Nothing says summer better than a free concert on the waterfront.

Cities around the county have hidden gems of outdoor concert venues that have either not been fully realized. However, annually during the hottest days of summer Port Orchard, Silverdale, Poulsbo and Bainbridge each open their waterfront shoreline to the music for free summer concert series.

The range of styles is broad, the venues are gorgeous, and the events are typically held on those days when you may not have anything else to do anyway, so why not?

Here’s a look at what’s happening in North Kitsap this summer.

Headed into its second decade of operation, the Bainbridge Concerts in the Park Series has hit a groove in its partnership with the city as well as the Chamber of Commerce, bringing in quality original regional bands, free for the public.

A band familiar to regulars at Concerts in the Park will be coming back to open up this summer’s set at 7 p.m. July 11 — Suzie Bradford and the Side Project from Seattle. It played Concerts in the Park, 2005, now two years later it is emphasizing its appeal with spots on the prime regional festival circuit as well as some solid performances at the Triple Door in Seatttle.

The band should be bringing back much of the soul it brought before laced with a bit more pop candy as this year’s Island series gets underway.

It’s all about a family-friendly, upbeat, community evening centered around music that can relate across the different ages which the event attracts.

“I’m really looking forward to just seeing everybody again,” said series co-organizer Georgia Browne. “It’s great to just walk around and say ‘Hi.’”

Browne, in her fourth of helping organize the series, also noted her excitement about the level of entertainment each band in the series should bring in 2007. The bands are all regionally with some nationally known artists, she said, and each should bring a different style to each concert session.

Suzie and the Side Project, a pop-chasing rhythm and blues band will be followed the next week by three harmonizing cowboys carrying guitars – The Santa Cruz River Band on July 18. Then an acoustical rock band that seems to be gathering steam in Seattle, Handful of Luvin’ will play to close out the month July 25.

For a list of all the bands playing the seven-part series, visit the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council Web site, www.artshum.org and select calendar.

All concerts will start promptly at 7 p.m. Wednesday nights July 11 through Aug. 22 at the boat stage in the Island’s waterfront park.

And if it should happen to be raining, Browne added, the show will go on inside the Bainbridge Commons.

Across the Agate Pass Bridge in Poulsbo, while they don’t have a safeguard against Mother Nature, organizers of the Summer Nights at the Bay series still have one incredible venue to work with in the Kvelstad Pavilion. The Norwegian style wooden structure is a quaint setting for any summer evening, especially when the air is filled with music and the ground covered with dancing feet.

That, of course, is precisely the intent of the series which is free to the public at 7 p.m. Thursday nights on the downtown shores of Liberty Bay Park.

“It just means summer to me,” said organizer Mary McCluskey, Poulsbo Parks and Recreation executive director.

The boys from the North Kitsap band Been There Done That will be kicking off this year’s summer event, as the Summer Nights at the Bay Series starts up at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Been There Done That is billed as a rockabilly, Motown, classic rock band.

The next week’s concert will usher in a jazzier feel, as Poulsbo-based guitarist Lee Pence and his Trio — Stu Wakefield on bass and Scott Nordell on drums — will be jamming traditional jazz standards and original smoothness July 19.

Another lively band of locals called Never Been to Utah will be picking the series back up on Aug. 2. That group is made up of experienced musicians still getting together for fun, playing lively blues, rock and roll and soul.

Then a five-piece vocal dance band called 4-plus will close the series Aug. 16.

All shows are at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Poulsbo Parks and Recreation at (360) 779-9898.

Additionally in the North End, located right in the middle of the two aforementioned series, Suquamish’s Clearwater Casino Resort continues to host its free concert series called Performances at the Passages, which started on Memorial Day Weekend.

Now in its second year, the series has brought in a fairly hearty dose of fresh, climbing regional talent along with bands of has been’s still making it sound good.

Billie Joe and the Dusty 45s, whose lead singer recently starred in the 5th Avenue Theatre production of Buddy Holly’s story and Hell’s Belles, a nationally acclaimed all-girl AC/DC cover band have played already this summer.

Yet to come in July, Megan Munroe, a former Miss Teen Washington turned burgeoning country-pop singer will be carrying the torch starting at 7 p.m. July 5. Then on July 12, another powerful singer/songwriter hailing from the Northwest, Vicci Martinez — a 22-year-old who has already opened for the likes of Sting and Annie Lennox — will be coming back for her second season at the Clearwater.

Changing gears July 19, an eclectic, world-touring band which combines the sounds of traditional Celtic tuneswith Canadian folk and stomp will take the Agate Passage stage followed the next week by the acoustic soul of LeRoy and His Only Friends July 26.

All concerts start at 7 p.m., free to the public.

For the entire line-up, scheduled through Sept. 1, visit the Clearwater’s web site at www.clearwatercasino.com, go to Entertainment and select “Event Lawn.” For more information, call (360) 598-8700.

• Check back with What’s Up for a look at where to find free music in South and Central Kitsap upcoming.