The Erie Reader's Summer Fun Playlist 2026
A comp from our contributors, for your warm weather needs
There is no better feeling than driving around Presque Isle, warm summer air blowing through the open windows and that perfect song turned way up. It's the stuff nostalgia is made of – and the writers, editors, and artists of the Erie Reader wanted to capture that feeling into a custom made mix just for you.
Roll 'em down, let loose, and turn it up! It's (gonna be) summertime in Erie!
"Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Adam Welsh, publisher
"Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves (Bryan Toy, comic artist)
It's too obvious a choice for a summertime song, right? But it has deeper meaning for me: This was my daughter's favorite when she was eight years old and the whole family would sing it LOUD in the car on road trips – sweet memories of innocent times.
"Holiday" by Weezer (Erin Phillips, managing editor)
"The Swimming Song" by Louden Wainwright III (Melissa Sullivan, contributing writer)
"Kokomo" by the Beach Boys (Liz Allen, contributing writer)
Always makes me think of the summer of 1982 (although the song wasn't released until 1988). My late husband and I considered moving to Kokomo, Ind., when he was transferred to Indiana that year. We moved to Fort Wayne instead but I have fond memories of our visit to Kokomo, Ind., which reminded me of Erie.
"The Hissing of Summer Lawns" by Joni Mitchell (Dave Tamulonis, contributing writer)
"The Passenger" by Iggy Pop (Jonathan Burdick, contributing writer)
"Lie in Our Graves" by Dave Matthews Band (Ben Speggen, contributing editor)
"Lie in Our Graves" sounds like bonfires on warm summer nights put to music. Beyond the fun music, the lyrics dare us to live life fully, freely, without regrets -- lest we "lie in our graves wondering if we have spent our remaining days well... dreaming of things that might have been."
"Sweet Time" by Rebecca Sugar (Tommy Link, comic artist)
"My Golden Years" by The Lemon Twigs (Nathaniel Clark, contributing writer)
"Dance No More" by Harry Styles (Edwina Capozziello, contributing writer)
It's currently what I hear in my head when I want to feel confident walking into a room! It's fun, it's sassy, it's sexy and it has the refrain "Respect Your Mother!" which I really enjoy. Put the windows down and sing it at the top of your lungs!
"Mamma Mia!" by ABBA (Chloe Forbes, contributing writer)
"Panama" by Van Halen (Jeff McCullor, contributing writer)
"Constructive Summer" by the Hold Steady (Nick Warren, contributing editor)
Expressly engineered to go on summer mixtapes, this opening cut to the Hold Steady's fourth-greatest album says the quiet part loud "with love and trust and shows all summer."
"Uncertain, TX" by Kacey Musgraves (Julia Carden, contributing writer)
Uncertain, TX is a catchy summer track that pays tribute to the artist's home state of Texas, blending mariachi instrumentals with a warm sense of pride and place. Featuring the iconic Willie Nelson, it's a laid-back listen for summer—and it's officially made its way onto my playlist for the season.
"Harvest Moon" by Poolside (Jessica Hunter, media editor)
"Soul Rebel" by Lee "Scratch" Perry (Brian Graham, publisher
