The Parks are Alive...

I am so lucky to have friends who, as someone in this household is fond of saying, have such "mad skillez." Laurie just went to the beach and wrote up a report for GSNW. Countless others have shared recipes that have become staples on our table. And my friend Michel compiles a yearly list of the outdoor concerts that are scheduled on almost every summer evening all over the city.

Here's a sample of the concerts happening through July, and all are listed on the calendar at left. Or you can download the whole list here.

Kruger's Farm
Thursdays, 6:30-9:30 pm; $10 per car. 17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd. Phone 503-621-3489.
July 3: Los Cowtones
July 10: Bill Rhodes and the Party Kings
July 17: Ashleigh Flynn
July 24: The New Iberians
July 31: Lisa and Her Kin

Sellwood Riverfront Park
Mondays, 6:30 pm; free. SE Spokane at Willamette River.
July 7: Paul Thorn (gospel infused blues)
July 14: Renegade Saints (NW rock)
July 21: Caña Son (Cuban dance party)
July 28: Tony Furtado (contemporary Americana)

Mt. Tabor Park
Tuesdays, 6:30 pm; free. SE 69th & Taylor.
July 8: The Insomniacs (jump blues)
July 15: Jackstraw (bluegrass)
July 22: Connie Bieberach & Armonia Latina (Latin American pop)
July 29: The Menace Band (classic rock)

Dawson Park
Wednesdays, 6:30 pm; free. N Stanton & Vancouver Ave.
July 9: Voodoo Bar-B-Q (zydefunk)
July 16: Patrick Lamb (R&B soul)
July 23: Aguamiel (salsa)

Willamette Park
Wednesdays, 6:30 pm; SW Macadam & Nebraska at the south end picnic area.
July 9: Michael Manning & the Carolina Pump Station (5 speed originals)
July 16: The Buckles (country)
July 23: The Touchables (classic rock ‘n’ roll)
July 30: Freak Mountain Ramblers (country rockabilly)

Wallace Park
Thursdays, 6:30 pm; free. NW 25th & Raleigh
July 10: Chata Addy the Music Man (Afro highlife)
July 17: The Quick and Easy Boys (funky tonk)
July 24: Brian Wait Band (family fun)
July 31: Dirty Martini Trio (acoustic pop)

Fernhill Park
Fridays, 6:30 pm; free. NE 37th & Ainsworth
July 11: The LaRhonda Steele Band (soulful R&B)
July 18: Vagabond Opera (Bohemian cabaret)
July 25: Casey Neill and the Norway Rats (Americana rock)

Powell Butte Nature Park
Saturdays, 7:00 pm; free. SE 162nd & Powell
July 12: Rich Halley's Outside Music Ensemble (original jazz)

Rose City Park
Saturdays, 6:30 pm; free. NE 64th & Tillamook
July 12: Sassparilla (insurgent blues)
July 19: Chica Marimba (infectious rhythms)

McCoy Park
Sundays, 6:00 pm; free. N Fiske between Trenton & Fessenden
July 13: Rhythm Culture (reggae meets blues)
July 20: Django’s Cadillac (hot swing)
July 27: Linda Hornbuckle (soul-tinged R&B)

Happy listening!

Summer in the Park with Music

It's summer concert time, and music is going to be floating on the breeze all over the city. Portland's Parks have released their summer concert schedule and, if possible, it's even more packed than last year. You can download a pdf of the schedule, but I thought I'd give you a whiff of it here:

Monday
Sellwood Riverfront Park
6:30 pm; SE Spokane St. at Willamette River
July 9 Teresa James (blues)
July 16 Jennifer Lynn (country/Americana)
July 23 St. James’ Gate (Irish)
July 30 Melao de Caña (Cuban)

Tuesday
Mt. Tabor Park
6:30 pm; SE 69th & Taylor
July 10 Bodacious (gumbo Americano)
July 17 Donna Jose & the Side Effects (country blues/folk rock)
July 24 Norman Sylvester with Gretchen Mitchell (original R&B)
July 31 Rhythm Culture (reggae)

Wednesday
Dawson Park
6:30 pm; N. Stanton & Vancouver Ave.
July 11 Grand Central Baking Co. presents Aguamiel (salsa)

Peninsula Park
6:30 pm; N. Rosa Parks Way & Albina
July 18 The Shanghai Woolies (hot ’20s jazz)
Aug. 1 Connie Bieberach & Armonia Latina (Latin American pop)

Willamette Park
6:30 pm; SW Macadam & Nebraska (south end picnic area)
July 25 Oregon Health & Science University presents Linda Hornbuckle Quartet (blues/gospel)
Aug. 1 Flat Mountain Girls (Appalachian harmonies)

Thursday
Wallace Park
6:30 pm; NW 25th & Raleigh
July 12 Django’s Cadillac (hot swing/gypsy jazz)
July 19 Forest Park Federal Credit Union presents Victor Johnson (Kid’s Night)
July 26 Kate Power & Steve Einhorn (folk)

Couch Park
6:30 pm; NW 20th & Glisan
Aug. 2 Reggie Houston & Mary Flower (blues roots duo)
Aug. 9 Clampitt, Gaddis and Buck (bluegrass)
Aug. 16 Kate Sullivan & Co. (classic rock ‘n’ roll)

Friday
Fernhill Park
6:30 pm; NE 37th south of Ainsworth
July 6 Ward Stroud Band (blues)
July 13 Erin Rothrock and Aaron Cross present Dirty Martini Trio (singer/songwriters)
July 20 Northwest Community Gospel Chorus (ensemble)
July 27 Security Traders presents Intervision (R&B/rock fusion)

Saturday
Rose City Park
6:30 pm; NE 64th & Tillamook
July 14 The Jumpers (classic rock ‘n’ roll)
July 21 Conjunto Alegre (salsa pequeña)

Sunday
McCoy Park
6:00 pm; N. Fiske between Trenton & Fessenden
July 8 New Columbia presents Jacob Michael (blues)
July 15 Son Trio (traditional Cuban)
July 22 The Fabulous Essentials (classic rock)
July 29 Portland International Raceway presents Portland Festival Symphony with Guest Conductor Thara Memory

Lents Park
3:00 pm, except Founders’ Day; Concert gazebo south of stadium at SE 92nd & Holgate
Aug. 19 Founders’ Day Celebration; Noon: Parade (starts at 91st & Foster); 2:00 pm: Providence Stage Band
Aug. 26 E.Z. Eddy & Terry Robb (blues)
Sept. 2 Misty Mamas (American roots)
Sept. 9 Los Borikuas (traditional Puerto Rican)
Sept. 16 Wheatfield (vocal harmonizations, country rock)