Free concerts might not sound like something that could put Coeur d’Alene on centerstage, but Michael Koep is a believer. 

And a doer.

“These free festivals are just popping up. They’re incredible,” he said, adding they are popular and attract crowds in Missoula, Seattle and Boise. “That’s what we want it to be here. I want to kind of lead the charge."

The owner of Koep Concerts is so confident that he wants to put on free Wednesday concerts at McEuen Park starting this summer.  

He’s already organizing them at Coeur d’Alene City Park on Sundays and in Hayden at McIntire Family Park on Thursdays. The key is landing sponsorships to pay the bills.

Again, Koep says he can do it. He said Coeur d’Alene is the perfect summer venue for free concerts that will have not only artistic appeal but economic impact, too. 

“I don't understand why we aren't leading the charge,” he said. “At the end of the decade, we should be standing shoulder to shoulder with the best. We want to be the best. We want to raise the bar.” 

The Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Commission recently voted to recommend that the City Council approve a five-year agreement with Koep Concerts, for a free, Wednesday night concert series at McEuen Park. The council meets Tuesday. 

Bill Greenwood, Parks and Recreation director, said there have been concerts held at McEuen for close to 10 years. Live After 5 had paid concerts there until last summer. 

“The Wednesday concerts were popular and received good reviews from the public, unfortunately, the previous promoter was unable to continue this series,” according to a staff report.  

Parks and Rec was contacted by several individuals interested in continuing the Wednesday concerts. Following a Request for Qualifications, Koep Concerts was selected.

Koep Concerts will pay a refundable deposit of $5,000 due at the start of each season and $400 for each concert. The deal costs the city no money. 

“Michael is a good fit,” Greenwood said. “He’s done an excellent job at City Park.” 

Green said a stage could be a nice addition to McEuen Park to provide a setting for concerts and take it to the next level, and that is something the city will look into. 

Abby Light, executive director of the Coeur d’Alene Arts and Cultural Alliance, said they are working on their summer lineup at Riverstone. She agreed free concerts have the potential to draw people from throughout the region. 

The family-friendly events are a chance for young and old to share a few hours of listening to music in one of the area’s picture-perfect settings, such as next to Riverstone Pond or Lake Coeur d’Alene. 

And in a day when tickets to big-name musicians can cost hundreds of dollars, free concerts showcasing talented locals are finding a down-to-earth following. 

“Make it so everybody can come,” Light said. 

Koep expects to put on eight to nine Wednesday concerts at McEuen Park starting in July. He said it would be “community-driven” and a way to get people under the sky and dancing with their bare feet. "That’s really the goal.” 

He hopes to establish partnerships with local companies and they will become part of the sponsorship team that makes the free concerts possible. A beer and wine garden will be part of the program. 

Koep, a drummer with the band The Rub, has been in the music industry for 35 years.

As a board member of the Coeur d’Alene Arts and Cultural Alliance, Koep co-founded the Riverstone concert series more than a decade ago.

“Being so deeply entrenched in the music and entertainment scene means I’ve seen firsthand what makes — or breaks — an event. Luckily, the years of headsets, sound-checks, and last-minute setlist swaps have armed me with both the creative flair and logistical know-how to ensure any concert series hits all the right notes,” he wrote. 

Jim Lien, Parks and Recreation commissioner, said anyone can visit McEuen Park and have a good time without spending money. 

“I believe this concert matches the purpose of that park,” he said. 

Lien said the free concerts are for families to have a good time under the sun. 

“I just think it matches what the city is all about,” Lien said. “I hope sponsors will step forward to make this a reality.” 

Koep’s vision is that by the end of the decade, Coeur d’Alene will be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with regional musical events in providing concerts. 

"Our goal is not only to bring world-class talent and state-of-the-art production to the stage but to foster a sense of pride and unity in our community that will draw visitors from far and wide," he wrote. "With each concert, we’ll strive to raise the bar, creating a legacy of unforgettable performances that elevate our region’s cultural identity and make our lakeside city a must-visit destination for music lovers everywhere.

Koep wants the concerts to be the talk of the town.

“We'd like to have them talking about this concert series,” he said.