Outdoor evening concerts are about to get underway around the Erie area and you have a variety of venues and performers to choose from.
These free events in June, July and August feature many local and some national performers from a variety of musical genres.
While there might be benches in some of the parks, it's a good idea to take your own chair or blanket if you want to be guaranteed something to sit on. Food is offered at some venues but not others so check before you go if you're hungry.
Not all lineups had been determined as of late May. Return to GoErie.com for updates throughout the summer.
Sunset Music Series
These six weekly concerts take place on Presque Isle State Park's Beach 11 on Wednesdays starting with the opener at 5:30 p.m. followed by the headliner at 7 p.m.
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- June 19: Kurt Nova/Elvis Lives opener, SIRSY headliner.
- June 26: Kev Rowe, The Probables.
- July 3: Sass Acoustics, Crush.
- July 10: Mambo, Abbey Road.
- July 17: Matt Kramer/The Dock Boy, West Indian Revelation.
- July 24: Matthew Crays, The Rooftop Project.
814 Concert Series
This series features local performers on six Sundays at 5 p.m. in a different Erie park.
- July 7: Bayview Park, West Second and Cherry streets. Featuring: Ruby Port Band.
- July 14: Wayne Park, East Sixth Street and East Avenue. Featuring: The Riffriders.
- July 21: Baker Field, East 32nd and Holland streets. Featuring: Steely Mac: a tribute to Steely Dan.
- July 28: Nate Levy Park, East Second and Holland streets. Featuring: Life Thru Music.
- Aug. 4: Washington Park, West 24th and Raspberry streets. Featuring: Stephen Trohoske's X-Ray Audio.
- Aug. 11: Rodger Young Park, Buffalo Road and Downing Avenue. Featuring: Empress Rushell Roun' 'A Yaad Reggae.
8 Great Tuesdays
The Port Erie Concert Series includes an opening act and headliner on eight Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Highmark Amphitheater at Liberty Park on Erie's bayfront.
- July 9: Blue Morning Band with Lindsay Vendetti opening.
- July 16: The Clarks with Matthew Crays opening.
- July 23: LGM with Eaglez Tribute Band opening.
- July 30: Norman Nardini with Bushan and the Magic Beans opening.
- Aug. 6: Billy Price with Danger Bird opening.
- Aug. 13: Turnstiles with MAL opening.
- Aug. 20: John King with Hellz Bellz opening.
- Aug. 27: Reignmaker and New Wave Nation with PianoPunk opening.
Learn more at www.porterie.org/8greattuesdays.
Mark your calendar:Find out when and where Erie-area festivals will be held in 2024
In Your Hometown
The Erie Philharmonic's summer music series features nine concerts in parks and outdoor venues across the region. All concerts begin at 7 p.m.
- July 10, Gibson Park, North East: Orchestra performing Beethoven, Saint-Saens and Finzi.
- July 11, Downtown Park, Corry: Orchestra performing Beethoven, Saint-Saens and Finzi.
- July 12, Diamond Park, Meadville: Orchestra performing Beethoven, Saint-Saens and Finzi.
- July 22, Pleasant Ridge Park, Girard: Classical music performed by the chamber ensemble.
- July 24, Gibson Park, North East: Classical music performed by the chamber ensemble.
- July 31, Lake Erie Community Park, Lake City: Brass ensemble performing patriotic favorites, Sousa, Henry Mancini, more.
- Aug. 7, Gibson Park, North East: Brass ensemble performing patriotic favorites, Sousa, Henry Mancini, more.
- Aug. 8, Pennsylvania Soldiers' & Sailors' Home: Brass ensemble performing patriotic favorites, Sousa, Henry Mancini, more.
- Aug. 9, Goodell Gardens, Edinboro: Brass ensemble performing patriotic favorites, Sousa, Henry Mancini, more.
Erie Blues & Jazz Festival
The longtime favorite with local, national and international talent is returning to Frontier Park after a year off.
Aug. 3, mainstage:
- 10 a.m., Music 4 Vets
- Noon, Presque Isle Little Big Band
- 1:45 p.m., Bigfoot & Redbeard
- 3:30 p.m., Hugo Cruz & Caminos
- 5:30 p.m., Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
- 8 p.m., Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Back at Frontier:The Erie Jazz and Blues festival is returning
Aug. 4, mainstage:
- 10 a.m., Women's Gospel Choir
- Noon, Kelly Armor & Friends
- 2 p.m., Ellen Pieroni & The Encyclopedia of Soul
- 4 p.m., Shaun Booker Dammit Band!
