Summer shows, featuring funk, reggae and alt-country will heat up City Hall Plaza

The Seattle Presents free concert series returns this summer with outdoor performances on Thursdays, July 12 to Aug. 30, noon to 1:30 p.m., on the City Hall Plaza. This free lunch-time event is perfect for getting outside of the office or bringing the kids on a downtown adventure.  A full schedule of performances appears below. The series is presented by the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Metropolitan Improvement District and Triamp Group. Seattle favorites, Wheedle’s Groove, will kick off the inaugural show on July 12 with a soul music set of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Others performers include:

July 19 - Shelby Earl

Soak up the sumptuous voice of singer-songwriter Shelby Earl, whose debut Burn the Boats was named “#1 Outstanding 2011 Album You Might Have Missed” by Amazon.com. Earl is often compared to alt-country crooner Neko Case, but music critic Ann Powers says, “… if Neko is bourbon, Shelby is honey wine. Sweeter at first taste, her music is subtly intoxicating.”

July 26 - Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown Band

If you know reggae music, you know Clinton Fearon. A member of the legendary reggae group The Gladiators, Fearon and his friends are sure to satisfy with their infectious bass riffs, guitar licks, percussion accents and powerful vocals.

Aug. 2 - Sambatuque

Uplifting and infectious, Sambatuque (samba-too-kie) performs a vibrant and eclectic blend of music from Brazil and the Caribbean. Singer/dancer Mikaela Romero’s strikingly pure and rhythmically precise vocal delivery is simply delicious.

Aug. 9 - Bobby Medina & The Red Hot Band

High energy and fast paced, Bobby and his band are sure to bring some sizzle to City Hall with a performance jam packed with the greatest hits of our time. They play it all, from jazz to Motown to rock, disco and Zydeco.

Aug. 16 - Kris Orlowski

This rising star of the Seattle indie-singer-songwriter scene has been turning heads and rockin’ crowds across the country in a brisk pace of touring and recording quality goods. He brings his soulful band of fellows to City Hall.

Aug. 23 - Jon Solo

Indie rock and funk jams from Jon Solo and special guests. This soulful singer-songwriter returns to Seattle for a reunion with Seattle drummer Byron Vanoy, bassist Dean Schmidt and other special guests. Solo’s understated, Paul Simon-esque sound pairs perfectly with his catchy song style.

Aug. 30 - Kasey Anderson with special guest Star Anna

Smoldering alt-country tunes by this acoustic duo is the perfect sound track for a late-summer afternoon. The Seattle Times describes Star Anna’s sound as “… a little like whiskey: warm and mellow one moment, wisecracking the next.” Of Anderson’s gravel-filled guitar grooves, The Stranger says, “ … indie rock that feels like the smoke-filled back room of a delta juke joint.”

For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/seattlepresents or call (206) 684-7171.