Osseo rocker Brain Bethke kicks off the ParkBeats series. Above: Bethke performs in Eau Claire.

Summer is a time for family, friends, and enjoying the (hopefully) warm weather. This summer, you can do all three at ParkBeats, a free summer concert series in Osseo, Wis. Presented by The Pulse, a local news, arts, and entertainment magazine published in Osseo, this concert series was created as a way to showcase the area’s many talented musicians that otherwise may not get a chance to perform. 

The series will start on Monday, June 11 and continue every Monday night through August. Central Park in Osseo will play host to ParkBeats and a variety of local musical groups. The series kicks off with Osseo Native and folk artist Brain Bethke. After Bethke, performers include Wolves at the Door (blues rock), Nancy Olson (folk-pop), Orange Blossom Band, Red Sky Warning (rock) AcoustiHOO (jazz), the Frenettes (alt-rock), and Mark Wehner, another Osseo native (folk). The full schedule, complete with dates, is available on The Pulse’s website, www.thepulsenews.org. 

Each installment of the series will begin at 5:30pm and run until 8pm. As this is an outdoor concert, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, and can bring in their own food and beverages from home. In addition, food and drinks from various Osseo restaurants will be available for purchase at each concert including an ice cream stand for those scorching summer days. ParkBeats is a casual, family-friendly event that is a fun and inexpensive way to spend a Monday evening.