Summer sizzles with Thursday!Fest: Kalispell's live music scene in full swing

Kathy Gerdl laughs as she dances at a Thursday!Fest event in 2015.

Marshall Catch performs at Thursday!Fest in 2015. The band returns to the lineup in 2016.

by This Week in the Flathead
| June 23, 2016 6:00 AM

Marshall Catch performs at Thursday!Fest in 2015. The band returns to the lineup in 2016.

Live music is heating up in Kalispell, just in time for summer.

The Kalispell Downtown Association will kick off its annual Thursday!Fest event tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday!Fest is a weekly event, taking place every Thursday through Aug. 25 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Thursday!Fest is a combination street fair, concert and party, featuring live music, food and drink vendors, children’s activities, craft and farm booths, face painting, a climbing wall and more.

Tonight’s event will feature live music with Comatose Posse. Each week will see a new band take the stage.

Thursday!Fest is free, open to the public and appropriate for all ages. It takes place on the lawn of the Museum at Central School, located on Second Avenue East between First and Second Streets East in Kalispell.

The Thursday!Fest music lineup includes Andre Floyd and Mood Iguana on June 30, the John Floridis Trio on July 7, Smart Alex on July 14, Marshall Catch on July 21, the Andrea Harsell Band on July 28, the Mike Murray Band on Aug. 4, the Kenny James Miller Band on Aug. 11, Moonshine Mountain on Aug. 18 and the Crown Guitar All-Stars on Aug. 25.

For more information, call 406-253-6923 or visit www.downtownkalispell.com.

KALISPELL CITY Parks and Recreation also begins its Picnic in the Park concert series, marking its 25th year, next week.

The Picnic in the Park series features two weekly live music events in Kalispell’s Depot Park, at Center Street and First Avenue East. Evening concerts take place every Tuesday, June 28 through Aug. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. Lunchtime concerts are every Wednesday, June 29 through Aug. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Tuesday evening music lineup includes the Luke O’Connell Band on June 28, the Mike Murray Band on July 5, Andre Floyd and Mood Iguana on July 12, Luke Dowler on July 19, Smart Alex on July 26, the Tracey Fordice Band on Aug. 2, Tra le Gael on Aug. 9, Gladys Friday on Aug. 16, and My True Freedom on Aug. 23.

The Wednesday lunchtime concert lineup includes Ron Sanders on June 29, John Floridis on July 6, One Less Karen on July 13, Hawthorne Roots on July 20, La Nota on July 27, The Cantrells on Aug. 3, Larry Myer on Aug. 10, Dixie Riddle on Aug. 17 and Pinkham Jam on Aug. 24.

All Picnic in the Park concerts are free, open to the public and appropriate for all ages. Food and drink street vendors are available during the shows.

For more information, call 406-758-7718 or visit www.kalispell.com/parks_and_recreation/PicnicInThePark.

FOR UP-TO-DATE summer concert event information from around the Flathead Valley, check out This Week in the Flathead’s events calendar, published each week on page 8-9, and online at www.dailyinterlake.com/flathead.