This week, Vashon Park District will launch its beloved free annual summer series, Concerts in the Park, presented in collaboration with Vashon Events at Ober Park.

The first show, featuring roots reggae great and Vashon favorite Clinton Fearon, will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Clinton became the bassist, vocalist, and lyricist of the Gladiators, at the age of 19, and then spent 18 years with the legendary band. During that time, he was also a session player in Jamaica, creating everlasting bass lines for well-known artists including Yabby You, Jimmy Riley, Max Romeo, Junior Byles, and many others.

After leaving Jamaica in 1987, he started a new career in Seattle with The Defenders and then formed his own band, Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown Band, in the mid-1990s.

Since then, he recorded 14 albums and toured the world, performing in major festivals and venues.

Opening for Fearon will be At Least A Dollar Coin, a Vashon guitar duo that originated in the hallways of Vashon High School. It consists of 18-year-old Wyatt Bates and 16-year-old Jonah Cole, who play acoustic blues music.

Concerts in the Park is a family-friendly event held at Ober Park, where the park’s grassy berms provide natural amphitheater seating.

This year’s lineup is sure to get the audience up and dancing.

Following Fearon’s show on Aug. 1, Incendio (Latin-based World fusion) will play on Aug. 8. Adrian & Meredith (Folk/Americana) will take the stage on Aug. 15. The Jewel Tones (Motown) will play on Aug. 22, and the series will close with Troll’s Cottage (World/Island Roots) on Aug. 29.

Opening each concert is Vashon Events’ “New Voices” program, which showcases emerging talent in the Vashon music scene. In addition to At Least A Doller Coin, these performances will include Matthew Rieger; Colette and Shawn Jones; Starbird Road (Maya Battisti and Cassie Paetkau); and Natasha Popova.

It’s all a chance for young and old to enjoy live music in one of Vashon’s most scenic outdoor settings. Bring the family — there’s plenty of grassy space to spread out picnic blankets and soak in the music on a warm summer night.

Ober Park has a no-dogs policy, and alcohol and smoking are not permitted.

For more information, visit vashonevents.org.

Upcoming bands to play Concerts in the Park are (top, left to right) Incendio, Adrian & Meredith, (bottom) The Jewel Tones, and Troll’s Cottage. (Courtesy photos)