When I look back on our memorable, fun-packed month of July there is one evening that especially stands out. What is funny about this particular Thursday night is that it was such a basic, low key affair but for whatever reason it epitomized summer.

On this evening that I speak of, we simply went to a park to listen to live music.

The scene at Audubon Park in Spokane on July 25, 2024.

I took the kids to Audubon Park on July 25 for the latest show in its summer concert series. Taking the stage was The Moops, a classic rock cover band. We bought some Carl’s Jr. hamburgers and snagged some sodas from the gas station and headed to the 27 acres of rolling Ponderosa Pines in northwest Spokane. We found some grassy space, set up our lawn chairs, and prepared to enjoy the evening.

Beau eats hjs hamburger during the concert at Audubon Park.

It is funny, amateur live music isn’t usually a big draw for me, especially if it is indoors in a confined spot such as a restaurant or bar. However, if a band is playing in an outdoor open space, I am all for it. It is similar in the respect that I feel a soda, beer, and hamburger always taste better in the open air than at the dining room. So, as you can imagine, when you have both going for you on a gorgeous evening it is pretty easy to enjoy yourself.

And enjoy ourselves we did. Even though Sloan didn’t know a single song the band performed, she danced the night away. Self-conscious that hundreds of people surrounded her as she busted her moves toward the front of the stage? Not my daughter! Beau also had his dancing shoes on—well, technically he was barefoot—but he took breaks to climb on the playground.

Sloan dancing the night away at Audubon Park.

Although Sloan may have been clueless when it came to the artists and lyrics of the songs, her daddy wasn’t. At one time as a young teenager, I loathed the rock music from the 1970s and early 1980s that my dad listened to on the radio but that is no longer the case. I had a relaxing time as The Moops played songs such as “American Girl,” “Dancing With Myself,” “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “867-5309,” and so many more.

As it approached 9 p.m., I had to round up my young ones and head home. As you can imagine, they didn’t want to leave. Sadly, it was the last concert of the series but next summer we will return earlier in the season. It was an innocent, inexpensive night of fun under the sky during one of Spokane’s nicest months…what isn’t there to like? Don’t Blink.