You’ve got to band it to Enumclaw and Buckley — they note how to put on a good concert series.
Yes, the return of summer also means the kickoff of both cities’ annual collection of kids shows and family-friendly musical performances across the Plateau.
Enumclaw will have you traveling around to three different parks every Thursday from July 10 to Aug. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., to catch a show.
The opening act will be country rock cover band 80 Proof ALE with Aaron Lee Ellsworth, Scott Gotts, and Dan Blackson at Dwight Garrett Park.
The eclectic Jeffery Scott Band then takes the stage at Dwight Garrett Park on July 17, and Dane Vance Creek is making his appearance at Rotary Park on July 24.
Slim Wizzy will get you hook you onto their country, blues, and rock music at Rotary Park on Aug. 7, and then check to see if the bluegrass is greener on the other side by heading over to Holdener Park on Aug. 14 for the Grit City Band and their country tunes.
Finally, The Mistaken will be folkin’ around Holdener on Aug. 21, and the Sam Phillips Project is looking to cause some treble with their soul, jazz, reggae, and pop music on Aug. 28 at the same location.
TUNES BY THE TRIAL
Over in Buckley is the two-month long Tunes by the Trail series, featuring kids shows during the day and concerts in the evening.
The party starts on Thursday, July 10, and runs every Thursday through August 21. All kids shows start at 11 a.m., and all the musical performances begin at 6:30 p.m. All events are on the Buckley Youth Center lawn/
Tunes on the Trail starts off rocking with the ever-popular Reptile Isle show, which features all things scaly and slithery for kids to observe and interact with.
Later that evening will be a music performance focused on 80s hits, so dust off those neon leg warmers and tracksuits to jam with the likes of A-ha, Wham!, and Kenny Loggins.
On July 17 comes Mz. Pearl’s Circus Palooza and her bag of tricks like juggling, magic, and comedy.
A few hours later comes “classic rock with an edge” with The Popoffs, who brings everything from The Beatles to The Cure bach to life.
On July 24 is the Big Bubble Show, led by 12-times Guinness World Record Holder Samsam Bubbleman, and afterward, the Jet City Players will tune you into some pop rock.
July 31 brings two musical performances — first The Gumballs, a Disneyland pop band, then Paperback Writing ready to snare you with their Beatles tributes.
Aug. 7 will start off with the Zany Comedy Show with Alex Zerbe, followed by Steve Sogura, who brings Elvis back into the building.
Magician Jeff Evans is sound to amaze the whole family on Aug. 14, and no moss will grow on Gimme Shelter, a Rolling Stones tribute band, later that evening.
The last set of performances on Aug. 21 starts with Eric Ode, a local singer/songwriter, and country musician Marlin James to fade out the night.
