Summer is here, and that means sunshine and vacations, hiking and camping, picnics and family reunions . . . along with an incredible variety of musical concerts.
Hard rock from the Scorpions and Great White, modern rock from Sting and the Replacements, blues from Bonnie Raitt and Buddy Guy, country-folk from John Denver and Nanci Griffith, jazz from Spyro Gyra and Christopher Hollyday - and much, much more: African and Latin rhythms, pop and funk, reggae and bluegrass, polkas and a cappella. There's even piano comedy from Mark Russell.Music and summer just seem to go together - everywhere - in Utah. Musical events flow from winter's concert halls into the city streets and also find cozy homes in parks, gardens and spectacular canyons.
One such setting is Red Butte Gardens, which is about to kick off its sixth annual concert series at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon, east of Fort Douglas and the University of Utah.
"Part of the reason for people going up there is to enjoy the concert but also to be in the gardens," says Susie Thomas of KUER-FM 90, which co-sponsors the series with the State Arboretum of Utah. Listening to jazz, folk and classical music while sitting or reclining beside the garden's blossoms, ponds and waterfalls is definitely a summery experience.
"And the neatest thing is that people can bring picnics - and often we get great sunsets," Thomas says. (The sunsets, of course, are arranged for the delight of the concertgoers.)
Plazas and miniparks downtown resound with sound, thanks to the Salt Lake City Arts Council's Brown Bag and Twilight concert series.
"The Brown Bag Series has become such a tradition that right about this time of year, whether anybody's heard about it or not, we start getting calls about it," says Casey Jarman, programs director for the council.
"For many people it signals the beginning of the summer."
The Arts Council series are free and bring activity into the city center during the summer, Jarman says. The Brown Bag concerts, in their 14th season, began earlier this week, focusing on local artistswho entertain lunchtime crowds in various downtown locations. The evening events, which begin July 11 at the Salt Lake Art Center, spotlight diverse national and international artists, as well as local musicians, who are very good but not particularly famous.
Two of this year's Thursday evening Twilight Concerts - on July 18 and 27, featuring the Boys of the Lough from the British Isles and jazz pianist Marcus Roberts - will be televised on KUED on the Saturdays after the performances. "We take this as a sign of the growth of the series," Jarman said.
With the forewarning that many of the events and times remain tentative - and that more concerts are yet be scheduled - here's a list of those planned this summer season:
Sundays, June 15-Sept. 1 - Sunday Afternoon Jazz at Sundance, Bridge Deck, 2-4 p.m. Free.
June 7 - Riverboat Gamblers, Dixieland jazz, Brown Bag Series, Eagle Gate Plaza, South Temple and State streets, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 9 - Guitarist Alvino Rey, pianist Bob Baily and singer Luise King, Red Butte Gardens, 6:30 p.m.
June 10 - Salt Lake Vocal Ensemble, Brown Bag Series, American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 11 - Powder Ridge, bluegrass, American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 12 - Classical music by Todd Woodbury, Ricklen Nobis and Tully Cathey, Brown Bag Series, American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 13 - Morrissey and Phranc, modern rock, ParkWest Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m.
June 13 - Cowdaddies, songs of the American West, Brown Bag Series, American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 14 - Rhythm and blues by Tempo Timers, Brown Bag Series, American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 15 - Hard rock by Scorpions, Great White and Mr. Big, ParkWest Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m
June 17 - Psychedelic reggae by Zion Tribe, Brown Bag Series, Dinwoodey Minipark, 50 W. 100 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 18 - Latin music by Orquesta Pachanga, Brown Bag Series, Dinwoodey Minipark, 50 W. 100 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 18 - Mark Russell, political satire and songs, Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah, 8 p.m.
June 19 - University of Utah Jazz Guitar Ensemble, Brown Bag Series, Dinwoodey Minipark, 50 W. 100 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 20 - Funk and dance music by Boxcar Kids/Joads, Brown Bag Series, Dinwoodey Minipark, 50 W. 100 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 21 - Instrumentalist-singer Barbara Higbie, Brown Bag Series, Dinwoodey Minipark, 50 W. 100 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
June 22 - The KAT Country Summer Music Festival, Salt Lake County Equestrian Park, 2200 W. 10800 South, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., featuring Shenandoah, the Desert Rose Band, Carlene Carter, Aaron Tippin, McBride & the Ride and Collin Raye. Free with tickets from KKAT Radio.
June 22 - "An Evening With Windham Hill," featuring John Gorka, William Ackerman and Michael Manderling, Snowbird, 8 p.m.
June 22 - The La's and Straightjacket Fits, DV-8.
June 23 - Jazz by the Larry Jackstien Group, Red Butte Gardens, 6:30 p.m.
June 24 - The Replacements, modern rock, Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah, 8 p.m.
June 26 - Folk music by the Indigo Girls, ParkWest Amphi-theatre, 7:30 p.m
June 26-30 - Utah Arts Festival, featuring local, national and international performing artists, noon-midnight, except noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
July 1-3, 5 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), Dinwoodey Minipark, 50 W. 100 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
July 4 - Sundance Annual Bluegrass Festival. Ticket information to be announced.
