Each year, as the long, lazy days of summer come around you start looking for things to do outdoors. You've spent the last several months cooped up inside, praying for the change of season and the return of sunshine to your evenings, so the last thing you want to do is spend one more night within the walls of your home - as beautiful and welcoming as it might be. But, it's hot, sometimes extremely hot, so you don't necessarily want to go for a hike, play basketball or move much more than you have to. That's why Blues on the Green is perfect. All it requires is for you to sit down, listen to great music and, maybe, if there's a breeze, bob your head.



Sponsored by Radio 107.1 KGSR, Blues on the Green is a summer series of live concerts, with performances by artists such as Asleep at the Wheel, Los Lonely Boys, Marcia Ball, Sonny Landreth and Doyle Bramhall. Each artist or band is renowned for his/her skill in the music world. Marcia Ball, for example, has had a 30-year career filled with successful album after successful album and several Grammy nominations. Gary Clark, Jr., a multi-talented guitar, harmonica, bass and drums player, is a labeled blues musician who has written several CDs and created the score for several films. And the rest are similarly as impressive, which means the tickets for Blues on the Green must be astronomical, right?

Wrong. Blues on the Green is a free event. You simply have to show up at Zilker Park and stake out a spot on the lawn. Therefore, you may want to get there early if you want to be able to see the players well - more than 6,000 people showed up for Marcia Ball's performance, not a small crowd, to say the least. You can also bring your own food and drink, which will save you money, or you can stop by one of the many vendors? booths for something to snack on during the performance. If you have a pet, feel free to bring him along as well, but don't forget the leash, and don't forget to clean up after him, should any mess be made. This is a concert meant to be enjoyed to the fullest, which means respecting the rights and noses of those around you is more than common courtesy, it's necessary.

So, if you're looking for an evening of great performances - or six evenings of great performances - make your way down to Zilker Park Rock Island. You'll be in for a treat few have the privilege to enjoy. After all, how many people can say that in one summer they saw Los Lonely Boys, Asleep at the Wheel and Doyle Bramhall. For that matter, how many people can say they saw them two summers in a row, or three. Make Blues on the Green an annual tradition. You'll be glad you did when those long, lazy days of summer appear and you already have plans that have you out of the house and into the sweet summer air.