Clover Island Announces Summer Concert Lineup

The Clover Island Inn in Kennewick has finalized its summer concert lineup, and it includes some familiar favorites and some new acts. The 18th year of these outdoor concerts, with the Columbia River and the Cable Bridge as backdrops, begins with a kick-off event on May 28.

The Inn hosts two types of concerts. The Thunder on the Island concerts are free and feature local and regional talent. They take place on Wednesday evenings between Mid-June to Mid-August. Touring shows by nationally known bands will perform on Sundays. Gates open at 6 p.m. for all concerts. The Sunday paid concerts are for ages 21 and over.

Groove City
The Kick-Off Party on May 28 will feature Groove City, with opening band the Knockdowns. Groove City is a high-energy dance band that plays top-40 hits as well as old-school R&B with a flair for funk. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 on the day of the concert. Tables for 10 are $200, and a room package is $139 plus tax.

Hell’s Belles
On Sunday, June 4, the all-girl AC/DC tribute band Hell’s Belles will rock the Island. The opening act for the Hell’s Belles is another hard-rock band from Canada, Gypsy Rose. Prices for this show are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate. For just $300 you can reserve a table for 10, and room packages are $159 plus tax.

Fastlane
On July 9, the Sunday concert will be Fastlane, a Celebration of Eagles band and a Tri-Cities homegrown band that is gaining a nationwide reputation. Fastlane is a collection of some of the finest musicians and vocalists from Eastern Washington. Their shows have wide audience appeal that spans multiple generations and genres. Prices for this show are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. A table for 10 is just $250, and the room package is $159 plus tax.

Sawyer Brown
After more than 40 years, thousands of concerts, some gold and platinum albums and quite a few music awards — including the Academy of Country Music’s Vocal Group of the Year Award in 1996 — Sawyer Brown is still going strong. The band will return to Clover Island on Sunday, Aug. 6, for the fifth time, along with openers American Honey.

“Star Search” was television’s “American Idol” of the 1980s, and Sawyer Brown won the $100,000 prize and a recording contract in 1983. After their first hit single, “Leona,” and their first number-one hit, “Step That Step,” other hits have included “Betty’s Being Bad,” “All These Years,” “Treat Her Right” and classics such as “The Race Is On,” “Six Days on the Road” and “Some Girls Do.”

Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 the day of the concert, and table rates and room packages are available.

Labor Day Weekend
Joel Gibson, Jr., a Pacific Northwest country and rock artist, will share the stage with Stompin’ Ground for a Labor Day Weekend party. Gibson’s engaging baritone vocals and humble demeanor have endeared him to audiences, and Stompin’ Ground is a favorite with Tri-Cities audiences. Tickets are $15 or $20, and the room package is only $139 plus tax.

End of Summer
The End of Summer party on the island will feature Quiet Riot, a Los Angeles heavy metal band. The band is celebrating the 40-year anniversary of its “Metal Health” album, the smash hit the made them an overnight sensation in 1983. Opening for Quiet Riot will be local favorite band Colorblind.

Enjoy the ‘Thunder’
The “Thunder on the Island” series begins on June 14 with Billy Stoops and the Dirt Angels, and on June 21 it’s the band Queensgate. Other acts include Englewood Heights on June 28, Chris Loid and Green Light Polly on July 5, Badlandz on July 12, Stompin’ Ground on July 19, Blue Tattoo on July 26, Nuketown on Aug. 2, Fat Fox on Aug. 9 and Groove Principal on Aug. 16. The series is free and suitable for all ages.

For information and updates on any of the summer activities at the Clover Island Inn, visit cloverislandinn.com.