July 4 - "Star-Spangled Spectacular," with Alan Thicke, Rice Stadium, University of Utah, 8 p.m.
July 4 - "Stadium of Fire," featuring Andy Williams, the Osmond Brothers, the Osmond Boys, Lorrie Morgan and Phylicia Rashad, Cougar Stadium, Brigham Young University, 8:30 p.m.
July 8-12 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
July 9 - Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Metal Church and Dangerous Toys, Salt Palace, 6 p.m. (time tentative).
July 11 - Boukman Eksperyans, Caribbean music, Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
July 12-13 - Movie composer Jerry Goldsmith with the Utah Symphony; Friday in Symphony Hall, 8 p.m.; Saturday at Deer Valley, 7:30 p.m.
July 13 - Snowbird Bluegrass Festival, Snowbird Pavilion, 3-10 p.m.
July 14 - Folk artists Richard Thompson and Shawn Colvin, Red Butte Gardens, 6:30 p.m.
July 15-19 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), Crossroads Plaza, 12:15 p.m. Free.
July 18 - Boys of the Lough, Celtic music of the British Isles, Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
July 19 - A capella rock by the Nylons, Snowbird, 8 p.m.
July 19-21 - Utah Symphony's "On Broadway!"; Friday in Symphony Hall, 8 p.m., Saturday at Deer Valley, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at Snowbird Plaza, 3:30 p.m.
July 21 - George Thorogood & the Delaware Destroyers, Fairpark Coliseum, 8 p.m. (Tentative.)
July 22-23, 25-26 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
July 23 - Jazz by Spyro Gyra, Lee Ritenour and the GRP Allstars, ParkWest Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m
July 25 - Jazz pianist Marcus Roberts, Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
July 26 - Blues and pop music from Bonnie Raitt and Chris Isaak, ParkWest Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m
July 26-28 - Utah Jazz and Blues Festival, Snowbird; blues on Friday, featuring Koko Taylor, A.C. Reed & the Sparkplugs, Catfish Keith and Tempo Timers; jazz on Saturday, featuring the Ray Brown Trio with Sweets Edison, Tuck & Patti, the Underpaid Professors with Igor Butman, and the Mark Chaney Group; and on Sunday the Utah Symphony with Alvino Rey and Bob Bailey.
July 26-27 - "Sousa at the Symphony," with Keith Brion and the Utah Symphony; Friday in Symphony Hall, 8 p.m., Saturday at Deer Valley, 7:30 p.m.
July 28 - Classical guitarists Todd Woodbury and Paul Binkley with harpsichordist Ricklen Nobis, Red Butte Gardens, 6:30 p.m.
July 29-Aug. 2 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), plaza at 215 S. State St., 12:15 p.m. Free.
Aug. 1 - Colors of the Baroque, chamber music, Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
Aug. 2 - Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Snowbird, 8 p.m.
Aug. 2 - Country-folk artist John Denver, ParkWest Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m
Aug. 2-4 - The Lettermen join the Utah Symphony, Friday in Symphony Hall, 8 p.m., Saturday at Deer Valley, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at Snowbird Plaza, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 5-9 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), American Towers/Red Lion Plaza, 46 W. 300 South, 12:15 p.m. Free.
Aug. 8 - African drummer Obo Addy and his ensemble Kukrudu, Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
Aug. 9-11 - The Dukes of Dixieland join the Utah Symphony, Friday in Symphony Hall, 8 p.m., Saturday at Deer Valley, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at Snowbird Plaza, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 11 - Jazz by the Christopher Hollyday Quartet, Red Butte Gardens, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 12-16 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), Eagle Gate Plaza, South Temple and State streets, 12:15 p.m. Free.
Aug. 13 - Chicago, ParkWest Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m
Aug. 13 - "An Evening with Kurt Bestor," Sundance, 8 p.m.
Aug. 15 - Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
Aug. 16 - Modern rock by Sting, ParkWest Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m
Aug. 16-18 - "Tchaikovsky and Friends," Utah Symphony, Friday in Symphony Hall, 8 p.m., Saturday at Deer Valley, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at Snowbird Plaza, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 17 - Country-folk artist Nanci Griffith, Snowbird, 8 p.m.
Aug. 19-23 - Brown Bag Series (artists to be announced), Exchange Place Plaza, 350 S. Main St., 12:15 p.m. Free.
Aug. 22 - Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
Aug. 23-25 - Country star Eddie Rabbitt joins the Utah Symphony, Friday at Deer Valley, Saturday in Symphony Hall and Sunday at Snowbird.
Aug. 25 - Blues artist Buddy Guy, Red Butte Gardens, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 - Un Solo Pueblo, traditional music of Venezuela, Twilight Series, Salt Lake Art Center sculpture court, 50 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Free.
Aug. 30-31 - Utah Symphony's "Listener's Choice," Friday in Symphony Hall, 8 p.m., Saturday at Deer Valley, 7:30 p.m.