Plenty of familiar names grace the 31-concert bill, including Trombone Shorty, The Decemberists, Temptations, Beach Boys, B-52s, Seal and Styx. Michael Franti will replace Huey Lewis, who was forced to cancel.
Back for 2018: With a new album, “I’ll Be Your Girl,” The Decemberists return to Meijer Gardens after playing the amphitheater Nn 2016. (Photo/Anna Sink)
APRIL 18 UPDATE: Michael Franti & Spearhead have been added to the 2018 lineup, performing on July 8 in place of Huey Lewis & the News, which on April 13 announced cancellation of the band’s 2018 tour. Lewis released a statement blaming the cancellation on his suspected case of Meniere’s Disease, which caused him to lose most of his hearing, making it impossible to sing. Franti has been a regular performer at Meijer Gardens, last rolling out his upbeat reggae-infused music at the amphitheater in August 2017.
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Alabama, Joe Jackson, Jason Mraz, Patti LaBelle, Alison Krauss, Dispatch, Live, Gladys Knight and Herbie Hancock will make their Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park debut this summer in the newly renovated amphitheater.
August Benefit: Alabama plays a special Meijer Gardens show on Aug. 23.
The 31-concert series also boasts a bevy of familiar — and popular — returning acts including Styx, Seal, The B-52s, The Decemberists, Lyle Lovett, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, TOTO, Lake Street Dive, Vince Gill, Brandi Carlile and Fitz & The Tantrums.
Today’s announcement – which came after last month’s “teaser” disclosure of concerts by Tedeschi Trucks Band (May 30), Blondie (June 29) and O.A.R./Matt Nathanson (Aug. 26) – also disclosed details regarding a special Aug. 23 concert featuring legendary country act Alabama.
All net proceeds from ticket sales for that show will benefit Meijer Gardens’ “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love” capital campaign that’s financing $115 million in improvements and additions to the botanical gardens and concert amphitheater.
Concertgoers attending shows this summer will find new fixed seats for VIP and sponsor ticketholders at the upper portion of the 1,900-capacity amphitheater. (The main concession stand will be replaced with a new, larger facility after the 2018 concert season.)
MEMBER TICKET SALES BEGIN APRIL 28 WITH 8-TICKET LIMIT
Discounted concert tickets go on sale to Meijer Gardens members at 9 a.m. April 28. Public sales begin at 9 a.m. May 12 after the pre-sale period ends. Many of the concerts each year sell out to members before the public sales begin; eight shows sold out in the first hour last year.
Gardens Debut: Jason Mraz brings his “Good Vibes” tour with Brett Dennen to Grand Rapids in July. (Photo/Greg Burke)
For the second year, Meijer Gardens will limit purchases to eight (8) tickets per show, per transaction.
Public ticket prices this year range from a low of $49 for the Aug. 19 concert featuring Toad the Wet Sprocket and West Michigan’s own The Verve Pipe to a high of $96 for June 20’s Seal concert (not counting the $155 charged for the special Alabama fundraising show).
When all 31 concerts are factored in, the average public ticket price for 2018 is $70.29, a 13.6 percent increase from 2017. Ticket prices don’t include handling and convenience fees for online and phone orders.
Tickets will be available online at startickets.com and sold without fees at Meijer Gardens. On April 28, the Huizenga Grand Room will open at 7 a.m. to allow ticket-buyers to line up for 9 a.m. sales that day.
Get more information about the concert season at meijergardens.org. Find information about memberships ($50 individual or $90 family per year) online here.
Herbie Hancock (Photo/Abu Dhabi Festival)
THIS SEASON’S MUST-SEE FIRST-TIMERS: Alison Krauss (June 17), Herbie Hancock (June 27), Blondie (June 29), Joe Jackson (July 20), Dispatch/Nahko & Medicine for the People (July 23), Jason Mraz/Brett Dennen (July 25), The Verve Pipe (Aug. 19)
IF YOU’VE SEEN ’EM ONCE, YOU’LL PROBABLY WANT TO SEE ’EM AGAIN (Note: About two-thirds of 2018’s concerts feature returning performers): The Decemberists (June 4), Brandi Carlile (June 13), Taj Mahal/Keb’ Mo’ (Aug. 12), Trombone Shorty/Galactic/Preservation Hall Jazz Band/New Breed Brass Band (Aug. 22), TOTO (Aug. 24), Lake Street Dive (Aug. 30)
HOUSE BANDS, AKA THE MEIJER REGULARS The Beach Boys (July 26), Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (Aug. 27)
2018 MEIJER GARDENS CONCERT SERIES SCHEDULE
Tedeschi Trucks Band, May 30 at 6:30 p.m., $75 presale | $78 member | $80 public
Gladys Knight, June 3 at 7 p.m., $68 presale | $71 member | $73 public
The Decemberists, June 4 at 7 p.m., $52 presale | $55 member | $57 public
Jackson Browne, June 6 at 7 p.m., $72 presale | $75 member | $77 public
The B-52s, June 8 at 7 p.m., $57 presale | $60 member | $62 public
Fitz and the Tantrums, June 10 at 7 p.m., $47 presale | $50 member | $52 public
Brandi Carlile, June 13 at 6:30 p.m., $56 presale | $59 member | $61 public
Alison Krauss, June 17at 7 p.m., $84 presale | $87 member | $89 public
Seal, June 20 at 7 p.m., $91 presale | $94 member | $96 public
Old Crow Medicine Show, June 25 at 7 p.m., $45 presale | $48 member | $50 public
Herbie Hancock, June 27 at 7 p.m., $57 presale | $60 member | $62 public
Blondie, June 29 at 7 p.m., $82 presale | $85 member | $87 public
Michael Franti & Spearhead (replacing Huey Lewis & the News), July 8 at 7 p.m., $47 presale | $50 member | $52 public
Patti LaBelle, July 13 at 7 p.m., $75 presale | $78 member | $80 public
The Temptations & The Four Tops, July 15 at 6:30 p.m., $58 presale | $61 member | $63 public
Joe Jackson, July 20 at 7 p.m., $45 presale | $48 member | $50 public
Dispatch wsg Nahko & Medicine for the People, July 23 at 5:45 p.m., $55 presale | $58 member | $60 public
Jason Mraz wsg Brett Dennen, July 25 at 6:30 p.m., $83 presale | $86 member | $88 public
The Beach Boys, July 26 at 7 p.m., $64 presale | $67 member | $69 public
Air Supply, July 29 at 7 p.m., $50 presale | $53 member | $55 public
Styx, August 1at 7 p.m., $72 presale | $75 member | $77 public
Vince Gill, August 6 at 7 p.m., $62 presale | $65 member | $67 public
TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band, August 12 at 7 p.m., $59 presale | $62 member | $64 public
Toad the Wet Sprocket & The Verve Pipe, August 19 at 6:30 p.m., $44 presale | $47 member | $49 public
Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown featuring Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Galactic, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, New Breed Brass Band + special guests, August 22 at 6 p.m., $75 presale | $78 member | $80 public
Alabama, August 23 at 7 p.m., $150 presale | $153 member | $155 public (Benefit for “Welcoming
the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love” capital campaign)
TOTO, August 24 at 7 p.m., $53 presale | $56 member | $58 public
O.A.R. wsg Matt Nathanson, August 26 at 6:30 p.m., $75 presale | $78 member | $80 public
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, August 27 at 7 p.m., $63 presale | $66 member | $68 public
Lake Street Dive, August 30 at 7 p.m., $48 presale | $51 member | $53 public
+LIVE+, September 3 at 7 p.m., $60 presale | $63 member | $65 public
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