Summer music is in full swing, as evidenced by the slew of concert series that have been popping up lately. One of the latest is Manchester, New Hampshire's "Thursday Night Live" Summer Concert Series, which will be held every Thursday night (duh!) in July at 7 p.m. at Veterans Park downtown. Even better, these shows are all FREE!

The Palace Festival Orchestra, led by conductor Robert C. Babb, kick things off this Thursday, July 10, while bluegrass/blues/country quartet Ollabelle bring their unique combination of traditional sounds to the stage on July 17. I saw these guys at the Newport Folk Festival several years back, and I was thoroughly impressed, mainly with their haunting harmonies.

The fun continues on July 24 with Martha’s Vineyard jam band Entrain, and rounding things out will be Latin rock renegades deSol. I’ve seen these guys several times, and they always bring a rump-shaking party.

If the Lowell Summer Music Series just isn’t giving you enough, then hit Manchester on Thursday nights this month to fill in the gaps. Any of these bands are worth the trip up.

Speaking of Manch Vegas, the Great White North's original prog rock power trio, Rush, will be at the Verizon Wireless Arena this Friday night, July 11, bringing a slew of classic rock hits to a venue sure to be packed with pony-tailed dudes and their music-nerd friends (or reluctant significant others). I saw Geddy and co. - for the first time, I'm ashamed to say - at the Garden in Boston five years ago, and all I can say is I would probably be up in Manchester this weekend if I wasn't out of town for business.

So if the Indigo Girls in Lowell ain't your cup of tea (and if you're interested in Rush, they most certainly aren't), then head up to Manchester and relive the days of your youth, when you had more than enough time to study every awe-inspiring lyric and sci-fi themed album cover you could get your hands on.