If you’re looking to add in a little fun to your run of weekend errands, head to downtown Stanwood on Saturday afternoons for free summer concerts.
The series of all-ages concerts are scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. most weekends through Aug. 18.
This is the fourth year of the summer concert series. Their popularity has grown each year, said Stanwood Mayor Leonard Kelley, who helps select the bands that perform at each event.
“There’s a sense of community and pride with the concerts since they’ve been started,” Kelley said. “People are very happy with them.”
The groups are drawn from the Puget Sound region, with hometowns stretching from Bellingham to Kent.
“All are very talented and fun to listen to,” Kelley said.
This weekend, it’s Shaggy Sweet that will entertain crowds in west Stanwood, behind the Bank of America building.
Their repertoire ranges from the Beatles to John Mayer, “with their own twist that makes it unique and good,” Kelley said.
The Naughty Blokes, from Bellingham, will perform at the July 14 concert.
“They were the warm-up band at the Mount Baker Rhythm & Blues Festival two years ago and stole the show,” Kelley said.
As soon as he heard them, Kelley said he wanted to line them up for Stanwood’s summer concert series.
This will be their third appearance at the city’s event. “I’m happy they’re coming back,” the mayor said.
Moon Daddy Band is scheduled for July 21. The Seattle-based group plays blues and classic rock with a Latin flair as well as Santana covers.
Mark DuFresne is scheduled for the Aug. 11 concert. The Washington Blues Society has named him male vocalist of the year so many times they’ve named the award after him, Kelley said.
“He has this amazing voice and plays the blues harmonica as well as anybody,” Kelley said.
The series wraps up Aug. 18 with Chris Eger, a Mount Vernon guitarist whose slogan is “Real. American. Music.,” blending country, rock, blues funk and soul.
This year, he was the recipient of the Mark DuFresne Male Vocalist Award, Kelley said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com
If you go
Stanwood’s free summer concerts are scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. most Saturdays through Aug 18. Those on July 7 and Aug. 18 are in west Stanwood on 270th Street behind the Bank of America building at 26929 102nd Ave. NW. Those on July 14, 21, and Aug. 11 are in east Stanwood in front of the city’s police station at 8727 271st St. NW.
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