Here are 12 free concert series taking place around Louisville this summer
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.
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 cocktails 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 cocktails. 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 cocktails 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 cocktails 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 cocktails, 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 at Waterfront 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 [email protected].
More: Your guide to the 26 best things to do this summer in Louisville and Kentucky
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Free concerts to see this summer in Louisville and Southern Indiana