Viejas Teams With Humphrey’s

San Diego-based Viejas Entertainment will take over booking the 1,380-capacity Humphrey’s By The Bay on Shelter Island in 2007.

“This arrangement brings together two high profile San Diego entertainment organizations,” Viejas Entertainment prexy Steve Redfearn said in a statement. “We look forward to booking both proven artists and up-and-coming acts for this venerable San Diego music venue.”

Longtime Humphrey’s producer/talent buyer Kenny Weissberg has announced he would be leaving at the end of the season to pursue other interests.

John Wojas, Viejas senior VP of talent, will be primary talent buyer for the Humphrey’s concert series, which offers about 75 shows per season.

Among the companies vying for the job were Live Nation, House of Blues Concerts and Nederlander, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

“We interviewed nine companies and talent buyers from across the country. Each brought a lot to the table, and it was a tough decision,” Richard Bartell of Bartell Hotels, which owns and operates the Humphrey’s series, told the paper. “We just felt Viejas was uniquely positioned to take the reins to book our series.”

Viejas Entertainment has gone far beyond its original role of booking the tribe’s casino entertainment. It now competes for shows going into ipayOne Center, SOMA San Diego, Copley Symphony Hall, RIMAC Arena and Del Mar Race Track in addition to its Viejas Concerts In The Park, DreamCatcher and Bayside Concerts with Viejas.