Kyle Johnson

Need a little spice in your Friday evenings? Ticketmaster service fees got you down? Well, my friend, KEXP has got just the prescription for you.

Starting this weekend, KEXP is teaming up with the good people behind Seattle Center to present a weekly series of free, all-ages concerts on the lawn of the Mural Amphitheater. Come bask in the warm glow of Seattle summer and enjoy live performances from some of KEXP’s favorite artists, every Friday from 5-8pm, July 31st through August 21st.

The series opens this Friday with the country-fried power pop stylings of Portland’s Blitzen Trapper, followed by the lyrical indie-rock of local outfit Throw Me The Statue. Other upcoming artists include the 206’s own Dyme Def and Fresh Espresso -- two of the most forward-thinking groups in hip-hop today — along with down-home rockers The Moondoggies and percussive-folkies The Dodos.

As special inclusion to the series, the 7th Annual KEXP BBQ will also be taking place at the Mural stage and is now a free event. This year’s BBQ lineup includes breakout bands like Cymbals Eat Guitars and Japandroids, as well as a special headlining set from the legendary Dinosaur Jr.

For the full mural series and BBQ lineup, see below. You’ll also find some free tunes from some of the performing artists — check em out!

Friday 7/31, 5-8pm
Blitzen Trapper
Throw Me the Statue

Friday 8/7, 5-8pm
Dyme Def
Fresh Espresso

Saturday 8/8, 7th Annual KEXP BBQ! 2-9pm
Dinosaur Jr
Viva Voce
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Japandroids
Born Anchors
Champagne Champagne

Friday 8/14, 5-8pm
The Dodos
Army Navy

Friday 8/21, 5-8pm
Fruit Bats
The Moondoggies
Johnny and the Moon

Throw Me The Statue - Lolita

Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation (MP3)

Dinosaur Jr - I Want You To Know (MP3)

The Dodos - Fools

Fresh Espresso - Big or Small (MP3)

Ron Henry

The KEXP BBQ has turned into a must-see event in recent years and this year is definitely no exception. Ever since we changed locations to the spacious lawn behind the South Lake Union Discovery Center,  the BBQ has gone to all new heights. This thing just keeps getting bigger and better every year. The new location is also a pretty unique place to see an outdoor show in Seattle – these bands are playing literally right in the middle of the city. With the diverse line-ups we’ve had over the years, there have been some great performances, but it’s hard not to single out Pela’s epic performance from last year. Hell, even they got emotional after that one! It’s those performances from bands you don’t expect that are what the KEXP BBQ is all about. It’s also about getting out and meeting your fellow listeners and favorite KEXP DJ’s. Who knows, you might also see one attempt another stage dive! (Um, don’t give up your day job!)

This weekend we take the BBQ to a whole new level. We’ve officially turned it to 11. Check out this ridiculous line-up:

• The Dandy Warhols
• Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts
• The Helio Sequence
• Common Market
• The Saturday Knights 

Gates open at 2 p.m., and bands will perform from 3 to 9 p.m. This event is all ages, bar w/ ID.

Tickets on sale NOW at BrownPaperTickets.com. $20 in advance and $25 at the door. More details HERE.