Pop Queen Dionne Comes to Ojai’s Al Fresco House

When Dionne Warwick last graced a stage in the 805, it was virtually — on-screen at the Arlington Theatre, where the Dave Wooley–directed documentary Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over had its premiere in the closing-night slot of the 2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The pop royal and activist didn’t show up that night, but her remarkable story and presence via the affectionate doc made her a palpable heroine in the house.

For the real thing in real time, head over to Ojai’s Libbey Bowl next Friday, September 1, when Warwick makes a rare local-ish appearance as part of a rich roster of shows in the outdoor splendor of the Libbey Bowl.

Warwick’s collection of accolades and awards includes multiple Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award) and Kennedy Center Honors just this year. But the proof of her indelible stamp on American musical culture is in the hearing. Crank her up on Spotify, actual vinyl, CDs, or your portal of choice, and the flow of hits over decades — by the dozens — and we sink into a Warwick reverie.