Dave Matthews Band visits Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock in late September.

LITTLE ROCK — Summer has arrived in all its roasting, open oven door glory. But just because the hot orb is seemingly resting on our collective shoulders is no excuse to retreat to the cool safety of air-conditioned homes. The start of summer also signals the start of the outdoor music season here in central Arkansas. Here's a preview of what is on the horizon. And luckily most concerts start after sunset, when the earth cools to a breezy 85 degrees. Enjoy.

June 26

The weekly Peabody RiverTop Party continues Friday with the power pop stylings of Johnson City, Tenn.'s Goodspeed along with DJ Ugly Ed. Goodspeed promises music to make people smile, girls drink and guys buy girls drinks. Rinse and repeat. The party - overlooking the Arkansas River - gets started at 9 p.m. and lasts until 1 a.m. Cover is $5 for the 21-and-up event.

Upcoming bands on the RiverTop Party lineup card include classic/Southern rock cover band Crisis! and Little Rock dance band Tragikly White on July 10; DJ Tre' Day, Power92 Jams afternoon DJ, delivering a collection of thumping hip-hop and R&B jams July 17; and The Venus Mission, a Memphis party band featuring three female singers fronting a crack band known for pumping out dance hits from the '70s to today, July 24.

July 4

Riverfest Amphitheatre is home to the state's largest Fourth of July celebration with Pops on the River. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the top five performers from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's "Oh Say Can You Sing?" contest performing at 6:30 p.m. The music continues with Happy Tymes Jazz Band at 7 p.m. and the annual performance by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at 8:30 p.m. The celebration is completed with a 9:30 p.m. fireworks display. Food and drink vendors will be present so no coolers (or pets), and patrons are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Admission is free, but cash donations to the Arkansas Rice Depot are strongly encouraged.

July 17

Sonic Drive-In's Music in the Park series brought approximately 25,000 people to Riverfest Amphitheatre last summer for concerts by groups such as Kenny Loggins, Skillet, Ten Years, Blackstone Cherry and 12 Stones. Music in the Park returns to Riverfest Amphitheatre with a show by California alternative rockers Switchfoot, a group known for modern rock hits like "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move." Rounding out the high-energy show will be Superchick, a female-fronted Christian rock band that incorporates pop, punk and rap into their sound, and Little Rock faith-base, alternative rockers Kingsdown and Greenbrier Christian artist Tyler Bass. Tickets for the show are $10 for lawn, $15 for reserved seats and $20 for general admission pit. Each ticket goes up $5 the day of the concert. Groups of 15 or more get two free tickets per order.

July 18

Riverfest Amphitheatre gets a dose of funk-flavored R&B with a visit from Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The group - known for a string of late '70s and early '80s R&B hits including "Workin' Together," "Feel That You're Feeling" and "Back in Stride" - deliver their passionate, soulful music at 9 p.m. with tickets $42 for general admission, $52 for reserved and $85 for VIP.

Aug. 7

The contemporary gospel sounds of Ernie Haase + Signature Sound will call Riverfest Amphitheatre home for one night as the quartet's Dream On Tour visits. Founded by Ernie Haase, a former member of the classic Southern gospel group Cathedral Quartet, the Dove Award-winning group has broken new ground in the gospel realm. Gates open at 6:45 p.m. with the music starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 advance for lawn seating, $20 day of show for lawn seating and $25 for permanent seats near the stage.

Aug. 8

Dickey-Stephens Park is home to a Corona/Dos Equis Postgame Concert Series in Hookslide Corner featuring The Lee Boys following the Arkansas Travelers game against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. with the concert immediately following. Admission is the price of a game ticket. Orlando's The Lee Boys are a sacred steel-powered, praise-anthems jamband who produce an energetic, up-lifting show peppered with soul and funk.

Aug. 15

The Edge 100.3's Edgefest in May did not go accordingly. A spring downpour flooded the planned parking area in North Little Rock. Cars parked along Interstate 440 were towed. People complained. Well, it's time for redemption - and a new site - with Edgefest V: The Redemption. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the music starting at 3 p.m. with a lineup including a who's who of hard-hitting, melodic heavy rock and metal: Bury Your Dead, Dope, Suicide Silence, Static-X, Black Label Society, Mudvayne and Korn. The new location for Edgefest is Stonehill Ranch, Arkansas 365 in Mayflower. Tickets are $37 advance and $42 day of show with ticket prices including parking. (Parking opens at 10 a.m.) All unused Edgefest tickets will be honored for the show.

Sept. 29

Technically, it's autumn by six days, but an appearance by the Dave Matthews Band playing Dickey-Stephens Park with Gregg Allman opening is too good to pass up. It's the first major concert hosted at the Arkansas Travelers' home, and the perfect goodbye to summer with the jamband that blends pop, rock, jazz, funk and Afrobeat into their grooves. The music starts at 7 p.m. with tickets $55 and $65 for reserved seating, and $65 for general admission.