Summer Jam Will Feature Keith Sweat, Tony Rich

Some of the year’s hottest pop music groups will be performing at the KUBE Summer Jam, an all-day concert and party at The Gorge Amphitheatre on Friday.

Summer Jam, hosted by Seattle’s KUBE-93 pop radio station, will feature rhythm-and-blues veteran Keith Sweat; one of last year’s favorites, Montell Jordan; and the Grammy Award-winning Tony Rich Project.

Sweat’s latest self-titled album is a combination of flaming up-tempo tracks with candle-burning slow grooves.

The New York-based singer has been on the scene since the mid-‘80s. He’s responsible for discovering the pop group Silk, which performed at the first Summer Jam, and the female pop group Kut Klose.

Other acts for Friday’s concert include female rapper and hip hop activist MC Lyte; R&B bad girls Total doing what they call “soulfulhiphopghettofunk,” who have collaborated with the likes of L.L. Cool J. and the Notorious B.I.G.; Florida mixmasters the Quad City DJ’s, who’ve hooked mainstream attention with their hit “Come and Ride It/The Train”; Ghosttown DJ’s; European dance diva Amber, and 22-year-old Prince-style singer Ginuwine.

Celebrating its fifth year, Summer Jam will offer a Pre-Funk starting at 2 p.m. with a Hot Mix and an Old Skool Mix.

Then, at 4 p.m., 50 eligible fans will be called on stage for a local version of MTV’s popular game show “Singled Out,” hosted by a KUBE personality and a Sonic Dance Team performer.

The concert starts at 5 p.m. Tickets are $26 (parking included), available at Ticketmaster outlets (Pay Less Drug Stores at University City, Northgate, downtown and South Regal) or call (509) 735-0500.

, DataTimes