City of Seattle Mike McGinn, Mayor

Great local music to heat up the outdoor plaza at City Hall
Free summer concerts to feature funk, reggae and alt-country

SEATTLE — Seattle Presents free concerts will return for the summer. The outdoor performances will take place noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays, July 12 to Aug. 30 on the City Hall Plaza, 600 Fourth Ave. The shows are presented by the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Metropolitan Improvement District and Triamp Group. For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/seattlepresents or call (206) 684-7171.

Wheedle's Groove
July 12
Get down to the grooves of this veteran all-star band—a coming together of some of Seattle's finest funk and soul musicians who were part of Seattle's thriving soul music set of the '60s and '70s. Back on the scene, Wheedle's Groove represents a jewel in the city's musical crown.

Shelby Earl
July 19
Soak up the sumptuous voice of singer-songwriter Shelby Earl, whose debut Burn the Boats was named "#1 Outstanding 2011 Album You Might Have Missed" by Amazon.com. Earl is often compared to alt-country crooner Neko Case, but music critic Ann Powers says, "... if Neko is bourbon, Shelby is honey wine. Sweeter at first taste, her music is subtly intoxicating."

Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown Band
July 26
If you know reggae music, you know Clinton Fearon. A member of the legendary reggae group The Gladiators, Fearon and his friends are sure to satisfy with their infectious bass riffs, guitar licks, percussion accents and powerful vocals.

Sambatuque
Aug. 2
Uplifting and infectious, Sambatuque (samba-too-kie) performs a vibrant and eclectic blend of music from Brazil and the Caribbean. Singer/dancer Mikaela Romero's strikingly pure and rhythmically precise vocal delivery is simply delicious.

Bobby Medina & The Red Hot Band
Aug. 9
High energy and fast paced, Bobby and his band are sure to bring some sizzle to City Hall with a performance jam packed with the greatest hits of our time. They play it all, from jazz to Motown to rock, disco and Zydeco.

Kris Orlowski
Aug. 16
This rising star of the Seattle indie-singer-songwriter scene has been turning heads and rockin' crowds across the country in a brisk pace of touring and recording quality goods. He brings his soulful band of fellows to City Hall.

Jon Solo
Aug. 23
Indie rock and funk jams from Jon Solo and special guests. This soulful singer-songwriter returns to Seattle for a reunion with Seattle drummer Byron Vanoy, bassist Dean Schmidt and other special guests. Solo's understated, Paul Simon-esque sound pairs perfectly with his catchy song style.

Kasey Anderson with special guest Star Anna
Aug. 30
Smoldering alt-country tunes by this acoustic duo is the perfect sound track for a late-summer afternoon. The Seattle Times describes Star Anna's sound as "... a little like whiskey: warm and mellow one moment, wisecracking the next." Of Anderson's gravel-filled guitar grooves, The Stranger says, "... indie rock that feels like the smoke-filled back room of a delta juke joint."

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs promotes the value of arts and culture in communities throughout Seattle. The 16-member Seattle Arts Commission, citizen volunteers appointed by the mayor and City Council, supports the city agency.

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