Music al fresco
At the risk of jinxing things, I do believe we have ourselves a summer. Finally.
One of my favorite fair-weather activities in Spokane is to listen to live music in the great outdoors. Or in a coffee shop parking lot, if that counts.
My family attended the Fourth of July celebration in Liberty Lake last weekend, and the highlight for me was watching people dance to the big-band music of Tuxedo Junction. The kids were adorable, of course, but I especially loved seeing the old timers who really knew how to cut a rug.
We're so lucky here! Almost any night of the week you can find a place in the Spokane area to enjoy an outdoor concert. The shows are usually free, but if you like what you hear buy the CD, download the music off iTunes, leave a tip for the band or a donation for the organizers, and/or make a purchase at the venue.
We're also pretty fortunate to have the music scene that we do. In just the past few days, my husband and I listened to Mark Ward and Mon Cheri at separate venues--music so good you wonder why you need those big-name bands taking up space in your library.
This week, we'll attend the Thursday night concert at Coeur d'Alene Park in Browne's Addition. The Jenks are performing this week, and Dwell Well reader Meadowlark informed me that it's family night, so there will be face painting, a bouncy castle and crafts for kids. The fun starts at 6 p.m. See you there?
The Browne's Addition Concert Series runs on Thursday evenings through Aug. 26. You can see the lineup for the summer here or keep up to speed on the concert series' Facebook page.
The Rocket Market, at Hatch and 43rd on the South Hill, is another source for outdoor concerts. Check out their full calendar of shows, grab a beer, a glass of wine or a latte and enjoy the music. Coming up this week: acoustic pop and soul singer Ron Greene on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Here are some more upcoming shows and links to summer music series:
On July 15 (next Thursday), Mon Cheri will be performing at Coney Island Park in Medical Lake at 7 p.m.
Hayden, Idaho, hosts a Wednesday night concert series at Hayden City Park, 8930 N. Government Way. Find out who's performing when here.
Also in Idaho, there's the Riverstone Park Concert Series, at 2632 Old Mill Loop, on Thursday at 6 p.m. The band MotorBoat will play rock hits tomorrow night.
Mark your calendar: Big Head Todd & the Monsters will perform in Pavillion Park in Liberty Lake in July 24. More info here.
One of the most popular venues for outdoor music in Spokane is Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, on the cliff overlooking Spokane Valley. Their calendar is here.
There are many more outdoor concert venues in the area. Do what our family does when we're looking for something to do: click on Spokane 7's calendar listings, then click on music.
What's your favorite place for outdoor music in and around Spokane?
