An Eclectic Musical Mix

While there are a plethora of outdoor live music concerts in Central Oregon throughout the summer months, few are as convenient and inviting for the whole family as the annual Music on the Green series hosted by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce and presented by Bank of the Cascades and Eberhard’s Dairy products.

Redmond’s longest-running free community concert series, the Music on the Green will celebrate its 20th season on June 24th with tunes by Out of the Blue, a local cover band known for their cool sounds of blues, rock and Motown.

Performances are scheduled every other Wednesday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and are hosted at Sam Johnson Park, an inviting lawn venue with a natural amphitheater. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket, and enjoy a local brewed beverage. If you bring along the kiddos, Sam Johnson Park is guaranteed to have enough space for them to run and play to exhaustion.

Come early and find a parking spot at Sam Johnson or nearby at Redmond High School or Bowlby Field near the skate park. The park is also handicap accessible.

“Our music is crowd-pleasing to everyone, from parents with young kids to seniors from nearby retirement homes,” said Karen Sande, events director for the Redmond Chamber of Commerce. “Many seniors actually arrive by bus to enjoy the easy access, excellent acoustics, and comfortable temperatures created by the canyon’s natural barrier from the wind.”

This year’s music series will feature a diverse mix of music from country, rock and bluegrass to fusion sounds that mix elements of pop, funk, jazz and blues.

“Each year, we strive to book a range of local musical acts that, as the season unfolds, offer families and music lovers a good mix of genres,” said Sande. “We succeeded in doing that again this year. I’m thrilled to offer our community a lineup of top-notch music from established local bands as well as from performers who are on the upswing of their musical careers.”

The series always ends with a grand finale featuring the Hokulea Dancers from Redmond, who have a way of bringing even the most passive listeners to their feet. Don’t miss this show on Wednesday, Sept. 3 featuring their unique performance of rhythmic drums and Hawaiian Dancers.

“The Hokulea Dancers have quite a following in Central Oregon, and their performances never disappoint,” Sande said. “Their show is musical, it’s colorful and it’s interactive. We find it’s the perfect way the end the summer season — Hawaiian style.”

Along with free musical entertainment, Music on the Green will feature a variety of food, art and craft vendors in booths throughout the park. Kids will also love the bounce houses on site as well as games and activities provided by the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District (RAPRD).