, and ice chests, Hydro Flasks and tumblers will not be allowed. Tailgating is also not allowed.
Outside food, spirits, marijuana, pets and children under 14 are not permitted. Dogs are not allowed at music events unless they are documented service dogs. Beer and hard alcohol are not allowed. All ticket sales are final, and the event is rain or shine.
Helwig Winery is a 21-and-over, family-owned winery founded in 2011 by Dave and Nancy Helwig. Members of the Helwig family remain involved in daily operations, including son Scott Helwig as winemaker. The winery has built its reputation around wine, food, hospitality and the Shenandoah Valley experience, with offerings that include wine and food pairings in its custom wine cave, private tastings, deck tastings, live music and amphitheater concerts.
The winery’s most recent honors include results from the California State Fair, where all 14 wines entered received medals. Top awards included the 2024 MRV, which earned 99 points, Double Gold and Best of Region — White, and the 2020 Barbera Cooper Ranch, which also earned 99 points and Double Gold.
Saturday’s Pablo Cruise and Pure Prairie League concert launches the Helwig Winery summer amphitheater season, giving regional music fans another reason to make the short trip into Amador County for a summer night of classic hits, wine country views and live music under the foothill sky.
At this time, tickets are limited, for more information, visit HelwigWinery.com.
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