• Julian Cavazos •
• Originally published August 23, 2009 at 9:51 p.m., updated August 24, 2009 at 8:40 a.m.

• IF YOU GO

  WHAT: Girl Scouts Barbecue Cook-off and Concert

  WHERE: Riverside Park special events area

  WHEN: Aug. 29, noon to midnight Cook-off: Noon to 4 p.m. Los Lonely Boys perform at 9:45 p.m.

  COST: $25 ...

• SHOW ALL »

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Girl Scouts Barbecue Cook-off and Concert

WHERE: Riverside Park special events area

WHEN: Aug. 29, noon to midnight Cook-off: Noon to 4 p.m. Los Lonely Boys perform at 9:45 p.m.

COST: $25 pre-sale. $35 at gate

TICKETS: Online at Riversideevents.com, Hastings, 5206 N. Navarro St., Victoria, 361-573-3721 FYE, 7800 N. Navarro St., No. 261, Victoria, 361-578-0482; Daniel Torres, DT Productions, 361-648-1812Revista de Victoria, 2001 E Sabine, Suite 107 Victoria, 578-9686

Get ready for some 'Texican rock n' roll.'

Los Lonely Boys will perform at Riverside Park on Saturday as part of a fundraiser for the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas.

The event is all about having fun, and helping the Girl Scouts succeed, promoter Daniel Torres said.

"That day we're going to be mentors, brothers and sisters to these Girl Scouts," said. "Victoria's going to set their differences aside, and just have a good time."

More than 17,000 girls participated in Girl Scouts last year in the greater South Texas area.

"Girl Scouts build character and self-esteem," said Debbie Crites, regional Girl Scouts director of fund development. "We teach girls how to make wise decisions. We also teach them to be leaders in the community, and how to make wiser choices about their future."

Elder Distributing, is helping sponsor the concert.

"It's just a good cause. We just wanted to give back to the community," said Rodney Mutschler, general manager Elder Distributing. "We just think it's a very good cause. We do a bunch of these good cause things, and this one could be one of the biggest one's in Victoria."

At least eight other bands - in the varieties of rock, Tejano, oldies, and rhythm and blues - will perform prior to Los Lonely Boys.

A cook-off will also take place for ribs, sausage, brisket, and beans. More than 48 contestants have signed up so far.

Additional entertainment will include a dunking booth, a moonwalk, and other games for kids.

The whole idea of the Boys performing initially started with just a cook-off.

A Greater Girl Scouts of South Texas board member consulted with Torres a few months ago what could be done as a fundraiser.

The board didn't want to repeat what had been done in the past.

"We were thinking of an idea," Torres said. "The cookies deal had been around for a long time, car washes didn't seem to justify their needs for programs and scholarship funds. We needed something more."

That's when the idea of a cook-off started. But then discussions moved from food, to music.

Who could they bring that would attract fans?

"I thought, some people like seafood, some like Asian, some like Mexican, but everyone likes barbecue," Torres said. "Los Lonely Boys are like barbecue. Everyone can relate to them. So why not put a barbecue cook-off with Los Lonely Boys together?"

Torres confirmed in June Los Lonely Boys would be performing in Victoria.

"They were willing to come to support this certain venue and the meaning of the venue," Torres said. "When they found out what we were doing it for, they showed a lot of gratitude in coming to this event and what they'll be supporting."

Los Lonely Boys fans from outside the Crossroads area will flock to Victoria to utilize the city's services, Torres said.

"Hotels, restaurants, service stations, even grocery stores, it's going to affect everyone."

The cook-off and concert already have more than 20 sponsors such as Killebrew Dodge, University of Houston at Victoria, all of which could be possible career options for the Girl Scouts in their future, Torres said.

"Anyone of these businesses that are sponsors - hospitals, colleges, businesses - I'm looking at them not just as sponsors, but mentors too. Maybe they can work for a hospital, maybe they can go to college. It's like an investment."

So far, people as far as Oklahoma, Dallas and the Rio Grande Valley have already purchased their tickets, Torres said.

Some members of a Los Lonely Boys fan club from Houston called La Onda are planning to come. Member Gaby Precella has seen them perform more than 50 times, including three that were back-to-back in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.

"They're down-to-earth, Precella, 42, said. "They're real, not like these other bands that are famous and you can't get near them."

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