Cheyenne West, Music on the Green 2014

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.

One of Central Oregon’s longest-running free community concert series, the Music on the Green will kick off its 19th season on Wednesday, June 25 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. This is a very kid-friendly event, with multiple bounce houses, fun activities with Redmond Area Park & Recreation District (RAPRD), rock climbing and a playground.

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.”

Other highlights include Cheyenne West, who on July 9 will command the Music on the Green stage with country, Southern rock and rockabilly flair. On July 23, CinderBlue will bring a slice of Americana to the stage with their blues, bluegrass and country music.

Kayleb James & Split Atom will take concert-goers on a musical journey fused with rock, pop and jazz sounds Aug. 6. The sounds of soulful pop, funk and blues will delight the audience when the Sarah Billings Band takes the stage on Aug. 20.

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 RAPRD.

Find all the details on the Redmond Chamber of Commerce website: www.redmondsummerconcerts.com.