Singer-songwriter Rae Solomon, who lives in Covington, will soon play a show right in her backyard.

Solomon will kick off the inaugural Covington Summer Concert Series July 27 at Kentwood High.

A former rodeo queen turned country singer originally from Enumclaw, Solomon has been touring extensively in the past year, including opening up again for Blake Shelton as well as filling in for Tanya Tucker as Crystal Gale’s opening act.

“We’ve been playing a ton,” Solomon said. “Right now I’m just putting the finishing touches on our EP. We’re having our CD release party the day after we play the Covington show.”

Karla Slate, community relations manager for Covington, said the city is offering the concert series in response to feedback provided during the development of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space plan in 2009.

“For the past couple years, they’ve been fine tuning the programming they already have (for recreation), and now they’ve been able to add a couple more programs,” Slate said. “From a city perspective we’re trying to create more of a sense of a community on all levels, not just by providing events, and we want to provide things for people here in the city of Covington so they don’t have to go elsewhere.”

The concerts will run three Fridays in a row with SWAY following Solomon on Aug. 3 and Kings of Swing on Aug. 10. All shows are free.

Much of the costs were defrayed thanks to community support, Slate said.

“Most of it is (paid for) through sponsorships and donations from other organizations,” Slate said. “We have the generator which is with Pacific Power Rentals, the Kiwanis Club is running concessions as a fundraiser, so we don’t have to worry about staffing that.”

Additionally the Kent School District is providing the space as an in kind donation while Airstream is providing support as well as Allied Waste which is providing garbage pick up.

What the city is paying for out of its annual parks and recreation budget is the stage and the entertainment, Slate said.

Solomon said city staff called and asked her to play. It was an easy decision since she has played at events for Covington before.

Solomon’s busy summer continues after the Covington Summer Concert Series kick off and album release party with radio interviews and acoustic shows in Eastern Washington followed by the Watershed Show at the Gorge Amphitheatre then a trip to Los Angeles.

“July and August is a great time to be out playing,” Solomon said. “It’s right in my backyard so it’s nice to do one that’s close to home.”

For more information about Rae Solomon log onto www.raesolomonmusic.com. To learn more about the Summer Concert Series visit www.covingtonwa.gov/events.