The Kinsey Report ushers in this year’s Sunset Concert series Thursday Sunset

It’s that time of year again.

Summer, you say? Sure. But, as anyone who’s spent a hot Thursday night in July in the friendly confines of Turley Park or in front of Shryock Auditorium knows, summer in Carbondale is summed up by one thing.

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The hot sun. The cool drinks. The good music and the good friends. They all make their return at 7 p.m. this Thursday in front of Shryock Auditorium when the Gary, Ind.-based blues band The Kinsey Report slides into town for the first concert of the summer and starts off the Sunset Concerts’ 25th anniversary season.

According to Don Castle, University programming coordinator and adviser to the Student Programming Council, which helps put on the concerts, the Sunset Concerts are a Carbondale tradition that allows people to just get together and have fun.

“It serves a need that’s special in the summer,” Castle said. “There’s not a lot of things going on. This is a chance to get together with friends and have a good time.”

And, true to form, this year’s slate of performers promises to add a catchy soundtrack to the season’s most famous social event. This week’s The Kinsey Report, made up of three brothers performing on guitar, vocals, drums and bass, has been a mainstay on the national blues scene for about 15 years and has released four albums, the latest of which, “Smoke and Steel” on Alligator Records, is propelling their latest tour through the Midwest and Canada. Thursday’s show is the first concert on their summer lineup.

Also on the docket, Castle said, are two bands returning from previous years – Oldies band Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets, which will perform June 19 at Turley Park, made its first Sunset Concert appearance in 1989; and Dikki Du and the Zydeco Crew, first appearing in 1999, which will play July 17 on the steps of Shryock.

The summer lineup also includes performances by alternative rock band The Stereo, the acoustic Eva Hunter Band and the bluegrass-Celtic fusion band Daybreak. The concerts will alternate between Shryock and Turley, with no concert on July 3.

As in past years, Castle stressed, alcohol will be allowed at both of the venues provided it is not in a glass container. Also, kegs, pets and underage drinking are prohibited.

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And, to top it all off, Castle said a limited edition commemorative T-shirt celebrating the 25th year of the concerts will be on sale at the concerts for $15. The shirts, Castle said, are a good way to commemorate a concert series that truly does define summer in Carbondale.

“It’s a great social occasion,” he said of the series. “Each week, it’s a different kind of show.”

Reporter Geoff Ritter can be reached at [email protected]