The Forum

Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Beyond Campus

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It's going to be another hot summer in Utah and there is no better way to beat the heat than an outdoor concert with friends. Many venues in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas offer free concerts throughout the summer. However if you feel like splurging, there are a variety of moderately priced concerts that bring in big names.

Twilight Concert Series

A can't miss on my summer agenda is the Twilight Concert Series at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City at 239 S Main Street. This free concert series starts in July and will be held every Thursday starting at 7 p.m. through mid-August.
A set schedule for bands has not yet been released by the Twilight Concert Series, but according to the Deseret News the series will kick off July 9 and bring in Indie favorites such as The Black Keys, Bon Iver and M. Ward. There is also rumor of hip-hop legend Q-Tip making an appearance, according to local music blog Sellthelie.com.

For the over 21 crowds, no need to sneak in that flask there are beer and wine vendors. There is also a "Twilight Market" which features food from a variety of local restaurants. Last year's market included a variety of flavors ranging from The Pie Pizzeria to the House of Tibet, among many others.

I strongly recommend riding a bike or finding alternative transportation to driving. Parking is a nightmare, as these concerts attract nearly everyone under the age of 25 in the greater Salt Lake City area. There is a TRAX stop conveniently located at 300 S Main Street.

Brown Bag Concert Series

There is also the lesser-known Brown Bag Concert series. It has been a long-standing tradition in Salt Lake City. This series started in 1978 as a street theatre project presented by the Salt Lake City Arts Council. Over the past 30 years, concerts have been held all over the city in plazas, parks, shopping malls, tennis courts, buses and even elevators.

This series has won awards, been broadcast live on radio and continues to be one of the longest running daily concert series of its kind in the country.

Every Brown Bag Concert features a drawing for a free lunch at a variety of Salt Lake eating establishments. Pick up a drawing ticket before the concert begins to be eligible to win. Drawings take place immediately following the concert.

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