It begins and ends with a Big Band.

Handshake Productions' summer concert series kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 2, with the Coeur d'Alene Big Band at Hayden City Park.

Chris Guggemos of Handshake Productions said this is the first time Hayden will hold the first concert of the year, as the series usually launches on a Sunday at Coeur d'Alene City Park.

"The Coeur d'Alene Big Band - they play a lot of '30s and '40s big band stuff and a lot of dancers come out for it," Guggemos said. "They are very popular and almost expected that I bring them to Hayden."

There will be 27 weekly concerts in four locations throughout the summer - Sundays from 1-4 p.m. at Coeur d'Alene City Park, Tuesdays from 6-8:30 p.m. at Sherman Square Park, Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. at Hayden City Park and Fridays from 6-8:30 p.m. at Rathdrum City Park.

Guggemos said the concerts are free, family-friendly and open to all ages and walks of life.

"My favorite sight is when I see a parent pick up their little child and dance to the music," Guggemos said.

He said people should bring their own lawn chairs, and said there would be food available at all locations. Coeur d'Alene City Park will have a beer and wine garden set up as well.

The first of the Sunday concerts will be the Kelly Hughes Band, a country music band Guggemos said is also very popular. Hughes used to own a nightclub at Stateline called "Kelly's," and first played a concert series in 1993.

"What Kelly understands is how to entertain a crowd," Guggemos said. "The guy is a top-notch entertainer - he knows how to interact with the crowd ... He'll get people doing the chicken dance and there will be 100 people out there doing the chicken dance."

Another band Guggemos said is popular in the series who will play later in the summer is Meet Revolver, a Beatles tribute band that performs at Sherman Square, which he said is "almost gridlock" when it plays.

The final concert will be Aug. 30 with Tuxedo Junction Big Band at Coeur d'Alene City Park.

Handshake Productions has been holding the summer concert series at Sherman Square since 1992, adding the other parks in 1995, 2000 and 2001. Guggemos said the concerts are free thanks to the many local sponsors and urges people to check www.handshakeproductions.net for a full list of concerts and sponsors. All concerts will be held rain or shine, Guggemos said. Bad weather will move the concerts at Coeur d'Alene City Park and Sherman Square to The Coeur d'Alene Resort Plaza at Third Street and Sherman Avenue.