Summer concerts

With warmer temperatures and graduation season upon us, it's time to kick off a summer tradition in Southeast Missouri: summer concerts.

Tonight kicks off the first of two six-week runs of Tunes at Twilight in Cape Girardeau. The spring concerts begin at 7 p.m. while the fall concerts kick off at 6:30 p.m. The hourlong concerts take place at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo.

Jackson kicks off a fifth year of their Rock in the Rock Garden concert series starting at 7:30 p.m. June 3. Concerts will run each Friday through July 15. The two-hour performances will take place in the rock garden in Jackson City Park.

Both the Cape Girardeau and Jackson municipal bands will soon begin their summer concerts. The Cape Girardeau band will start its concert series with a special concert at 10:30 a.m. on Memorial Day at the Osage Centre. The next concert will take place at 8 p.m. June 8 at the band shell in Capaha Park. The hourlong concerts will run weekly through Aug. 3. This year will be the 19th year for Ron Nall as band director.

Under the direction of Scott Vangilder, the Jackson Municipal Band will start its hourlong weekly concert series at 8 p.m. June 2. Concerts will run through Aug. 16.

After a long winter, there's nothing like an outside concert to usher in the summer. Grab some refreshments and lawn chairs, and bring the family out to hear some talented musicians perform for free this summer.