Spring has sprung, which means communities across the state are getting ready to rev up free concerts nearly every night of the week starring regional acts. View the schedules at Local Spins.
VIEW SCHEDULES FOR 70-PLUS SUMMER SERIES: FREE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY CONCERT 2024
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Some of Michigan’s most popular bands covering a wide range of styles will heat up summer weeknights in dozens of communities across the state as part of free, family-friendly shows that have become a mainstay of the season.
Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Laura Rain & The Caesars, The Accidentals, Desmond Jones, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, The Soul Syndicate, Luke Winslow-King, Brena and Kari Lynch Band are just a few of the names lighting up stages from June through September.
From Parchment and Kalamazoo to Manistee and Traverse City to Lansing and DeWitt, the early evening performances draw thousands of music lovers toting lawn chairs and coolers amid Michigan’s picturesque parks and beaches.
Several communities — including Ludington, Grand Haven and Sparta — host shows on more than one night or location each week, giving fans ample oportunities to savor everything from jazz to blues to rock to folk, with plenty of tribute bands mixed in.
Some of the biggest crowds can be found for Rockford’s United Bank Rogue River Blues Series, Lowell’s Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts, Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series and Grand Haven’s Courtyard Concerts Free Friday Night Summer Concerts (held at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium), but good weather brings hefty throngs at most of these outdoor venues.
Local Spins spotlights several of these summer series here today – Lowell, Rockford, Grand Haven, Ludington, Kentwood, Fennville, Sparta – but full listings of more than 70 different series at communities across the region can be found in our FREE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY CONCERTS 2024 GUIDE, with more listings added as they are announced.
FENNVILLE: CITY HALL SUMMER MUSIC CONCERT
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays
Where: City Hall, 125 Maple St., Fennville
LINEUP
July 11 – Rough and Tumble
July 18 – Lighting Matches
July 25 – Rollie Tussing Trio
August 1 – Grupo Viento de Los Hermanos Valdez
August 8 – The Schrock Bros
August 15 – Annie and Rod Capps
August 22 – The Lunar Octet
August 29 – Charlie Millard Band
GRAND HAVEN: COURTYARD CONCERTS’ FREE FRIDAY NIGHT SUMMER CONCERTS
When: 6:15 p.m. Fridays
Where: Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, Grand Haven
LINEUP
July 5 – Nathan Walton & the Remedy wsg Sam Bekins
July 12 – The Legal Immigrants wsg Van Mason
July 19 – The Insiders: A Tom Petty Tribute wsg Plain Jane Glory
August 9 – Luke Winslow King wsg Garrison
August 16 – Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish wsg Money Soup
August 23 – Loren Johnson wsg Gabi June
GRAND HAVEN: MUSIC ON THE GRAND
When: 7 p.m. (June & July) 6:00 (August) Wednesdays
Where: Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, Downtown Grand Haven
LINEUP
June 5 – Spring Lake High School Jazz Band
June 12 – Sea Cruisers Band
June 19 – Livin’ The Dream
July 3 – West Side Soul Surfers
July 10 – Carl Webb Band
July 17 – Guinness Brothers Band
July 24 – The 6-Pak Band
August 7 – Lakeshore Big Band
August 14 – Two Dudes in Flip Flops
August 21 – Steeple Hill Band
August 28 – Thornapple River Band
GRAND HAVEN: PRAISE BY THE PIER
When: 7 p.m. Sundays
Where: 101 North Harbor, Grand Haven
LINEUP
June 16 – Hark Up Horns
June 23 – Troy Andersen & Group Faith
June 30 – Big Band of Praise (BBOP)
July 7 – Jean Watson
July 14 – Grooters and Beals
July 21 – Cross Wise
July 28 – Hark Up Horns and Choir and Patriotic Salute
August 4 – Geoff Hansen and Friends
August 11 – Arrows Rising
August 18 – River City Fellowship Choir
August 25 – Hark Up Horns and Choir
KENTWOOD: SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, Kentwood
LINEUP
June 6 – Nathan Walton and the Remedy
June 13 – Chris Canas Band
June 20 – Grupo Viento
June 27 – Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations
July 11 – Roosevelt Diggs
July 18 – TYPO
July 25 – The Soul Syndicate
August 1- The Bootstrap Boys
August 8 – MexiCuba
August 15 – Sarena Rae Band
LOWELL: SHOWBOAT SIZZLIN’ SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Riverwalk Plaza, 113 Riverwalk Plaza, Lowell
LINEUP
June 13 – The Schrock Bros with Madcat Ruth
June 20 – Desmond Jones
June 27 – Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish
July 4 – Erin Zindle & The Ragbirds
July 11 – Prior Noon
July 12 – Josh and the Founding Fathers
July 18 – Stone Street Revival
July 25 – Roosevelt Diggs
August 8 – Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers
August 15 – The Insiders: Tom Petty Tribute Band
LUDINGTON: LIVE IN THE ALLEY
When: 6 p.m. Thursdays
Where: 103 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington.
