KENNEWICK, Wash. – A summer concert series by the Clover Island Inn on Wednesday nights throughout the summer! It’s called “Thunder on the Island,” and all ages are welcome! National acts also roll through town to rock the island on the weekends. According to the Clover Island Inn, this is the 19th year of the island concert series. The General Manager, Liza Clitar, said the attendance gets bigger every year.
This year, the inn got a new stage called the “Apex.” According to Clover Island Inn, the Wednesday night concerts are free. Local bands come to the island to entertain and showcase their music– she says national acts come through town too.–those acts play on Saturday or Sunday nights– in past years. Acts like Sawyer Brown, Night Ranger, and most recently, country music artist Joe Nichols. She says if you missed any of them, don’t worry. Many more are heading down to rock the island.
“We have Neal McCoy on August 4th,” Clitar said. “On July 7th, we have Fan Halen, which is a tribute band to Van Halen. July 20th, Yesterday, a Beatles tribute band that’s been here for their fourth or fifth time.”
She said that without their sponsors’ help, they couldn’t put this on. The Port of Kennewick bought the new stage for them. Clitar said some artists need a bigger stage for their equipment. They needed to rent a stage in the past, and now, they don’t have to.
The concert series kicked off Memorial Day weekend and continues through the second week of August. On Wednesday nights, the concerts are free, and local bands come to rock the island.Clitar said national acts also come through town. Those acts play on Saturday or Sunday nights, and you have to pay for those concerts.
“We became staples, kind of the staples of the music venue here in Kennewick,” said Clitar. Our attendance is the same people every time. We get recognized.”
She said people can see the stage from the cable bridge coming in from Pasco. She says the community continues to support them year after year. When the bigger acts come through, she’s seen people come in from as far away as Portland.The national acts play on Saturdays or Sundays. Tickets are required, and they are already on sale. The Wednesday night concerts are free and start at six. Food and drinks are available for purchase, but no outside food or beverages are allowed.
