Chris & Concerts
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 11 months AGO
<p>Chris Guggemos of Handshake Productions will start his free summer concert series Sunday in the Coeur d'Alene City Park.</p>
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | June 3, 2011 9:00 PM
COEUR d'ALENE - Twenty years of summer sounds.
When Chris Guggemos looks back on the beginning of his concert series, he smiles and shakes his head.
It was a chance thing, really.
He had moved here from Michigan, with a background in playing and producing music, and bumped into some folks downtown.
It was 1992.
"It was right here in this park," he said. "They knew I played music and asked if my band and I were interested in playing for a concert series they wanted to have here. I said I'd be more interested in scheduling your bands, and one thing led to another."
"I scheduled bands in 1992 and I've been doing it ever since."
Two decades later, Guggemos is still the man behind Handshake Productions. He's the "concert guy" who schedules the bands that have given free concerts in Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Rathdrum.
He was hoping the gig would last, and it has.
"I needed to pay my bills," he said, laughing.
This year's schedule includes 27 performances at four venues, two each in Coeur d'Alene at the City Park and Sherman Square, and in Hayden and Rathdrum.
Every show slot is filled.
He goes for variety and said he has got it this summer. The sounds of big band, soul, country, orchestra and rock and roll will fill the air and draw crowds.
"When people come to the concerts, they know they're going to see a different kind of music," the 57-year-old said.
It includes The Rhythm Dawgs, Custer's Grass Band, The Fat Tones, Coeurimba and Meet Revolver.
Come to a show and you're likely to see dancing, too, as the audience joins in.
"We've got a strong lineup," he said.
Friendly and personable, Guggemos moved to North Idaho from Lansing in 1980 with the hope of earning a living in music production. Twelve years later, he was living the dream.
"It took me until 1992 to really get something steady going," he said.
The concerts started in downtown Coeur d'Alene. He added shows at Coeur d'Alene City Park in 1995, Hayden in 2000 and Rathdrum in 2001. Concerts have also been held in Post Falls, Spirit Lake, Stoneridge and Deer Park, Wash.
Today, he's an agent for DJs, magicians, children's acts and musicians. He would love to bring in some national names.
"That's been a goal for a long time," he said.
Meantime, he enjoys it when he meets people while out shopping or wandering downtown, and they tell him they've enjoyed the concerts.
Others tell him they're looking forward to another summer of free music by local bands. When he's not arranging sponsorships for shows or scheduling the right band for the right park, Guggemos himself has at times stepped in with lead vocals for a song or two.
But, he says, he prefers the spotlight to be on the bands in his summer concert series.
"I've made a lot of friends and acquaintances. I've been able to put a lot of musicians to work that might not have had the opportunity," he said.
Free concert series
Coeur d’Alene City Park
Sundays, 1-4 p.m.
June 5, Custer’s Grass Band, bluegrass
June 12, Free Whiskey, Rockin’ Irish
June 19, 6 Foot Swing, 1920s-1940s swing, jump blues
July 3, Nu Jack City, Motown, soul.
July 10, The Ryan Larsen Band, country, rock
July 24, Bram Brata, Teenage steel drum, orchestra
July 31, Tuxedo Junction Big Band, Big Band Swing Orchestra
Aug. 14, The Pat Coast Band, blues rock
Aug. 21, The Rhythm Dawgs, rock and roll
Sherman Square Park
Tuesdays, 6-8
June 28, Dixie Dandies, Dixieland jazz
July 5, Native Sun, country-western, rock and roll
July 12, Floating Crowbar, Irish, Celtic
July 19, Motorboat, rock and roll
July 26, Master Class Jazz Orchestra, big band swing
Aug. 2, The Fat Tones, Rockin’ Blues
Aug. 9, Southern Comfort, country-western
Aug. 16, Coeurimba, African Rhythms
Aug. 23, Meet Revolver, Beatles tribute, the early years
Hayden City Park
Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
July 6, Coeur d’Alene Big Band, big band swing orchestra
July 13, Plastic Saints, rock and roll
July 20, Generations, big band
July 27, Loose Cannon, rhythm and blues
Aug. 3, Nu Jack City, motown, soul
Rathdrum City Park
Fridays, 6-8:30 p.m.
July 24, 5 Mor, smooth jazz
July 29, Country Line, country-western
Aug. 5, Cruise Control, 50s and 60s rock and roll
Aug. 12, Big Mumbo Blues Band, blues with a feeling
Information: Handshake Productions, 667-3162
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