Music on the breeze: 7 free and low-cost outdoor concert series to check out for the 2024 season
For music lovers and nature lovers alike, there's nothing quite like hearing music in a park setting, surrounded by trees and green grass.
Traditionally, Ames and the surrounding Story County area have offered a great selection of free or low-cost concerts in the great outdoors.
That tradition continues this year with at least seven locations featuring lively bands.
Two wineries, Prairie Moon of Ames and The Cellar of Madrid, offer outdoor concerts on weekends. Roosevelt Summer Sundays and Ames on the Half Shell both feature concerts at Ames city parks and are both longstanding, beloved community events.
The Ames Tribune has put together a list of the lineups for seven outdoor music events in Ames and the surrounding area.
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Ames on the Half Shell gears up for 2024 season
Hosted by the Ames Jaycees, Ames on the Half Shell has a $5 cover charge that raises funds for the organization, which supports many important local projects.
The concerts are held on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. through the end of June at Durham Bandshell Park.
Each concert has a local nonprofit as a community partner.
Food trucks will be onsite while beer, pop and water will also be for sale.
Address: Corner of Duff Avenue and Sixth Street
Website: amesjaycees.com
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Ames on the Half Shell 2024 Schedule
May 31: Jake Doty and the Swensongs, with community partner Octagon Center for the Arts. Food trucks are Chad’s Pizza and Sticky Fingers
June 7: Saucy Jack. Community partner is Raising Readers in Story County. Food trucks are Carlos Quesadillas and Sticky Fingers
June 14: Burnin’ Sensations. Community partner is All Aboard for Kids. Food trucks are Sandwich Studio and Smokin’ Big Dawgs
June 21: Kinda Petty. Community partner is Bailing Out Benji. Food trucks are Hungry Boys Taqueria and Smokin’ Big Dawgs
June 28: Stranger Than Fiction. Community partner is Friendship Ark. Food trucks are Carlos Quesadillas and Sandwich Studio
The long, storied history of the Ames Municipal Band
Among the most notable regular acts is the Ames Municipal Band, which is celebrating its 100th season this year.
With 52 members, ranging in age from high school to players in their 80s, the Ames Municipal Band is under the direction of Michael Golemo, who is in his 22nd year. Golemo is also the Director of Bands at Iowa State University.
“We are excited about our 100th season as we hope to have something extra-special at each week’s concert,” Golemo said.
Free hour-long concerts will be held at 8 p.m. every Thursday in June and July at Bandshell Park. The band will perform a different concert each week featuring popular music, light classical, hymns, marches and music from Broadway and films.
Each performance will feature a vocal soloist and at times, special selections, instrumental soloists and guest conductors.
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Check out the Ames Municipal Band Facebook page for additional and up-to-the-minute information.
Address: Corner of Duff Avenue and Sixth Street
Website: facebook.com/AmesMunicipalBand
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Ames Municipal Band guest soloists for 2024
June 6: Featuring 76 Trombonists from the Ames City Schools. Vocal soloist, Chris Johnson.
June 13: Flag Day Ceremony. Vocal soloist, Miles Morgan.
June 20: Ames City Council Night. Narrator, Simon Estes.
June 27: Vocal soloist, Dean Landhuis.
July 4: Patriotic Concert and Veterans’ Recognition. Vocal soloist, Aaron Lott.
July 11: Vocal soloist, Katharine Hensley.
July 18: Vocal soloist, Chad Sonka.
July 25: Featuring the 1812 Overture. Vocal soloist, Sophia Pike.
Roosevelt Summer Sundays begins 21st season
Roosevelt Summer Sundays, an outdoor music series at Roosevelt Park, is celebrating its 21st season. Concerts start at 7 p.m. in June and run through the end of August.
Concerts at this beautiful city park, which was the Roosevelt Elementary School playground before it closed, are free and open to the public. Free-will donations will be accepted. The nonprofit group Friends of Roosevelt Park hosts the event.
Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed. The city prohibits alcohol, tobacco and vaping products.
