Northwest band The Beatniks — with Bonney Lake police officer Daron Wolschleger on percussion, vocals and drums — will play Tunes @ Tapps for the fourth consecutive year.

The summer concert series began seven years ago, with four shows a year and crowds of approximately 50 people.

This year, the series has consistently drawn an estimated 900 attendees each week, according to Special Events Coordinator David Wells. Attendance reached over 2,500 at the Spike and the Impalers show, he said. The addition of a farmer’s style market with food and craft vendors has also boosted the Wednesday night entertainment.

To witness the growth of Tunes @ Tapps has been exciting, Wolschleger remarked.

“The city has turned Tunes @ Tapps into a top quality concert in the park series,” he said. “It’s been great to watch the momentum it’s gained recently. Of all the shows we play each year, it’s definitely become one of our favorites.”

The market opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday and The Beatniks are scheduled to take the stage at 6:30 with an energetic and passionate mix of songs from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

For an inside scoop on Wolschleger, please reference the prior exposé “Bonney Lake officer goes from the beat to The Beatniks,” printed in 2010 by Courier-Herald reporter Brian Beckley.

There are only two concerts left in the series after The Beatniks; Junction City will play August 21 and The Great Pretenders on August 28.