LINEUP
June 7 – Ben Traverse
June 13 – Redux
June 20 – Tom Zatarga
June 27 – Mark Kinney
July 4 – No performance
July 11 – Merch & Miller
July 18 – Greg Secor
July 25 – Jason Hargreaves
Aug. 1 – Jimmy Dodson
Aug. 8 – Harv & Sons
Aug. 15 – Cheryl Wolfram
Aug. 22 – Mike Lenich
Aug. 29 – Gabrial James
LUDINGTON: LIVE IN THE LEGACY
When: 6 p.m. Fridays
Where: Legacy Plaza, 112 N. James St. Ludington
LINEUP
May 24 – Tim Krause
May 31 – JD & The Bees Knees
June 7 – Onager performs at Love Ludington Street Party
June 14 – Bill Casey & The Railbirds
June 21 – Seth Brown Duo
June 28 – Adam Knudsen
July 5 – Working on Famous
July 12 – Justin Wierenga
July 19 – American Ages Band
July 26 – Rocket Fuel Haulers
Aug. 2 – Nick Veine
Aug. 9 – Meg Gunia
Aug. 16 – 80 Cows
Aug. 23 – Twyce the Band
Aug. 30 – Benny Hill Band
Sept. 6 – Benjamin Paetz
Sept. 13 – Joe Irelan
Sept. 20 – Two Dudes in Flip Flops
(More Ludington series can be found in the complete concerts guide here.)
ROCKFORD: ROGUE RIVER BLUES SERIES
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: Garden Park Stage along White Pine Trail, downtown Rockford
LINEUP
June 11 – Jake Kershaw
June 18 – Chris Canas Band
June 25 – Joe Johnson & The Bluebacks
July 2 – Laura Rain & The Caesars
July 9 – The Schrock Bros Band feat. Peter Madcat Ruth
July 16 – Kathleen & The Bridge Street Band
July 23 – Big Daddy Fox
July 30 – Nathan Walton & The Remedy
August 6 – Kari Lynch Band
August 13 – The Soul Syndicate
SPARTA: CONCERTS IN ROGERS PARK
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Rogers Park, 75 N. Union St., Sparta
LINEUP
June 12 – The Soul Syndicate
June 19 -Two Beers In
June 26 – Grace Theisen
July 3 – Bucket O’ Maybes
July 10 – The Accidentals
July 24 – The Steeple Hill Band
SPARTA: THURSDAYS ON THE SQUARE
When: 6 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Sparta Town Square, 201 Marketplace, Sparta
LINEUP
June 6, August 29 – Drew Behringer
June 13 – Everett Domeier
June 20, August 22 – Gabrial James
June 27, September 19 – Dylan Tolbert
July 11 – Reverend Jesse Ray
July 18, September 12 – Lynn Thompson
July 25 – Mike Talbot
August 1 – Melissa Dylan
August 8, October 24 – Kevin Schaffer
August 15 – 17 Degrees South
September 5 – Jack Leaver
September 26 – Wyatt & Shari Knapp