The city of Kent Summer Concert Series includes free, weekly concerts in July and August at Town Square Plaza and Lake Meridian Park.
For more information, call 253-856-5050 or visit kentarts.com.
WEDNESDAY PICNIC PERFORMANCES – Especially for Kids – Noon to 1 p.m.
Through Aug. 14 – Sponsored by Allied Waste
Town Square Park, 2nd Avenue and Harrison Street, downtown
• July 10 – Tickle Tune Typhoon
Dancing vegetables, larger-than-life robots and award-winning music. This Northwest favorite delivers positive messages and educational topics cleverly disguised as silly fun.
• July 17 – Roberto the Magnificent
Roberto the Magnificent rides very tall unicycles; bounces on industrial strength pogo sticks; and juggles sharp knives, flaming torches, and spinning hand saws – all while keeping audiences in fits of giggles.
• July 24 – Doktor Kaboom! “Look Out! Science is Coming”
An interactive one-man science variety show, Doktor Kaboom! creatively blends theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration. Doktor Kaboom’s supercharged (and super safe) science experiments will have you erupting with laughter and bubbling with curiosity.
• July 31 – Shókoto
A family-friendly mixture of traditional and contemporary African and world music that is sure to make your soul sing. Shókoto offers a dynamic fusion of rhythms from Ghana, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, and the Deep South.
• Aug. 7 – Recess Monkey
Both kids and parents love rockin’ to Recess Monkey. This trio blends various musical influences with clever and comical lyrics. There are hints of pop, folk, zany surf rock, and swamp-tinged country.
• Aug. 14 – Caspar Babypants
Caspar Babypants puts on a fun, simple, sing-along show for kids ages 0-5 and their parents to enjoy together. Old folk songs and good time rock and roll mix together to make the show a timeless treat for all ages.
THURSDAYS AT THE LAKE – 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Through Aug. 15
Lake Meridian Park, 14800 S.E. 272nd St.
• July 11 – The David Mayfield Parade
Grammy-nominated musician and producer David Mayfield is a force of nature on stage, from clubs to major festivals to opening for The Avett Brothers. His music and energy reflect the numerous influences that come from a lifetime of being immersed in American music and channeling its unique forms from the howl of early rock-n-roll, to the low lonesome twang of folk and country.
• July 18 – Tommy Castro and the Painkillers
Tommy Castro’s signature brand of rocking rhythm and blues has garnered him numerous Blues Music Awards and nominations. His sound is funky with soulful vocals and inspired blues-rock guitar.
• July 25 – Men of Worth
This Irish Scottish folk music duo combines humor, exciting tunes, and soulful, heartfelt ballads to bring to life the musical heritage of Scotland’s outer islands and Ireland’s west.
• Aug. 1 – Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole
Spearheading the emerging generation of Cajun and Creole musicians, Cedric Watson is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of enormous talent. He moves with ease between fiddle and accordion, and adds his strong blues-inflected vocals.
August 8 Bill Coffey and His Cash Money Cousins
This high-energy, roots-rock, and retro-country singer/songwriter’s songs swerve from upbeat, jangly country pop to the darker, more lonesome side of Americana. With vocals that are heartfelt and direct, set against instrumentation firmly rooted in the traditions of American music – folk, country, blues, rock, and everything in between – his work has been compared to John Prine, Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt, and Bruce Springsteen.
• Aug. 15 – The Changing Colors
Hailing from the tiny hamlet of Manitou Springs, Colo., is a band led by twin brothers Conor and Ian Bourgal. Using the simplicity of acoustic guitar and the melancholy tone of lap steel, they sing of longing and beauty, hope and regret. Their style is similar to folk and Americana, with substance that is far more complex.
Kent Summer Concerts are presented by Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Kent Arts Commission, with the support of local sponsors.
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