Free summer concerts return Sunday

The free Summer Concert Series returns to Coeur d'Alene City Park on Sunday.

Performing everything from rock to lush standards to country gold, Stagecoach West will open the season at 1 p.m.

“I’m looking forward to Stagecoach West, it's a very easy group to work with, very appreciative of the concerts," Handshake Productions owner Chris Guggemos said Wednesday. "They have very excellent three part harmonies of music from the '50s, '60s and '70s."

The concerts, presented by Handshake Productions, will be held in City Park, rain or shine, from 1-4 p.m. each Sunday through Aug. 28.

"I'm starting earlier this year," Guggemos said. "I used to start in the middle of June and the weather was so iffy I'd start in July and run it into September."

Shows will begin June 30 in McIntire Family Park in Hayden. Coeur d'Alene Big Band will open the Hayden series, which will have concerts and family movies from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 25.

No concerts are scheduled for Sherman Square Park, which is being renovated and will be renamed Rotary Centennial Park.

Many familiar faces will return to perform this summer, including the Kelly Hughes Band on July 17 in Coeur d'Alene City Park and Ben Klein, a one-man tribute to Elvis Presley, in McIntire Family Park on July 28.

One Street Over, a family band, is new to the Handshake lineup this season.

"They’re really nice people," Guggemos said. "They're going to play songs people are going to recognize."

On Aug. 4, vintage jump blues and swing band Zonky will take the stage in Hayden.

"They play swing and jump blues, which is blues with a swing beat to it,” Guggemos said.

This is the 30th calendar year for the free Summer Concert Series and 31st season Guggemos has brought music to the people.

“I have a lot more wrinkles than I did in 1992,” he said. "It's fun going out and looking for new bands."

Visit handshakeproductions.net for the full lineup and for any changes to scheduled performances.