The lineup for the summer concert series at the Oregon Zoo has been announced, and there are some good things coming up—in particular, Jimmy Cliff on Sunday, June 24. I saw Cliff down at SXSW and he was terrific; you forget how many amazing songs the guy has. Cliff’s most recent EP, Sacred Fire, is some of his finest work to date, as he does spectacular covers of “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” and “Guns of Brixton” (that’s the one that mentions The Harder They Come, which you gotta love). Now, you’re not ordinarily gonna get much in the way of reggae recommendations from me, so take this for what it’s worth. Cliff also has a new full-length on the way.
Here’s Oregon Zoo’s full concert schedule.
Friday, June 22: The B-52s
Sunday, June 24: Jimmy Cliff
Friday, June 29: Leo Kottke, Jake Shimabukuro
Sunday, July 1: k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang
Thursday, July 19: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Friday, July 20: The Head and the Heart
Sunday, July 22: Ziggy Marley
Saturday, Aug. 4: Johnny Clegg Band, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Friday, Aug. 10: Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson
Saturday, Aug. 11:Melissa Etheridge
Friday, Aug. 17: Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang
Saturday, Aug. 18 & Sunday, Aug. 19: Pink Martini
Friday, Aug. 24: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Sunday, Aug. 26: Rosanne Cash, Madeleine Peyroux
Friday, Sept. 14: Chicago
How many of these bands were here in the last two years? Jimmy Cliff, the B-52s, k.d. lang…Maybe Ladysmith Black Mambazo too. C’mon Zoo. Get original!