It's only gettin' warmer – and not just the weather. We've got some hot shows happening in Boise this summer. I don't know if you already know, but there are a lot of excellent artists and bands makin' tunes in Boise these days. And lucky for us audience people, we get to see live shows again. Finally!

Summer show series

​Great Garden Escape | Thursdays at Idaho Botanical Garden

Every Thursday this summer, you can catch local and traveling bands in the meditation garden at Idaho Botanical Garden. Tickets are usually $12-$20 and you can byo food and non-alc drinks, plus Lost Grove is there with beer and wine. The lineup is created by Duck Club Entertainment, Boise's local boutique booking agency.

GGE starts this week with Afrosonics. The whole lineup is very good, but may I suggest not missing The Shivas w/ Ruff Pups on August 12 (listen), Deep Sea Diver w/ Blood Lemon (listen) on August 19, and The Brothers Comatose (listen) on September 2.

​Jump, Jam, Jive | every other Tuesday at JUMP

This new concert series kicked off on June 8 and is happening every other Tuesday at JUMP in the outdoor amphitheater. Grab dinner from a food truck and see two local artists perform – for free! It’s very family-friendly, too. No bb sitter needed.

The next show is tonight, Gretch n’ Rodgers Band with an opener from Boise Rock School and eats from Lime and a Coconut, Mad Mac, and The Stil.

Live on the Lawn | July & August at Idaho Botanical Garden

This series brings in acts touring nationally to open air shows at the Botanical Garden. It's another series curated by Duck Club, but these are a little bit bigger shows than others mentioned.

So far, they have announced: Built To Spill (listen) w/ The French Tips & Blood Lemon on July 21; a daytime disco w/ Poolside DJ Set (listen) and Brijean on August 4; and Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange - listen) on August 20. Best way to follow this series is Duck Club Facebook or Instagram.

​piKINics | Sundays & Tuesdays at KIN

Every Sunday and Tuesday (and the occasional Saturday) you can go down to KIN for a lovely performance by local and touring artists and a beautiful three-course picnic-style meal. Seating is on a grassy hillside and it’s a really nice way to spend an evening.

Tickets are usually like $50 but you can also watch from the top of the hill for free (& sometimes the patio if they have room).

​Neighborhood Concert Series | every other Wednesday at parks

I wrote about this last week. The Morrison Center and Lost Grove Brewing put together these awesome Wednesday night park parties complete with live music from local bands, din from local food trucks and other family-friendly events. It’s free for all and open to all ages. Next one is tomorrow night at Sunset Park.

​Tunes at Bogus Basin | every weekend at Bogus Basin

Ever been up to Bogus in the summer? It’s so lovely and they are starting up their summer events again – yay. We have two options for music at Bogus Basin:

Music on the Patio happens every Saturday & Sunday with an artist playing from 2-5pm. It’s free. Music the Mountain is a bigger show, with three local and traveling bands playing one Saturday a month on the lawn by the lower lodge. It’s free, too! The dates this year are June 26, July 24, August 14, September 4.

​Live on the Patio | Saturdays & Sundays at Big Al’s in Meridian

Every Saturday and Sunday evening, from 7-8pm, you can hear a live local band on the patio of Big Al’s in Meridian. It’s free and open to all ages. Food and drink available at the show, too. Every weekend until the end of September.

​Tuesdays on the Creek | Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell

Every week, regional and national touring musicians put on a show at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell. It coincides with the Farm to Fork Farmers' Market. The show is free, and there is free parking downtown. You can get food and drink there, and you can reserve a table for the show for $50.

Tonight’s show is Scott Pemberton, who is very fun to see play live.

Shows are back at local venues

​Neurolux has dozens of shows on the schedule for the summer, fall and even next year. Some to consider for the near future: Surfer Blood on 8/7 (listen); Smokey Brights on 8/14 (listen); Electric Six on 9/5 (listen).

​The Olympic is one of my fave venues because there's onion rings right downstairs if you need a mid-show snack, ya know? Some shows to consider: Charley Crockett w/ Jenny Don't and the Spurs on 7/14 (listen), Jackie Venson on 7/17 (listen); Spirit Mother w/ locals Lucid Aisle and Sawtooth Monk (listen); Grateful Shred on 10/2 (listen); and Soccer Mommy w/ Emily Reo on 11/2 (listen).

​Visual Arts Collective (VAC) is back up and going a bit with a few local artists playing shows soon. Boise locals With Child (listen) and Otis Crook have a show this Friday 6/25 and locals Tylor & the Train Robbers (listen) are having an album release party on 7/9.

​Knitting Factory gets going again in August with new shows and some postponements. Shakey Graves is back in Boise on 8/1 (sold out); Tune-Yards on 8/9 (listen to the whole thing); Mt. Joy on 8/27 (listen); Tanya Tucker on 10/5 (listen); Milky Chance on 11/19 (listen); and Courtney Barnett on 12/2 (listen).

92 days until Treefort Music Fest

Are you going to Treefort Music Fest? If you don't know or forgot (lol), Treefort is a five-day music and arts festival that quite literally takes over downtown Boise. In addition to 500 bands, there are 11 forts to explore. Everywhere you look there is a Treefort something going on. It's incredibly fun and it's also been too damn long since we've Treeforted. (Full discourse I work at Treefort, too.)

Did you see that more artists were announced for the September lineup? Lake Street Dive (listen); Dawn Richard (listen); Gilligan Moss (listen/dance) ; Chad VanGaalen (love this song); and like 40 more bands. Rad.

Here's a few from my "must see" list for Treefort 2021:

• The Marías (listen)
• Larkin Poe (listen)
• Goth Babe (listen)
• Arooj Aftab (listen to the whole thing)
• Luna Li (listen)
• Yasmin Williams (listen)
• Sonny & the Sunsets (listen)
• The Black Tones (listen to this whole album)
• Boulevards (listen)

Where to casually catch a show

Sometimes you just want to meet up with friends and hear some tunes. Here's a few bars and restaurants that usually have live music:

• Lost Grove Brewing
• Barbarian Brewing
• The Sandbar
• Hilltop Station
• Spacebar
• Ironwood Bar & Grill
• The Mode Lounge
• McCleary’s Pub
• Telaya Wine Co.

​

Ok, that's all I've got for ya today. What shows are you gonna go to? Let me know marissa@fromboise.com.

Happy show hopping!

With love from Boise,

-Marissa