Summer in Louisville means it's time for free concerts. From country to R&B, rock, and more, there's something for everyone to enjoy at a dozen concert series held across Louisville and southern Indiana from now until late August (and beyond!)
Be sure to pack your blankets and lawn chairs, bring some friends, and listen and dance to some of your favorite performers, all for free.
Kick a season of free music off this Wednesday, May 29 at WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday at Waterfront Park, featuring Pokey LaFarge, S.G. Goodman, and the Ellie Ruth Band.
Here's your guide to free outdoor concerts around the Louisville area this summer.
Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series
Bicentennial Park at the corner of Spring and Pearl streets (118 E. Spring St.), New Albany from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Fridays. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. newalbanycityhall.com/bicentennialpark.
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- May 31:Paul McDonald & the Mourning Doves, Joslyn & the Sweet Compression
- June 7:Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters, The Ian Abel Trio
- June 14:The Jesse Lees, Scott T. Smith
- June 21:Tommy Womack, Club House Troubadours
- June 28:Jameron, Rockstead
- July 12: Bibelhauser, Arianna & the Bourbon Britches
- July 19:Kiana & the Sunkings, Bandits on the Run
- July 26:Dave Meland Band, The Skinny
Colonial Gardens Summer in the Gardens
On the patio, 818 W. Kenwood Drive, 6-9 p.m. Food and drinks are available for purchase. colonialgardenslouky.com
- May 31:The Last Band Standing
- June 6:Jeremy Scharfe
- June 7:Jonathan Paxton
- June 13:Dusty Bo
- June 14:The Checkmates
- June 20:Lampus
- June 21:Bluegrass Jam
- June 27:Ethan & Joey
- July 12:Jonathan Paxton
- July 18:Bluegrass Jam
- July 25:Ethan & Joey
- July 26:R & R 3
FridayFest Concert Series
Highview Park, 7201 Outer Loop (enter through Briscoe Lane), 6-10 p.m. Fridays. Also children’s activities, food trucks with a variety of food options. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. facebook.com/FridayFestHP/about.
- May 31:J.D. Shelburne, School of Rock Louisville
- June 14:The Brass Pack, PoJo
- June 28:Radiotronic, BeeGees Tribute
- July 12:The Sheryl Rouse Band, Jordan Wilson Coalition
- July 26:An Evening with The Monarchs
- Aug. 9:DaveMeland Band, Jack n’ Lindsey
Whiskey Wednesdays
3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, 6300 Old La Grange Road, Crestwood, 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Enjoy signature co*cktails and beer from 3rd Turn Brewing and food from the Backside Grill. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. touroldham.com.
- June 5:R & R 3
- June 12:Mark Conover
- June 19:Allen Lane
- June 16:Andrew Lee
Concerts in Warder Park
Sonny Brewster Bandstand, 109 E. Court Ave., Jeffersonville, 7 p.m. Fridays. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Presented by Jeffersonville Main Street and the Jeffersonville Parks Department. jeffmainstreet.org.
- June 7:Derby City Brass Band
- June 14:Cloigheann Irish Band
- June 21:Polkatz
- June 28:River Cities Concert Band
- July 12:Jamey Aebersold Quartet
- July 19:The Don Krekel Orchestra
- July 26:Joyful Noise
- Aug. 2:Moonlight Big Band
- Aug. 9:Kosair Dance Band
- Aug. 16:Take Two
- Aug. 23:The Clark Band
- Aug. 30:Moon Dogs
Jammin in Jeff Concert Series
Jeffersonville RiverStage, 100 W. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, Indiana, 7 p.m. Fridays. Food trucks, beer garden and co*cktails. Chairs, blankets and small coolers are allowed. Pets, smoking and alcohol are not permitted. Sponsored by Shoe Sensation. jeffparks.org/jeffriverstage/.
- June 7:Juicebox Heroes, Wax Factory
- June 15:Juneteenth Celebration
- June 21:Summer Beach party with Sounds of Summer, The Get Down
- June 28:Big Easy on the Ohio
- July 5:Princess Purple Party with The Sheryl Rouse Band, The Jesse Lee’s
- July 12:Nashtucky Country Night with J.D. Shelburne, India Ramey
- July 19:Pink Floyd Tribute & Light Show with Echoes of Pompeii, Producing a Kind Generation
- July 26:Thunderstruck, Matt Red Moore
- Aug. 2:Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Joslyn and the Sweet Compressions
- Aug. 9:Hot Brown Smackdown, Kindred Valley
- Aug. 16:The Jayhawks
Trackside Tunes
Alley Loop, corner of Walnut Avenue and Poplar Alley, La Grange, 7-9 p.m. Fridays. Food trucks, beer, and co*cktails will be available for purchase at 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs. touroldham.com.
- June 7: Doorway
- July 5: Bourbon & Brass
- Aug. 2:Ladies for Liberty
- Sept. 6: Allen Lane Band
- Oct. 4: The Bottle Trees
Dan-O' Sizzling Summer Series
3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, 6300 Old La Grange Road, Crestwood, 6-9 p.m. Fridays. Enjoy signature co*cktails and beer from 3rd Turn Brewing, as well as food from the Backside Grill. touroldham.com.
- June 8: The Aesthetic
Good Times Summer Concert Series Clarksville
Central Green, outside Bolt+Tie complex, 1400 Main St., Clarksville, Indiana, 6-11 p.m. Saturdays. Food trucks, beer garden by Ten20 Craft Brewery. Sponsored in part by the Cornerstone Group. townofclarksville.com/goodtimes.
- June 8:From Paris, The Echoes
- July 13:The Mad Taxpayers, The Atomic Groove Machine
- Aug. 17:The Les Master’s Band, The Swerve
Copper & Kings Sonic Sundays
Copper & Kings Courtyard, 1121 E. Washington St., doors open at 3 p.m.; show starts at 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. Food from the courtyard kitchen, Copper & Kings co*cktails, yard games, and small bites. copperandkings.com
- June 9:The Bibelhauser Brothers
- July 14:Jameron
- Aug. 11:TBA
- Sept. 8:Scott T. Smith
- Oct 13:TBA
Old Louisville Live
Treyton Oak Towers, 211 W. Oak St., 7 p.m. Presented by the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council. oldlouisville.org/old-louisville-live.
- June 22: The Hora Certa Brazilian Jazz Ensemble
WFPK Waterfront Wednesdays
This is the 22nd season of WFPK Waterfront Wednesday, held atWaterfront Park, next to the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, on Wednesdays. Gates open at the rain or shine event at 5 p.m. and music begins at 6 p.m. Alcohol, coolers, glass, and pets are not allowed. Proceeds from WFPK Waterfront Wednesday benefit Louisville Public Media and Waterfront Park. Children and families can enjoy the Waterfront Kids Day, a dedicated area for kids and families to participate in hands-on activities (5-8 p.m.). LPM.org/WaterfrontWednesday
- June 26:Middle Kids, Relaay (formerly Bridge 19)
- July 31:Modern English, Snacktime, Digby
- Aug. 28:Matthew Sweet, Friko, Nise the Nymph
- Sept. 25:Dark Side of the Wall, Zaniah, Flow
Did we miss an event? Send a note to Features News Clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
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