Free As All Outdoors

You don't have to pay high ticket prices, endure traffic jams or shell out for parking and food to enjoy music outdoors in the summertime. Despite our changeable weather, the Puget Sound region offers a variety of free concert series from now until the last crazy, hazy, lazy days of summer.

Among the most popular free shows are the Pain in the Grass concert series at Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre, which this year includes such stellar bands as Mudhoney, Subminute: radio, the Young Fresh Fellows and Tad. A tribute to '80s Seattle rock bands includes reunions of Rail, the Cowboys, the Rangehoods and TKO.

Seattle Peace Concerts, now in their 17th year, offer their most ambitious lineup ever of free shows in Seattle parks, thanks to a number of corporate sponsors. The shows offer a variety of music from lunch time to dinner time; they're just right for family picnics.

There's music as well as "Shakespeare in the Park" at the Seward Park Amphitheatre, and a wealth of performances at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard, in celebration of its 80th year. The Out to Lunch concert series - too extensive to be listed here - gives downtown office workers a lunchtime break at various locations. The series kicks off June 13 with Hit Explosion at Westlake Park, and includes Susanna Hoffs, formerly of the Bangles, June 24, also at Westlake Park. Complete schedules will be available soon at many downtown locations, including most office building lobbies.

Kent has an ambitious series of free summertime performances, and so does Mercer Island, at two of the island's beautiful parks.

Following is a selected listing of free summertime concerts:

Pain in the Grass 1997

At Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre, 6 to 8:30 every Friday night, June 13 through Aug. 22 (except for two Saturdays where noted). Shows will not be rescheduled in case of rain. Information: 206-684-7200.

June 13: Edna Swap, Subminute: radio, Micro Mini.

June 20: Gruntruck, Man Ray, the Chauffeur.

June 27: Supersonic Soul Pimps, Local 808, Ghetto Monks.

July 4: Mudhoney, 10 Minute Warning, Kent 3.

July 11: Cowboys, Rangehoods, Splinter Party.

July 26 (Saturday): Goodness, Carmine, Shine.

Aug. 2 (Saturday): TKO, Culprit, Overlord.

Aug. 8: Young Fresh Fellows, Model Rockets, In Color.

Aug. 15: Rail, Second Coming, Old Lady Litterbug.

Aug. 22: Tad, Zeke, Suction.

Seattle Peace Concerts

All concerts noon to 6 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 21. Bring food-bank donations for Northwest Harvest. Information: 206-789-5651.

Sunday, Woodland Park: Tiny Giants, Zuna, Joe Marshalla, Scott Montgomery.

June 15, Gas Works Park: Duffy Bishop Band, Zen Voodoo, Phobac, Joanne Rand, Don Glenn.

June 22, Volunteer Park: Hanuman, Manah, Eric Apoe & the Furnace, Spirit House.

June 29, Woodland Park: Grasshopper, Baba Czar, the Rossis, Reggie Garrett & the Snake Oil Peddlers, Burning Plow, David Simmons.

July 12, Gas Works Park: Seattle Connoisseurs' BBQ Cookoff, a benefit for Childhaven; Catfish Zydeco, Joe Koplin Jazz Quintet, Toucans, Urban Rhythm Choir, Yatma Ensemble, Paula Maya & the Earth Tribe.

July 13, Gas Works Park: Seattle Connoisseurs' BBQ Cookoff; Tiny Giants, Apricot Jam, the Bumblebees, Third World Country, the Jim Basnight Thing.

July 20, Volunteer Park: Herbivores, Boogie Brown Band, Jacara, Ambassa.

July 27, Magnuson Park: China Rose, Willis, Thrillbilly, Casey Neill.

Aug. 10, Gas Works Park: Boom Tali Posse, Raised by Wolves, the Squirrels, Annie O'Neill.

Aug. 17, Volunteer Park: Crosseyed, Haymaker, Sunfur, Mark Olsen, Toadstool.

Aug. 24, Magnuson Park: Nick Vigarino, Mark Defrense Blues Band, Anniville Blues, the Authentics.

Sept. 7, Woodland Park: Napiers Bones, the Sugar Beets, Laesix, Two A.M., Bill Davie.

Sept. 14, Volunteer Park: Rivertalk, Septimus, Kimberly Bass, Merkaba.

Sept. 21, Gas Works Park: Grand finale - acts to be announced.

Seward Park Concert Series

"Jazz in the Park," "Shakespeare in the Park" and ethnic celebrations at Seward Park Amphitheater, June 8 through Aug. 2. Information: 206-723-SEED.

June 8, 1-5 p.m.: Jazz in the Park: Teodross Avery Quartet, Garfield and Franklin high school jazz bands, dance group Los Danzaq de Ayacucho.

