Fans of live music will have plenty of listening opportunities this summer, with the cities of Bonney Lake and Buckley each hosting a summertime concert series.
In all cases the music is free. All guests need to provide is a lawn chair or blanket – and perhaps some cash if plans include a stop at one of the vendor booths.
BONNEY LAKE
The city of Bonney Lake will host a seven-week Tunes@Tapps concert series that begins the day after the Fourth of July holiday and continues until the Wednesday before the Bonney Lake Days celebration.
Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. on each of the Wednesdays and last approximately 90 minutes. All shows take place at the outdoor stage at Allan Yorke Park. Concerts are in conjunction with the city’s outdoor market, which opens at 5 p.m. and has vendors surrounding the seating area.
The summer series looks like this:
• July 5 – Generals 7 Dixieland Band: Members of the 133d Army National Guard Band are citizen-soldiers from all corners of the state. Based out of nearby Camp Murray, the band has, since 2008, mixed Dixieland sounds with a patriotic flavor.
• July 12 – Folsom Prism: Based in Tacoma, the band pays tribute to the legendary Johnny Cash. Songs include everything from early hits to some of his final recordings.
• July 19 – Megs McLean: The singer-songwriter and her band aim to deliver a mix of guitar driven country/grunge originals and energetic covers of new-country favorites.
• July 26 – Heart by Heart: It is “Salute to Armed Forces” night with a rocking band that performs a tribute to the Hall-of-Fame inductees Heart. The band includes two original members of Heart – bassist Steve Fossen and drummer Michael Derosie – along with vocalist Somar Macek and legendary Seattle guitarist Randy Hansen.
• Aug. 2 – The Great Pretenders: Performing since 1971, the band has become a staple in Pierce County with a rotating cast of characters. It’s pure nostalgia, with a playlist from the early days of rock ’n’ roll.
• Aug. 9 – Danny Vernon (“The Illusion of Elvis”): Taking on the Elvis Presley persona, Vernon shares the excitement of three decades of the King of Rock and Roll’s career.
• Aug. 16 – The Beatniks: Always a popular choice, this band has become a Tunes@Tapps favorite. Performing songs from the 1960s through the ‘80s, the group brings high energy and is often known to take audience requests, even if they’ve never before attempted the song.
For details about all the city’s special events, including Tunes@Tapps, visit: www.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us and click “special events.”
BUCKLEY
The Buckley Summer Series is a two-part affair, operating Thursdays from June 29 through Aug. 17. Beginning at 4:30 there will be a one-hour, family-friendly program, followed by a concert at 6:30 p.m. Everything takes place on the lawn adjacent to the youth center, between River Avenue and state Route 410.
The eight-week concert series shapes up like this.
• June 29 – The Coats: This a cappella band tours nationally and has been a longtime favorite in the Pacific Northwest.
• July 6 – Chicken Wire: The Enumclaw band offers a mix of rock and country, with a hint of bluegrass.
• July 13 – Buddie Ritchie and the Bopper Show: As the name suggests, the night brings music from the 1950s, honoring the memory of “the day the music died.”
• July 20 – Primetime: the band’s stated goal is to “perform the music people recognize, grew up loving” and will want to dance to.
• July 27 – Raucous: popular a fairs, clubs and casinos, the band plays classic rock and dance music.
• Aug. 3 – The Mark Mauldin Band: The group’s “hometown sound” blends country, rock, blues and jazz.
• Aug. 10 – Patty and the Travelin’ 4 – Expect everything from country swing to classis rock.
• Aug. 17 – North of 50 Band – Another local band, this one offers oldies, blues and country.
The family hour preceding each concert offers everything from musical acts to magic, from comedy to the always-popular Reptile Man.
For more, visit: www.cityofbuckley.com/summerseries
