Music for the masses
Photo by DIANE HIGDEM Returning again this year, the John Welsh Band out of Vancouver, Canada, wows the crowd with upbeat, high energy music with reggae and latino influences.
Concert attendees shake it up during a Handshake Productions concert in Coeur d’Alene City Park. Handshake is bringing free concerts to the community for the 27th year. Shows will be Sundays in City Park, Tuesdays in Sherman Square Park and Thursdays in Hayden. (Courtesy photo)
Dr. Phil and the Enablers perform at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library on June 11 during the debut concert of the Libraries Rock! Summer Concert series, happening Mondays this summer. (Courtesy photo)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
From the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene to Rathdrum's sprawling spaces, music will be found in every corner of Kootenai County from now through August.
"For some people, this is the highlight of their summer," said Chris Guggemos, owner of Handshake Productions.
Free and inexpensive concerts will be held in several venues just about every day of the week.
New this year is the Libraries Rock! Concert Series, which began June 11 and will treat guests to shows at the Coeur d'Alene Library at 702 E. Front Ave. on Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. through Aug. 27. The lineup includes the Scandinavian roots music of Muckle Roe, African marimba sounds of Coeurimba and bluegrass and old-time music of Spring Tonic.
The concerts are being funded through the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Foundation. Char Beach, outreach services and concert coordinator for the library, said the concerts are part of Idaho's summer reading efforts with the "Libraries Rock!" theme.
"We thought music would be a great way to reach the community," she said. "Music at all ages gives an emotional attachment. The more connections we have to a topic, whether it be that we read a book on it and there's a song that goes along with it, the better we learn things."
The Handshake Productions shows will be from 1 to 4 p.m. in Coeur d'Alene City Park on Sundays, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Sherman Park Square (316 Sherman Ave.) on Tuesdays and from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays in McIntire Family Park, 8930 N. Government Way in Hayden.
This series includes the dueling pianos of NYC Piano Bar, the Western swing and cowboy music of the Shut Up -N- Playboys and steel drums of teenage orchestra Bram Brata.
"They’ve been playing at the Coeur d’Alene City Park maybe six or seven times, but this year they’ll be out in Hayden," Guggemos said. "I’m glad to bring something different like that out to Hayden."
Live After Five will have crowds finding their way to McEuen Park from 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sept. 5. Tickets are $5 each night, or $100 season passes can be purchased at www.liveafter5events.com. Performances include the Zach Cooper band, the Rhythm Dawgs and the Rub.
Music will flow from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evenings in Riverstone Park during its free concert series, put on by the Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance.
This is the 12th year for the series, which runs through Aug. 31.
"We have been seeing increasing crowds over the years as we've stepped up the quality of our performers," said Arts and Culture Alliance executive director Ali Shute. "Last year we had on average about 300 people. I expect that to grow this year."
Concert-goers will be invited to Rathdrum to check out music on Friday nights. Borgata will provide classic rock and R&B from 6 to 9:30 p.m. July 20 in front of Rathdrum City Hall, 8047 W. Main St., to commence the fun at Rathdrum Days. Shows will then move to Majestic Park, 5750 W. Majestic Ave., for the remaining three Friday evening concerts from 6 to 8:30 or 9 p.m.
"It’s nice for us to be able to offer concerts free to the public," said Rathdrum parks and rec director Eric Singer. "They're very family-oriented. The nice thing for us is we’re able to do it for free, there’s no charge and we make it the family atmosphere. We have a wide variety of music — rock and roll, country, rhythm and blues."
Several venues will have food, drinks and beverages available for purchase for those 21 and older. Guests are also welcome to bring blankets and chairs.
"What is better than a warm summer evening in a park listening to great music?" Shute said.