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Free Outdoor Music Events

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy at gratis outdoor music shows

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This article originally appeared in the July 2015 issue of Seattle magazine.

Given the number of free outdoor music options in and around the city this month, it would be wise to keep a “go bag” at the ready—stocked with a picnic blanket, sunglasses, nonperishable snacks and a thermos full of refreshment—so you can run off to soak up sun and songs at the drop of a floppy-brimmed hat.

Definitely choose the music lineup over the lutefisk at Ballard SeafoodFest (seafoodfest.org), especially with local favorites Pickwick, Moondoggies and My Goodness in the mix (7/11–7/12). Indulge the fantasy of sweet freedom from the office cube at one of the many downtown Out to Lunch Concerts (downtownseattle.com), such as The Maldives at Westlake Center (7/10), or Austin Jenckes, of The Voice fame, at City Hall (7/23).

Seattle Art Museum goes audio with concerts at the Olympic Sculpture Park (seattleartmuseum.org/summer), including D’Vonne Lewis (7/9), Julia Massey & the Five Finger Discount (7/16) and Vaudeville Etiquette (7/30). Or up your classical ante with Chamber Music in the Park (7/29), at which the Seattle Chamber Music Society (seattlechambermusic.org) performs works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky in Volunteer Park, enchanting listeners from humans to herons.

 

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