July 6, 1-5 p.m.: Jazz in the Park: Hamiet Bluiett Quintet and Ed Lee Jazz Band.

July 25, 8 p.m.: Shakespeare in the Park: "Julius Caesar."

July 26, 3 p.m.: Shakespeare in the Park: "As You Like It."

July 26, 8 p.m.: Shakespeare in the Park: "Julius Caesar."

July 27, noon-6 p.m.: Hispanic Seafair.

Aug. 2, noon-6 p.m.: Pista Sa Nayon, Filipino-American festival.

Aug. 15, 8 p.m.: Shakespeare in the Park: "Julius Caesar."

Aug. 16, 3 p.m.: Shakespeare in the Park: "As You Like It."

Aug. 16, 8 p.m.: Shakespeare in the Park: "Julius Caesar."

Summer Fun at the Locks

At the Chittenden Locks in Ballard, Sunday through Sept. 14. Information: 206-783-7059.

Sunday, 2 p.m.: Seattle Girls' Choir, Cantamus Group (tentative).

June 14, 2 p.m.: Boeing Employees Concert Band.

June 15, 2 p.m.: 133rd Washington Army National Guard Band.

June 21, 1-3 p.m.: Northwest Trek presents "Puget Sound Wildlife, Habitat and You!"

June 22, 2 p.m.: Cascade Brass Quintet.

June 25, 2-3:30 p.m.: Oneness-Home Global Torch Relay for Peace.

June 27, 7 p.m.: Music Center Chamber Winds.

June 29, 2 p.m.: Seattle Matsuri Taiko Drumming.

July 4, 2 p.m.: Seattle Civic Band.

July 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Chittenden Locks 80th Anniversary Celebration.

July 6, 2 p.m.: Coal Creek Jazz Band.

July 12, 1 p.m.: Praise Gospel Choir.

July 13, 2 p.m.: Kings of Swing.

July 19, 1 p.m.: Bailladores de Bronze and Salsa Caliente.

July 20, 2 p.m.: Tempos.

July 26, 1 p.m.: Symphony Dela Steel.

Aug. 3, 2 p.m.: Navy Jazz Band.

Aug. 10, 2 p.m.: Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band.

Aug. 16, 1-3 p.m.: Let's Dance House Band, Mawakama Son Dai Youth Dance Group.

Aug. 24, 2 p.m.: Route 66 Band.

Aug. 31, 2 p.m.: Total Experience Gospel Choir.

Sept. 1, 2 p.m.: Philharmonic Swing Band.

Sept. 7, 2 p.m.: Seattle Letter Carrier Band.

Out to Lunch

Noon to 1:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays June 13 to Sept. 5 at various locations in downtown Seattle. Information: 206-623-0340.

Lunchtime Concert Series at Carillon Point

Noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, July 8 to Aug. 26, at Carillon Point in Kirkland. Two free hours of parking with merchant validation. Information: 425-822-1700.

July 8: Calypso Blue.

July 15: New Blues Brothers.

July 22: Premiere.

July 29: Fanatics.

Aug. 5: Caribbean Superstars.

Aug. 12: File Gumbo Zydeco Band.

Aug. 19: Top Brass.

Aug. 26: Mainstream.

Mostly Music in the Park

On Mercer Island Tuesdays and Sundays, July 15 to Aug. 17. Information: 206-236-3545.

July 15, 7 p.m.: Island Time Steel Band, Mercerdale Park.

July 20, 6 p.m.: Tickle Tune Typhoon, Luther Burbank Park.

July 22, 7 p.m.: Everett Symphony/Symphonic Rock, Mercerdale Park.

July 27, 6 p.m.: Tuxedo Junction, Luther Burbank Park.

July 29, 7 p.m.: Modernaire Society, Mercerdale Park.

Aug. 5, 7 p.m.: Mazeltones, Mercerdale Park.

Aug. 10, 6 p.m.: Michael Powers Group, Luther Burbank Park.

Aug. 12, 7 p.m.: Gere Brothers, Mercerdale Park.

Aug. 17, 6 p.m.: Navy Band Seattle, Luther Burbank Park.

Summer Performing Arts and Festivals in Kent

The City of Kent Parks and Recreation Department and the Kent Arts Commission present Wednesday Picnic Performances, noon to 1 p.m. July 9 to Aug. 6, at Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park; Friday Night Live, 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 11 to Aug. 8, at Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park; and Thursday at the Lake, 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 17 to Aug. 28, at Lake Meridian Park. Admission is free; a $1 donation is requested. For a full concert schedule, call 253-859-3991.