Your live summer mixtape

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For fans of local music, date night just got moved to Tuesdays. Each week for the rest of the summer, Utah’s finest singer-songwriters will gather at the Tahitian Noni Gardens to play the Hammer Hands LIVE Playlist Concert Series.

The lineup is different every week, but will always include the talented and charismatic Shaun “Hammer Hands” Barrowes, the driving force behind the series.

Barrowes is no stranger to the spotlight. His many accomplishments include releasing three albums and performing as a Top 48 contestant on American Idol. His piano-driven, jazz-influenced tunes have received praise from the likes of Norah Jones and Céline Dion and have earned him the nickname “Hammer Hands.”

But between perfecting key-pounding solos and touring the country, he remembers the importance of communities and local music. He created the concert series both to provide quality entertainment and to bring together the music community.

“Most of us have to perform in bars or restaurants because we can’t find anywhere else to perform,” Barrowes stated. “With a weekly concert series I wanted to provide artists with another great performance opportunity.”

If the first performance of the season was any indication, this is a gift to music fans worth far more than the $5.00 the tickets cost. With a laid-back feel, the concert series is the perfect setting for a night out with the girls, an inexpensive but memorable date, or a gathering place for music-loving families.

It seems that Shaun has a knack for putting together a group that meshes well together, but also displays a variety of musical abilities. The premiere event included guest performers Justin Williams, Jarret Burns and Debra Fotheringham. Each artist took a turn playing one song at a time, a format that engaged the audience. The range of sounds traveled from sweet to sexy through fun and feisty. Whether they were performing original material or putting a twist on a familiar tune, the performers were highly creative in their materials and presentations. With some well-crafted collaborations interspersed throughout the show, it was a night to remember.

Each week, this series will continue to provide music that feels like the perfect summer mix tape. During the first performance, it was suggested that each of that week’s guests might make an encore performance later in the summer. Any of those performances would be well worth attending. For an updated schedule of lineups and more information about the concert series, visit www.ShaunBarrowes.com.

What: Hammer Hands LIVE Playlist Concert Series

When: Tuesdays June 2-August 20 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Tahitian Noni Gardens at 333 Riverpark Way in Provo

Price: $5 at the venue

Continued June lineup

June 9th: Annelise LeCheminant, Michael Wine, Nicole Sheahan and Shaun “Hammer Hands” Barrowes

June 16th: Ryan Innes, April Meservy, Truman and Shaun “Hammer Hands” Barrowes

June 23rd: Ru Ru, Jake Jacobson, Mike Barclay and Shaun “Hammer Hands” Barrowes