Summer is near

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that the Gekko's are big summer concert folks.

Nearly every week, somewhere in the Cincinnati area is a national act playing for free. I actually like the free shows better because in general the acts are 1) out of rehab 2) actually into the music 3) not self absorbed assholes and 4) not Coldplay.

Unfortunately, this year's schedule is fairly lame. Even the paid acts schedule this summer look weak. The Gekko's plan on heading to Fifth Third Field to see Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan and that's about it.

The free summer show schedule this year is as follows....

Summerbration - Blue Ash
Diamond Rio
Rodney Atkins
James Otto

Mason Fireworks
Huey Lewis

Blue Ash Fireworks
Gretchen Wilson

Miami Meadows
Marshall Tucker
Fabulous Thunderbirds

Sycamore Twp.
Orleans
Elvin Bishop

Taste of Blue Ash
Three Dog Night
Kansas
Commodores

I still waiting to see the line ups for The Chili Festival, Seafood Festival and a few others. I'm guessing that slim budgets are making for slim acts. Mrs. Gekko thinks that the only acts at these festivals are those who need health insurance for their liver transplants.

Regardless, we'll be starting out festival season this weekend at Taste of Cincinnati to see Sullivan Janszen on Sunday night.

Now we just need some global warming and cold beer to get this summer off to a good start.