Not to be missed this week: Alfresco tunes at Woodland Park Zoo.

We can think of no better way to spend an August evening than listening to live tunes under the summer sky. Seeking plans for this week? Well, this suggestion might just be music to your ears. While many ZooTunes shows sold out early, tickets remain for Tuesday and Wednesday (August 2nd and 3rd), and Pink Martini promises to put on a fun and dazzling show. Pack a picnic, and we’ll see you in the field!

Not-to-be-missed music on an Oregon farm.

Summer has begun to accelerate at lightning speed, and we suddenly feel that it’s prime time to soak up every sun-kissed moment of the season. If you’re with us, we’d love to strongly urge you—music lovers in particular—to make a really smart move to further enhance your summer. If you don’t yet have plans for next weekend (August 5-7); grab tickets to Pickathon before they’re gone. This gem of a gathering will forever raise your festival-going bar, and that’s not a promise we make lightly.

The latest tips to help you savor the season’s sweet sounds.

It’s no secret that Seattle’s expanding population has also increased sold-out shows throughout this music-loving town. Especially in summertime, tickets sell like hotcakes to cool venues featuring even cooler performers—from talents on the cusp to already-established legends. We’ve gathered a few helpful hints for scheduling a season full of delicious tunes.

Empty Houses with Good Old War (& other not-to-be-missed shows).

It’s always music season in this town, but when summertime arrives, we really crank it up a notch. After catching all kinds of good (free!) tunes at the Fremont Solstice events this weekend, we recommend you head to The Triple Door on Tuesday, June 21, to hear two amazing acts—Empty Houses and Good Old War—from the comfort of one of Seattle’s best-loved (and most laid-back) venues.

Q + A with a Riveting Musical Duo

In truth, March to May, a Seattle-based folk-pop pair, defies all genre descriptions. Singer-songwriters Darren Guyaz and Beth Wesche brilliantly overlay harp and guitar with rich vocal harmonies, haunting lyrics and riveting melodies. The result? A unique sound that has received flattering comparisons to the likes of Swell Season, Damien Rice and the Civil Wars. 

A Q+A with the longtime bandmates 

Pop/rock quartet ALO has been deemed “more than a band…It’s a musical relationship”—and one that has propelled the band and its loyal fans for nearly two decades. The band’s currently on tour to support their new Brushfire Records (Jack Johnson) release of  ‘Tangle Of Time’—a joyous collection of songs evoking their 70s-esque California cool sound and whimsical improv. Saturday, December 5, they bring their playful act to Fremont’s Nectar Lounge.

Mark your calendar for some rockin’ Moore music

If you’ve not yet seen Shakey Graves live, that’s something you’ll want to fix. We’d recommend you clear your schedule for this Sunday evening to catch the mesmerizing and enigmatic performer, who made a name for himself early on as Austin’s best one-man band. This weekend, his much buzzed-about Die Hard Tour—one that features him with a backing band—enlivens the stage at downtown’s Moore Theatre (with Tennis as the opener).