Tunes, muny bands provide a great summer atmosphere

In terms of regular events, several live concerts help flavor the summer in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Cape Girardeau's Tunes at Twilight series is one of the city's jewels.

Every Friday night throughout the summer, music lovers will gather on lawn chairs and blankets around the Common Pleas Courthouse Park gazebo, and listen to live music brought in from outside the area. Many will bring picnic baskets and enjoy snacks and drinks for the hourlong concert that features an intimate setting, under large shade trees with a view over downtown.

This week's Tunes features the musical duo "Still on the Hill", which originates from the Ozarks. They will bring a blend of bluegrass, folk and mountain music.

Tunes begins at 7 p.m. every Friday night through June 20. After a break, the series resumes Aug. 15. Those performances begin at 6:30 p.m.

In Jackson, the municipal band plays at 7 p.m. every Thursday; local artists open up the show, followed by the muny band. It's a tradition that began in 1920. Most of the weekly performances are held at the Jackson City Park band shell off Route D. The band will play on Tuesday July 22 at Homecomers, and will not play that Thursday. The band will play on July 4.

In Cape Girardeau, the municipal band plays at 7:30 every Wednesday at Capaha Park under the direction of Ron Nall, who enters his 22nd year as director.

We encourage you to take in some live music this summer. A special thanks to all who make the concerts possible.