Are you ready to Rock (& Rails)?

It's that time of year - when your favorite summer concert series once again returns to Whistle Stop Park. Starting June 1, with the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band opening for Girls on Top, you can enjoy free live music with your friends all the way through August 31.

If you are a long-time fan of these weekly summer events, you are sure to recognize several of the headlining bands such as Last Men on Earth, Mojomama, Face Vocal Band, Hazel Miller & the Collective, and The Long Run. The opening acts perform during Happy Hour from 5:00-6:00 p.m., and the headlining band will take the stage from 6:30-9 p.m.

As always, entry is free to the public, but various non-profits take turns collecting tips every week, and you can support your local high school girl's volleyball team with a tip when you check your bike at the front entrance. Tips are optional, but all go to support local organizations. Last year, 23 non-profits shared over $25,000 in tips.

While entry to these events is free, food and beverages are not. Be prepared for cash transactions for the various food stands and beverage purchases. There is an ATM available just down the street.

This summer, Western Disposal's new guidelines for composting will be in effect, which allow only food scraps and yard waste due to a high rate of contamination. But Rock & Rails has found an alternative.

"We will still be zero-waste," said Julie Breyer, coordinator of the Gargoyle, who volunteer to help patrons to correctly make deposits in the compost and recycle bins. "We will be working with an alternate company which allows us to still adhere to our previous guidelines around zero-waste, composting, and recycling,...meaning all of our service-ware will still be able to go into the compost." All of the compostable materials used at the concerts must be CMA certified this year.

The annual summer concert series has taken place for many years, officially adopting the name Rock & Rails in 2014. Returning concertgoers continue to have a great time every week in the summer with friends and loved ones listening to bands perform live music.

Satir Demarco, Master of Ceremonies of Rock & Rails for many years, said, "Bringing everyone together to dance and build community and have a good time" is her favorite part of Rock & Rails every summer. "The magic of music brings us together and seeing our incredible community and volunteers come together to put this on every year is really special."