It’s the time of year when savvy hipsters start planning to attend summer concerts. From Arlington to Everett, Woodinville to Seattle, outdoor music will soon abound, with ticket prices ranging from free to less than the cost of a college education.

If I could choose only one of the many fine offerings coming to our fair region, I would be hard pressed to decide between the sultry voices and hypnotic stylings of Madeleine Peyroux and Diana Krall. Then again, I do have a morbid curiosity to witness a not-so-youthful Blondie singing songs of teenage romance and lust. Or even better yet, it’s been 30 years since I’ve seen Devo perform and it might be fun to see if any of the members are still climbing speaker stacks and jumping off of them whilst soloing.

Decisions, decisions.

To fully prepare yourself for a concert (and the quiz that’s sure to follow), check out some CDs from Everett Public Library.  Many of these visiting artists can be found in our hallowed halls, or at least on our hallowed CD racks.

Here are a few of the performers coming to our neck of the world this summer:

BLUEGRASS
Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers

BLUES
Ray Wylie Hubbard

COUNTRY
Rosanne Cash     Steve Earle and the Dukes     Asleep at the Wheel     Lee Brice
Alison Krauss     Emmylou Harris     Lyle Lovett

FOLK
Leo Kottke     Buffy Sainte Marie

JAZZ
Madeleine Peyroux     Dr. John     Diana Krall

 
KIDS
The Brian Waite Band

NEW AGE
Tingstad & Rumbel
 

POPULAR
Pink Martini     k.d. lang     Jake Shimabukuro     Shawn Colvin

REGGAE
Ziggy Marley
 

RHYTHM
Mavis Staples     Earth, Wind & Fire
 

ROCK
Melissa Etheridge     Los Lobos     Grace Potter     Los Lonely Boys   
Alejandro Escovedo
Chicago     Crosby, Stills & Nash     Bonnie Raitt     Blondie
Devo     Chris Isaak      Steve Miller Band     The Beach Boys
Ringo Starr     Boz Scaggs     Michael McDonald     Donald Fagen
 

WORLD
Ladysmith Black Mambazo     The Johnny Clegg Band     Mickey Hart

Ron