- 6 p.m., CSNY Tribute featuring Jennifer Stills & Fuzzy Samuel
- 8 p.m., Barbara Blue with Bernard Purdie
CelebrateErie
The downtown Erie celebration is set for Aug. 16-18 with three nights of world-class musical acts and local opening acts on the Mainstage; three District Stages showcasing musical and performing arts from regional entertainers; and Interactive Drum Circles for people to walk up and join. Lineups were still to come.
Sounds of Summer Concerts
The Sounds of Summer concerts will feature a local band each Monday starting at 7 p.m. Concerts begin on July 8 and run through Aug. 12.
These concerts will take place at senior living communities throughout the City of Erie. All shows are free and open to the public.
- July 8: Perry Square. Featuring: Tennessee Back Porch.
- July 15: VA Medical Center at 135 E. 38th St. Featuring: Presque Isle Little Big Band.
- July 22: Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at 560 E. 3rd St. Featuring: Rooftop Project.
- July 29: Ostrow Apartments at 4220 Davison Ave. Featuring: Gem City Jazz Ensemble.
- Aug. 5: Nightingale Nursing & Rehab Center at 607 E. 26th St. Featuring: Concert Band of NWPA.
- Aug. 12: Curry/Schell Apartments at 3909 Schaper Ave. Featuring: Millcreek Area Community Band.
Other music event lineups
Summer concerts at Erie Sports Center: Saturdays through Aug. 24, 6 p.m., Erie Sports Center, 8161 Oliver Road. June 1, Black Widow; June 8, Northern Accents; June 15, Jack Stevenson & The Buried Treasure Band; June 22, Twisted Lid; June 29, The O'Needers; July 6, Chris Higbee; July 20, Lucky Dog; July 27, Six Year Stretch; Aug. 3, Hellz Bellz; Aug. 10, Cherry Bomb; Aug. 17, Frontier; and Aug. 24, The Breeze Band.
Monday Music in the Woods: Mondays, June 3 through July 29, 6-8 p.m., Asbury Woods Nature Center, 4105 Asbury Road. June 3, Rankin and Schell; June 10, Matt Boland; June 17, Jesse James Weston; June 24, Jeremy Jaeger; July 1, Spades; July 8, Steve Gutting; July 15, Brooke Surgener; July 22, Key West Express Lite; and July 29, Matt Texter.
Whitford Park Concert Series: Wednesdays, June 5 through Aug. 28, 7 p.m., Whitford Park, 5400 Iroquois Ave., Harborcreek Township. June 5, Country Blue; June 12, Generic Grass; June 19, The Mountain Thyme Ramblers; June 26, Abbey Road; July 3, Acoustic Ear Candy; July 10, Shady Side; July 17, The Collective; July 24, Mike and Marie Acoustics; July 31, Jack Stevenson; Aug. 7, Polka Relations; Aug. 14, Elvis impersonator Kurt Navakowski; Aug. 21, David Julius; and Aug. 28, Gem City Band.
Summer Music Series: select Fridays in June, July and August, 7 p.m., Goodell Gardens & Homestead, 221 Waterford St., Edinboro. June 7, Jess Royer & Nick Warren; June 21, Mackenzie Sprague; July 12, Tiger Maple String Band; July 26, Salmon Frank; Aug. 2, Slim & Red; Aug. 16, Matt Texter; and Aug. 30, Claire Stuczynski.
Music in the Park: Wednesdays, June 19 through Aug. 21, 7 p.m., Lake Erie Community Park, 10192 West Lake Road, Lake City. June 19, Rock Avenue; July 26, Midnight Herring String Band; July 3, Fugitives; July 10, Key West Express; July 17, Matty & The Pickles; July 24, Tennessee Back Porch; July 31, Erie Philharmonic brass ensemble; Aug. 7, The Breeze Band; Aug. 14, John Travis & Co.; and Aug. 21, West County Rangers.
Gazebo Concerts: June 20, July 18 and Aug. 15, 7 p.m.; gazebo in Beute Park, between Iroquois and Silliman avenues and Morse Street, Lawrence Park Township. June 20, Denny & Heather Nemenz Acoustics; July 18, Key West Express Lite; and Aug. 15, Chris & Julie Moore from Tennessee Back Porch.
WQLN Sounds Around Town: Fridays, July 12 through Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m., WQLN, 8425 Peach St., Summit Township. Outdoor concerts move indoors if weather is bad; concerts are recorded and later aired on WQLN TV and radio. July 12, Logan B & The Dirty Leaf; July 19, Company Townes; July 26, Psych Patrol; and Aug. 2, Mathew Crays and Co.
Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.
