Check out the sounds at Oregon Zoo concerts

Many cities offer concert series, but few can compete with the Rose City for the most intriguing venue. The Oregon Zoo in Portland is hosting a full menagerie of top-notch acts this summer in its outdoor amphitheater.

The zoo series is surprisingly inexpensive, considering the talent on the roster, which includes many Grammy winners. Tickets cost $14 to $39, depending on the act. Many of the most desirable shows are in the mid-$20s, such as Los Lobos with Los Lonely Boy (Sunday) and the Go-Go’s Ladies Gone Wild tour with Girl in a Coma (Aug. 13).

-- The lineup: My wish list would include Matisyahu with Tea Leaf Green (July 28); and k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang with the Secret Sisters (Aug. 12). Among remaining shows in this wildly diverse series are Chris Isaak (July 29), Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Aug. 3), Peter Frampton (Aug. 11) and the Carolina Chocolate Drops with the Be Good Tanyas (Aug. 19). The series runs through Aug. 27.

-- Tickets: These are general admission and include zoo admission after 4 p.m. Some reserved seating is available through Ticketmaster. Capacity at the amphitheater is 3,800. Seating is on the lawn, so bring a blanket or chair (chairs are available for rent), or you can just stand.

-- Times: The venue opens at 5 p.m., and most concerts start at 7 p.m.

-- Contact: Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts. Tickets are on sale at the Oregon Zoo and Portland’s Aladdin Theater box office; and online or by phone from Ticketmaster, (800) 745-3000.