Hello Tuesday ~ 

It’s Em, again! The constant blistering heat is finally being offset by patches of cool weather, which marks the decline of summer. Until than, we’ve still got some exciting summer things to look forward to. 

This week I’ll be sharing the live music and entertainment you can catch through the rest of the month around the Mid-Valley. From little festivals in Salem to concerts around the area. There’s some good ones still to come! 

Also, we have some back-to-school advice from local educators, as school starting up again is right around the corner.

In the meantime, I realized it’s been a couple months since I’ve joined on as part of the newsletter crew… Is there any questions about Salem that you have for me? From food and dining to my personal favorite or hated anythings, I want to answer them in a future newsletter! You can reach me at [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you all!

Looking for heirloom tomatoes,

Em Chan

Editors Note: Live music is one of my favorite things in life. So much going on this weekend! Exciting time to be in Salem. If you have seen concerts coming in in September and October, let us know! Would love to include them in a future send.

Capital City Retro Fest, August 22 - 24: This new three-night concert event will be at the Gerry Frank Ampitheater at Riverfront Park. Three different cover bands will be performing each evening, with tribute artists including Journey, AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac and ABBA. The event opens at 6 p.m., and music begins at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome. There will be food trucks and a bar serving alcohol available for patrons. Tickets now available online.    

RiverCity’s 10th Anniversary Celebration + End of Summer Show, August 24: While technically not a music festival in the traditional sense, the students from the RiverCity Rock Star Academy will be performing while also celebrating the program’s milestone anniversary. THere will be a food and drink cart, outdoor games, one-day-only specials, raffles, studio tours and an open jam finale open for instrumentalists. The event kicks off at noon, and it is recommended to bring a lawn chair to enjoy the performances. 

Keizer Rapids Summer Sounds, various dates: Held at Keizer Rapids Amphitheater, doors open at 5 p.m. and musical performances begin at 6 p.m. Every Saturday since late July is the summer concert series. August 23 features Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys, August 29 (the only Friday performance as it is before Labor Day weekend) is Family and Faith Night, and September 6 is JFK. 

Punx in the Park, August 31: This free-for-all-ages event is a resource fair and free concert day held at Riverfront Park and Amphitheater from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local bands will be performing as the live punk show as well as meet and greets available with the bands. Free resources for youth include meals, community resources, youth speakers, clothing closet, giveaways and more. Food trucks will also be onsite, but no alochol as it is a youth-oriented event. Punx in the Park is run by Punx with Purpose, a local non-profit that focuses on supporting at-risk youth. 

The Oregon State Fair is coming soon, and with it a special concert series at the L.B. Day Amphitheater. Each evening of the fair there is a concert, and these are the artists you should look into planning to see - tickets will go very quickly. Check out the venue webpages for each artist for a playlist of hits from each artist, if you’re interested in hearing more.

Story and Tune at Chemeketa Cellars, August 21: The folk music duo will be performing at the tasting room from 6-8 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages. The tasting room will be open from 4-9 p.m., with beer, cider, charcuterie, and light bites available for purchase separately. 

Rose Gerber at The Farm on Golden Hill, August 24: The Silverton event venue is featuring Rose Gerber during one of its Sunday Summer live music and food truck evenings. No ticket necessary for the event. The event will run from 4-6 p.m. 

The season is upon parents and guardians to prepare their kids and teens for another school year. Personally, I’m not a parent, but I got some great words of wisdom from Keizer Elementary School principal Jason Gundlach and assistant principal Irma Patton. 

School may start in September, but it takes a while for them - and you, the parents - to get adjusted to a new routine, Jason said. Practice morning routines: getting clothes, brushing teeth, feeding pets, and the other morning patterns so the first day isn’t like a warzone, he joked. Preparing early will likely increase your student feeling rested and prepared when they walk in the door. 

What students do after school is more of an afterthought compared to the morning routine. Especially for younger children, setting up an area or routine around homework and other activities or things they may have to do after school. Getting them adjusted or ready now will help smooth the transition once the school year gets into swing, Jason said.

School-specific info is important, but sometimes district-wide information is overlooked, Irma said.  

School sites include supply lists, events, and school specific program details. District-wide announcements like weather delays or school board-related info can be found, plus broader resources and student programs. This is a great time to preview things for your student and ask questions ahead of time.

Students take a lot of influence from the older people around them, and positive association can go a long way, Jason said. Pairing positive language and encouragement with going back to school and potentially help students lessen the dread of returning. Emphasizing working hard and how valuable and worth it is can have a “massive impact” on students, he added. 

Parents and guardians should also participate with their students’ teachers and curriculums when they can. Open houses are meant to invite them in and see lessen anxiety while building the parent and student partnership. Irma said it helps teachers to see faces and that everyone is on the same page for supporting their student.

Have an idea you’d like to see us cover in a future Tuesday send?

Let us know by simply replying to this email.