Move Over, ACL. This is THE Gotta-See Music Series in Austin.

Austin is as much an outdoorsy city as it is a music city. With its sprawling green belts, hiking trails, parks, rivers, and swimming holes there are no shortage of things to do outside. It makes perfect since that the city combines the outdoors with music for several events each year, but one particular concert series is quintessentially Austin. KGSR has been putting on Blues on the Green since 1991 in the city’s infamous Zilker Park. This strong, community tradition has stood the test of time, becoming Austin’s longest running free music series. What started out a small series of free shows near Austin’s Arboretum now shares a seasonal residence with the iconic Austin City Limits Festival.

The love of music draws the community out even as temperatures swelter into the triple digits. Austin uses this venerated event as a family time – even dogs are welcome. There are no fences or barricades – the park remains as municipal as can be with droves of people turning out to the lush main lawn. The laid back and relaxed atmosphere makes it the perfect place for a melting pot of visitors to come and enjoy music that is indigenous to Austin and the surrounding areas. Every other Wednesday from June through August, the park becomes a place where you’ll be able to see a number of friends and easily make a few new ones along the way.

The people of Austin are the heart and soul of this event, although this summer the crowds’ favorite has been Suzanna Choffel. She has been generating some buzz with her sultry vocals and her oddly modern and ultra catchy indie-pop melodies, not to mention her expert employment of the Theremin. She has played two of this year’s shows and she’s lined up to play a few more dates to accompany this summer’s “Steady Eye Shaky Bow” including UTOPiAfest in October. On August 3rd Choffel’s set gave Old 97’s a run for their money.

If you plan on coming to Austin in the summer months, Blues on the Green is a must-see event. So pack up the family, bring the dog and head out to the park.

photos by Chase Guthrie

www.kgsr.com/blues