Swim Beach was rockin’ on the Fourth of July, as Foreigner’s Lou Gramm played a lakeside concert to benefit the Teen Center just prior to the fireworks display and the surprise flyover of a C-17 from March Air Force Base (both of which were coordinated by the Rotary Club). Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District’s Reese Troublefield, whose Eagles cover band Fastlane opened for Lou Gramm, says, “The venue was tremendous. As soon as the bleachers and scaffolding and stage went up, there was excitement in the atmosphere—it was even cooler than I thought it would be. This concert proved that we can do it, and that people wanted it.” The concert was a fun success and though the numbers aren’t in yet, the Teen Center overseen by Rec & Park will benefit, and continue to offer free programming six days a week. The concert not only included the locals of Fastlane, but the Community Church by the Lake choir, which joined Gramm onstage to sing backup on “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which was enjoyed by concert-goers as well as countless boats floating on Big Bear Lake. As Rec & Park’s Lorie Judd tells KBHR, “It was fabulous, and everyone had a good time. In fact, the band thanked us because they haven’t had such a great crowd in a long time. What surprised us was how many die-hard Lou Gramm fans came up from off the mountain to enjoy the show.” It you missed out on the fab Fourth show, the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, along with KBHR Radio, will offer three more lakeside concerts at Swim Beach: Butler Street Blues on Saturday, July 18, Best of Everything ’70s & ’80s on Saturday, August 1, and Latin Society on Sunday, September 6. Tickets to each show are just $10 at the gate, and proceeds will benefit the Teen Center.