Swayback Sisters perform Friday

Under the lush trees of Roger’s Park, locals can yet again discover the perfect location to bring a picnic, sit back and relax to tunes offered up by a one-of-a-kind summer music experience.

Sponsored by local businesses and individuals, Summer Tracks is back for its 11th year – with good reason.

Peter Eisenbrown, who orchestrates Summer Tracks, said the beautiful setting and professional sounds make this event special each year.

“We’re so lucky to have this park in town,” Eisenbrown said. “We’ve put together six strong shows. So come on out, try to be generous and just have a good time.”

The array of musicians lined up for this edition kicks off on June 17 with Mark Bumgarner, warming up for the Swayback Sisters.

Bumgarner combines the folk rock timbre of the 60s and 70s with Americana and bluegrass. This year, Bumgarner will perform with his wife, Aimee.

The Swayback Sisters normally include “sisters” Lindsay Wojcik, Laura Blackley and Nikki Talley. Talley will be absent from the stage for this show and the group will instead be joined by Craig Larimer of Modo and Oso Rey of Soulgrass Rebellion. Organizers said each member is an accomplished artist on his or her own, so you can be sure the combined forces of this band are set to deliver a stunning musical encounter.

On the first of July, Rogers Park will present the Steel Wheels. This four-piece group has often been compared to such bands as the Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show. In trying to convey their talent, Eisenbrown said, “They’re so good. They’ve really got it to make it big.”

July 15 brings the Nouveaux Honkies. If their name doesn’t grab your attention, their music certainly will, Eisenbrown said. Their coalescence of blues, swing and early country earned the group the honor of best roots music CD by the Palm Beach Post in Florida.

On July 29, Summer Tracks features another double show with The Carburetors and Tom Fisch. The Carburetors include Mark Warwick, Billy Munoz and Tryon’s own Jay Goree. These guys performed in Tryon on April Fool’s Day this year, so their music will undoubtedly be a familiar favorite.

Tom Fisch is a new addition to the Summer Tracks lineup. Fisch is capable of a diverse range of material, though his influence swings towards the warm style of John Prine or Doc Watson.

Gigi Dover and the Big Love take the stage on Aug.12 and they’re an established crowd pleaser at Summer Tracks concerts. Though their music is predominately southern, they weave in reverberations of jazz, rock and R&B to produce a piquant sound that is described as shamelessly funky.

Bob Sinclair, who has been heard at the Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival in previous years, will follow them, merging jazz, country/swing, blues and ballads to close out the evening.

Last but not least, Summer Tracks will round off this year with The Firecracker Jazz Band, which is often called the “do not miss” band of the area. This eclectic six-piece ensemble will play on Sept. 2. The band has been a popular performer at Roger’s Park before and will likely attract a crowd again.

The shows begin at 7 p.m., rain or shine. Though admission is free, donations are greatly appreciated. Soft drinks, water and Giardini’s wood-fired pizza will be available for sale.