Annual summer concert series returns to Cape Girardeau

A favorite summer activity in downtown Cape Girardeau returns next week.

The Common Pleas Courthouse Gazebo will host the first half of the concert series Tunes at Twilight at 7 p.m. every Friday beginning May 17 continuing through June 21. Tunes at Twilight takes a summer break before returning Aug. 16. The lineup varies, with folk, blues and county acts performing free, hourlong concerts. The concerts are organized by Old Town Cape with sponsorship by SoutheastHEALTH, Fox 23 KBSI and Cape Air.

Audiences have been known to bring lawn chairs, blankets, children, pets, picnic supplies and more to the shows.

In case of rain, the concerts will be in Rose Theatre on Southeast Missouri State University's campus. An announcement will be made by 4 p.m. online at www.oldtowncape.com/events.

Donna Herula, May 17

Donna Herula

Chicago-born songwriter Herula kicks off Tunes, joined by her husband, singer and guitarist Tony Nardiello. Herula brings a percussive guitar and soulful voice that blends country with modern and Delta blues. Her influences include blues women pioneers like Memphis Minnie, Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, and favorites such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Robert Johnson. Herula was a finalist in the 2012 Yamaha Six String Theory international guitar competition and won the Chicago Blues Challenge in 2010 and 2011. Her current album "The Moon Is Rising: Songs of Robert Nighthawk," was released in September 2011.

Corrine Chapman, May 24

Corinne Chapman

Chapman came to Nashville, Tenn., by way of the Southern California mountains. Chapman has been singing since her childhood and opened for Don Williams, Montgomery Gentry, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town and more. Her song "Just Drive," cowritten with Clay Mills, was covered by JoDee Messina. Chapman was featured on the PBS program "Legends and Lyrics," and her song "Weeds" was featured in videos for Crocs Cares charitable foundation. Her EP, "Dirty Pretty Things," was released in 2010 and produced by Ken Croomer of Wilco.

Dan Bliss, May 31

Bliss brings his finger-style guitar playing to Tunes from Kansas City, Mo. Bliss has been inspired by the rich jazz and blues talent the area is known for, and has released two albums. Bliss also plays with the jazz and blues guitar quartet KC Guitar 4. Bliss finished in the top three in the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. He has opened for fingerstyle guitar masters Nick Charles and Tim Thompson, and other artists such as Steve James, Marcia Ball and Honeyboy Edwards.

Dana Cooper, June 7

Cooper is a Tunes at Twilight veteran. The troubadour has toured for years and is from the same heartland that Truman and Twain called home. His song poetry has been featured on Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage and the Kerrville Folk Festival. Cooper brings an expressive voice with a mixture of flat-picking, fingerpicking and percussive strumming. He has been covered a variety of acts such as folk luminaries Pierce Pettis and Susan Werner, as well as bluegrass musician Claire Lynch and Irish vocalist Maura O'Connell.

Danny Santos, June 14

Texas based singer/songwriter Danny Santos has played in Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Bern, Switzerland and other scattered locales. Santos blends his Chicano heritage with influences as Hank Williams and The Beatles to create a mix of country-tinged folk with bluegrass and the blues. He has shared the stage with notable songwriters as Guy Clark, Fred Eaglesmith and Slaid Cleaves. Santos was nominated for Songwriter of the Year by the Texas Music Awards and was named one of the best folk acts by the Austin Chronicle. Santos has released six albums.

Stephen Simmons, June 21

Anne McCue

Stephen Simmons

Simmons comes from the small town of Woodbury, Tenn., and has spent 10 years in Nashville. His latest album, "The Big Show," has been compared to Johnny Cash, Ryan Adams, John Prine and Tom Petty. Simmons called "The Big Show" "a metaphor of our lives in the world with insight by someone who's seen the human psyche that is unique and available to all." His influences include Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, Tom Waits and the HBO series "Carnivàle."

apicar@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Common Pleas Courthouse, Cape Girardeau, MO