Steamboat Pilot & Today

With the summer solstice behind us, spring is over and the season of Strings is just ahead. This summer, the eight-week Strings Music Festival features more than 60 concerts and events, and the performances start this week.

The season officially opens with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on Friday. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awards. He is the only artist to win Grammys for jazz and classical albums in the same year — and he has done it twice. He also is the only artist to win Grammys for five consecutive years, and in 1997, he received the Pulitzer Prize in music. Lawn seating for this amazing opening-night concert will be available Friday morning at the box office.

On Sunday, local favorite Brent Rowan returns to the Strings stage. He brings with him country songwriters Deborah Allen and Jim Photoglo. Allen got her start in Nashville, Tenn., singing background vocals for Roy Orbison. She has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, and her songs have been recorded by LeAnn Rimes, Diana Ross and Fleetwood Mac. Photoglo toured as the bassist for Vince Gill and opened for the Beach Boys. His songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Street Beat kicks off the youth and family concert series Tuesday. These popular and affordable concerts are happening all summer and feature a $10 ticket price for adults and $1 for kids. The upbeat performance this week features drumming, martial arts, acrobatics and break dancing.

This year, audience members will experience a new state-of-the-art sound system, which was professionally designed and installed this spring. We know you will enjoy the enhanced clarity of sound and smooth sound coverage throughout the pavilion. It also features a permanently installed sound system in the lawn seating area. Strings also upgraded the lighting system this year and installed a large projection screen on stage, which will be used during a week of multimedia concerts in August.

Summer in Steamboat comes with Strings attached.