Into the swing of summer - let's start with Thursday night

Figured out that the only way it's really going to be summer is when the music brings it ... and this weekend does that big time ... lots of great choices, lots of music outside ... so maybe the sun will have no choice but to shine (btw, I don't want to hear any of the Portland complaining that it's too hot when it's sunny and over 80 degrees ... hear me?)

Start heating things up with Lewi Longmire's happy hour at the Laurelthirst.  If you keep meaning to drop by some Thursday, what are you waiting for?  ... 6 pm, no cover ... have a beer, feed the tip jar, bounce around, and keep grinning. If you've been there, you know what I mean.

If you want to be outside, head to Greenway Park in Tualatin for Tremoloco.  This is a very cool band from East LA "that effortlessly cross pollinates several genres and styles such as Mexican Folk, Tex-Mex, Country, Norteno, Cumbias, Honky Tonk, Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Roadhouse Rock n Roll." OK, if they do that, they've got me ... the only other band that can do that is Los Lobos (who will be at the zoo on Sunday .. and they love this band, too) ... 6 pm, free  ... oh,, and they'll also be at Duff's on Saturday.

For other outdoor music, check out Vagabond Opera at the Ecotrust Building in the Pearl for the fourth of the Sundown at Ecotrust music series ... 5:30 pm, free

Or, at 6:30 pm in Wallace Park (NW 25th & Raleigh) - as part of Portland's free Summer Concerts in the Parks series, check out the Shelly Rudolph Soul Review, a band that includes the stellar saxophonist Reggie Houston and guitarist Chance Hayden.  Think there'll be a healthy dose of New Orleans in the mix.

It's the Potown Soul Revue at the Kennedy School with Thumptown and Brownish Black ... 7 pm, free and with a summer BBQ for your eating pleasure (food isn't free, just the music)

Continuing a week residency at Al's Den at the Crystal Hotel is Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights ... 7 pm, no cover (live music til 11)

Steve Kerin takes your requests, both obvious and obscure, to play on the Chapel Pub pipe organ ... 8 pm, no cover

Thursday also kicks off the annual Northwest String Summit at Horning's Hideout ... bluegrass and related hot pickin' through Sunday with a great lineup ...

The Knuckleheads (with who knows exactly what lineup - but always fun) are at Duff's ... 9 pm, $5

Jerry Joseph and Friends w/Steve James and Steve Drisos are at Dante's  ... 9pm, $??

This band had Sellwood Riverfront Park jumpin' on Monday ...and they play weekly at Andrea's Cha Cha Club ...Dina and Bamba Y Su Pilon D'Azucar with La Descarga Cubana - think it's time for some salsa lessons! ... 10 pm, $??

Another post coming about the rest of the weekend with a ridiculous number of great choices ... yep, it's summer!