Come early this week to concert; starts at 4:30 p.m.

Idyllwild’s free Summer Concert Series (ISCS) continues with the USMC Division 1 Concert Band this Thursday, Aug. 17, and next week, on Aug. 24, Nathan James opens for Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs.

The Aug. 17 concert will not begin at 7 p.m., as stated in last week’s Crier. At 4:30 p.m, series producer Ken Dahleen will play a recording of last year’s performance by the Marine Concert Band as a sort of “call to the faithful,” inviting visitors and residents to the Butterfield Amphitheater. Then, at 5:30 p.m., Emmy Award-winning NBC meteorologist and stand-up comedian Fritz Coleman will entertain.

Coleman has been the master of ceremonies at many festive events in Idyllwild, and people still remember him as a weather forecaster, but his career as a comedian is more than a second act. In his earlier days he appeared eight times on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. These days, he is enjoying an extended residency at the Monroe Forum, the intimate theater-in-the-round venue within North Hollywood’s El Portal Theater.

Coleman traces his love of stand-up back to his youth. His bio mentions an uncle’s gift of tickets to see George Carlin during Fritz’s senior year of high school. Although he had followed closely the short bits comedians did on the TV talk shows, he was thunder struck by Carlin’s genius as a long-form performer. “This was one person … controlling a huge stage … wielding the mic like his Excalibur … for 90 minutes … in front of 3,000 convulsing people. Fritz couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “It was the most creative, most effortless display of power one person could have over a group. Not an exaggeration to say … it was a religious … almost evangelical experience.”

In keeping with the evening’s theme, Coleman also is a proud veteran of the armed services.

Conducting the USMC Divison 1 Concert band this year is Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eric Kyne. He’ll be leading a 45-piece ensemble. He told the Crier, “We’ll be playing pieces from the 1800s to the swing tunes of the big band era.” Kyne added that he will have a special guest, retired CWO2 Stephen Glove. “He’s conducted several Marine Band concerts at the Idyllwld Summer Concerts and currently teaches at a school in Georgia.” Kyne also shared this teaser: “I have to mention that we will have a mystery hometown hero performing with us onstage as well.”

Aug. 24, ISCS will welcome back the double bill that began last year’s line-up: Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs, with local globe-trotter Nathan James opening. As with most of the series, the opening act will take the stage at 6:05 p.m. and the headliner at 7 p.m.

Lynn told the Crier about the band she will bring with her. “Our staffing is a bit different because a couple of our guys are touring. We have Bobby Moses Nicoles on guitar, all the way from Joshua Tree. He’s been with us before. He’s a highly revered player who has opened for Hall and Oates, shared the stage with members of the Allman Brothers Band, Mickey Thomas of Starship, Terry Reid and more. We have Jeff Bowman on drums showing off how versatile he is. He was primarily known for playing with members of Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator, Unsound and People of the Sun (a tribute to Avenge Sevenfold) so, even though he’s a phenomenal guy, I was a little nervous about him at first hiring him to play country and blues, but he is a wizard and has been an incredible new addition.

“Mike Wylie, a retired police officer, has come in on bass and completed our rhythm section beautifully (some may remember him with the Cole Withers Band). This ensemble was with me when we opened up for American Idol winner Jordan Sparks in December, and I couldn’t have been prouder. We’ll have Eric Frankson on keys and fiddle, and well … Eric is a force of fiddle nature. He played with me the very first time we had the honor of playing this incredible series.”

Asked about this year’s program, and her past visits to Idyllwild, Lynn said, “We’ve got some surprises up our sleeve that should light the place up, including introducing some original pieces. This is by far one of our favorite shows to play because of the beautiful mountain, but most especially because of the people … I think this is the sixth time playing for them here. We fill up for the whole year on the love they pour into us every time. And it’s no joke when they say the concert is only as good as the crowd — Idy folk bring out our best every single time. “

Opening act James is a recent Idyllwild transplant. A Fallbrook native, his childhood included camping and hiking here, and these mountains have always been a “big inspiration” to him. Moving up here is as much a dream come true as playing music for a living. James performs as a “one-man-band,” playing a variety of familiar and homemade instruments. In real time he creates wild, rootsy grooves that grow into dynamic song forms.

James added, “I’m excited to play the concert series again this year. It was really cool to play for such a large crowd of locals last year and great to see them dancing and having fun. This is my last local show in town before heading out to tour in Europe (Austria, Italy and Switzerland.)”

These concerts are free to all and supported entirely by donations. This year’s budget is $36,900. The team “passes the hat” at the event, and those who can give more are invited to send contributions, checks payable to Idyllwild Summer Concert Org, to P.O. Box 1542, Idyllwild, CA 92549-1542, or call (760) 413-4638.

Remember that temperatures drop in the summer evening. Come prepared with an extra layer to Butterfield Amphitheater, 54201 Ridgeview Drive, access through the Idyllwild Community Center Playground parking lot on Highway 243 just south of town.