Federal Way’s free summer concerts are back

Free shows on Wednesdays at Steel Lake Park.

By Max Burchi • July 15, 2024 7:30 am

Federal Way free summer concerts just started with a fiddler.

Every Wednesday this July at Steel Lake Park, Federal Way is putting on free concerts for all citizens.

The first concert of this series occurred on July 10, where The Hot Rodster Band, a country rock fiddle band, performed to a packed crowd.

The band played classics from all different eras, including “Chicken Fried,” “Low Rider,” “Dirt on My Boots,” “La Grange” and “Wagon Wheel.”

The Hot Rodster Band has been playing shows across Washington for over seven years now, but specifically highlighted how great this location and crowd were for their past show.

“It was a good time and a good crowd,” said Rodney Landert, the band’s lead and main fiddler. “This venue is very nice. We really enjoy the lake and the park. It’s a great, great venue.”

Landert is a lifelong lover of music, but only got into the fiddle relatively recently.

“I’ve had this band together for seven years. I’ve been playing fiddle for 11 years, and I’ve been playing music for about 50 years,” Landert said. “I used to play drums in USO shows and rock bands and I just started playing the fiddle recently.”

When asked how he got into the fiddle, Landert had quite the response: “I woke up from a dream one day and I told my wife ‘I am going to play the fiddle.’ She said you’re crazy, then I started playing it. I practiced every day, and learned how to play it.”

The Summer Sound Series continues Wednesday, July 17, with Harmonious Funk (R&B). The following two concerts will be performed by Radio 80 (80s pop radio hits) on July 24, and Time Machina Radio (rock) on July 31, all at Steel Lake Park, 2410 S. 312th St.