MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Moses Lake Creative District, has come into its own in its fourth year, said Creative Programs Coordinator Jenni Shelton.

“I think it’s growing, as things like this do,” Shelton said. “We didn’t have super high attendance with our first two concerts this summer, but we had bad weather. It wasn’t very warm out and there had been rain earlier in the day. But I think word is getting our more and I’m hoping that these tribute bands are going to get people out even more.”

Two of this year’s concerts were tied in with other events: R and B singer Lady A performed at Juneteenth and the 133d Army National Guard band performed last week at Red, White and Boom. In between, tejano/conjunto band Los Volcanes de Eddie Rodriguez brought the sounds of the south Texas border country to the Centennial Amphitheater.

The second half of the series will carry some nostalgia for listeners old enough to remember the original artists and could introduce younger audiences to something they never considered before. This Friday, the George Strait tribute band Amarillo by Morning will channel the King of Country.

“I’m personally most excited for this Friday because I’m a big country music fan myself,” Shelton said. “I saw George Strait a couple of years ago and it was amazing. (Amarillo by Morning) is going to do him justice.”

Amarillo by Morning is based in Las Vegas and is fronted by Rowdy McCarran, who has made a career in his own name working with artists like Kenny Rogers and Randy Travis, according to his website. McCarren was also chosen as best artist two years running by the National Finals Rodeo.

On July 17, the sound will grow harder with Queens Gate, which pays tribute not to a particular artist but to an era: the rock greats of the 1970s-90s. Queens Gate reimagines some of those hits with a female lead vocalist, Shelton said.

“It’s kind of a different twist because a lot of the rock and roll bands had more male vocals,” she said. “That will be really fun.”

The series will finish up July 24 with Victims of Love, a tribute to the band that wrote the soundtrack to the 1970s. In their nine years of activity, the Eagles racked up 10 top 10 hits, according to Billboard Magazine, five of them reaching No. 1. Songs like “Hotel California,” “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Take it Easy” are still staples of classic rock radio even today, more than 45 years after the band broke up. 

“I think (Victims of Love) will go over well,” Shelton said. “Last year we had a Tom Petty (tribute band) and that went over really, really well. I think this will be similar vibes.”

To be included in the schedule, Shelton said bands apply through the Creative District’s website. Then she selects a few bands from a range of genres and listens through them with the Creative District Committee to select the summer’s lineup. Some of the bands can be eliminated immediately, she said, as they’re not within the district’s budget.

The committee tries to cast a wide net when it comes to selecting genres, Shelton said, but there are even more things she’d like to see made available to the community.

“I would love to have two (or) more Latin music nights, but so far we’re only had one each year,” she said. “Country is a big part of our community, (and) classic rock. I would like to get bluegrass out here, but I haven’t had great luck getting a bluegrass band to commit. And I always take feedback and listen to what the community has to say.”

Moses Lake Free Summer Concert Series

Fridays at 8 p.m.

Centennial Amphitheater

McCosh Park 

Moses Lake

July 10: Amarillo by Morning

July 17: Queens Gate

July 24: Victims of Love

    Queens Gate will showcase the classic rock of the 1970s-90s July 17 in the Moses Lake Creative District’s Summer Concert Series.
  

    The George Strait tribute band Amarillo by Morning will channel the King of Country this Friday as part of Moses Lake Creative District’s free Summer Concert Series.