With summer just over eight weeks away and temperatures beginning to warm up, organizers of the annual Chehalis Music in the Park concert series recently announced performers and concert dates for 2024.
The concerts will be held on three consecutive Fridays — July 19, July 26 and Aug. 2 — with all three shows beginning at 7 p.m. All shows are free to attend.
“These three weeks are historically the driest three weeks of the year in Western Washington. In the 20-plus (years) of hosting this event, we have never had significant rain,” a news release stated. “It was close a couple of times, but the large majority of the shows are warm and end under starry skies of a perfect Washington summer night.”
Concerts will be family-friendly. They will be held at Recreation Park located at 401 SW Parkland Drive in Chehalis. The shows are expected to go until around 9:30 p.m.
Concessions will be available to purchase at the park, though concert goers can bring their own coolers with food and beverages. Attendees must bring their own chairs and blankets to sit on.
The first concert, on July 19, will feature the return of Kalimba: The Spirit of Earth, Wind and Fire, which performed in the Music in the Park concert series in 2022.
“We had so much great feedback and requests for them to return, and it worked out for Kalimba to make a return appearance,” the release stated.
Kalimba is an internationally-touring Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band that has even partnered with former Earth, Wind and Fire band members to perform in the past.
Some of those former band members include Sheldon Reynolds, a former guitarist and lead vocalist, Gorden Campbell, a former drummer who took over after Sonny Emory, David Romero, a former percussionist, and John Johnson, who was also a guitarist for Earth, Wind and Fire.
To listen to a sample of Kalimba’s work, visit https://youtu.be/1M92d-qeTHI.
The second concert, on July 26, will feature The Beatles vs The Stones: Abbey Road and Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, will play hits from the classic British music icons in a “battle of the bands” style performance with Rolling Stones tribute band Jumpin’ Jack Flash, which have been touring together since 2011.
“The groups perform alternating sets of hits from the classic eras of both bands complete with authentic costuming and instrumentation before closing with a fantastic never before seen encore,” the release stated.
To listen to samples of both bands performing, visit https://youtu.be/ibGtk0WbDbY.
The final concert, on Aug. 2, will feature Gretchen Peters performing along with local Randy Linder, who will perform as the opening act.
Linder handles all of the technical aspects for each Music in the Park concert and has also performed in the past both as a solo act and with his Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band Creedence Revelation. This year, he will be performing alongside his son, Jason, who will be playing the drums for him.
Following Linder’s performance, Peters will take the stage. A two-time Grammy nominated singer and songwriter, Peters has written for multiple major pop and country music icons and is in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Peters is likely best known for … Martina McBride’s version of ‘Independence Day’ and Patty Loveless’ ‘You Don’t Even Know Who I Am,’” the release stated.
Other artists Peters has written for include George Strait, Faith Hill, Pam Tillis, Andy Griggs, Michelle Wright, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Etta James, Anne Murray, Neil Diamond and Bryan Adams.
Along with the City of Chehalis, sponsors for the series include the Eli Sports Network, The Mohney Show on the Eli Network, ABHS in Chehalis, the Emerald Downs Race Track, Interstate Honda of Chehalis, Lewis County NAPA Auto Parts, John L. Scott Centralia Realty, the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, Centralia OK Tire Point S, Tyler Rental and Alderson’s Awards West Printwares.
For more information, message the Chehalis Music in the Park concert series on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/chehalismip.