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets.
Diego's Paletas will be on site again this year with frozen treats.
The rain location is The Annex, 130 S. Sheldon. Change of venue announcements will be posted to Roosevelt Summer Sunday’s Facebook page by 5:30 p.m. on the concert day.
Address: Corner of Ninth Street and Roosevelt Avenue
Website: summersundays.org
Roosevelt Summer Sundays lineup 2004
June 2: Matt Woods Band, roots and blues
June 9: River City Opry, Nashville honky tonk
June 16: Vinyl Vagabonds, R&B/roots/soul
June 23: Ducharme-Jones Band, Americana/roots
June 30: The Get Down-DSM, soul/jazz/funk
July 7: Avey Grouws Band, blues/rock/soul
July 14: Buckmiller | Schwager Band, blues
July 21: NOLA Jazz Band, New Orleans jazz
July 28: Eleven Moons, psych rock
Aug. 4: Brother Trucker, Americana/roots/rock
Aug. 11: The Cherrypickers, 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s
Aug. 18: Haymakers, bluegrass/country
Aug. 25: Southbound, A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band
Threshold Learning Center to hold 6th annual Fresh Air series
Threshold Learning Center near Zearing is hosting its sixth annual Fresh Air concert series on June 15.
The public is invited to attend this day of live music with no admission charge. Free-will donations will be accepted.
“We at TLC have had a blast watching everyone come together and enjoy our facility the way we have always wanted it to be used,” Gretta Reischauer, director of TLC, said of the increased popularity of the music series. “People are excited to see one another since school has been out so there’s smiles and waves, laughter and dancing.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Comfort Food Catering of Huxley will offer everything from brisket or pulled pork sandwiches to chicken wraps, walking tacos, and cheesy potatoes to pizza, vegetarian options, and kids' items. Mom & Pop Corn will be on hand with popcorn, ice cream, candy, and strawberry treats.
Threshold provides educational programs for schools throughout central Iowa in sciences, Iowa history, conservation, nature appreciation and team building.
They have worked to improve the quality of the site for 20 years by planting 1,600 trees, establishing trails, building a team obstacle course and starting a Memorial Garden/Arboretum and Community Garden. Organizers have also established prairie and wetland habitats while they have built campsites and a large campfire area.
The 2024 Fresh Air Concert will be TLC’s only major fundraiser this year.
Address: 13143 710th Ave., Zearing
Phone: 641-487-7455
Website: thresholdlearningcenter.com
Threshold Learning Center’s Fresh Air Concert lineup 2024
10:30 a.m.: The Hangmen
11 a.m.: Dedicated Kings
Noon: Clint Riedel
1 p.m.: Patresa Hartman
2:30 p.m.: J. Jeffrey Messerole
4 p.m.: Sneaky Pete
6 p.m.: Beggars Bargain
8 p.m.: Junior y Su Norteno
Prairie Moon Winery kicks 2024 concerts at its Corncrib Stage
Prairie Moon Winery & Vineyards hosts live music from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Sunday through the end of September.
With a corncrib stage and a view of the vineyard, concertgoers can bring their own snacks or order brick-oven pizzas.
Admission is $5 for people 21 and over, which includes a free glass of sangria.
Wine, beer, water and soft drinks are available for purchase. No outside alcohol is permitted.
Several tables area available on the patio on a first-come, first-served basis. Chairs are available in the lawn, but concertgoers should consider bringing their own chairs or blankets.
Address: 3801 W. 190th St., Ames
Phone: 515-232-2747
Website: prairiemoonwinery.com
Prairie Moon Summer Music Series 2024
June 2: Burnin’ Sensations
June 9: Stranger Than Fiction
June 16: Jason Wharlow Dueling Pianos
June 23: Vinyl Vagabonds
June 30: Larry Myer
July 14: Ryne Doughty
July 21: Jesse & the Medicine Men
July 28: The Weary Ramblers
Aug. 4: Opus Taylor
Aug. 11: Iowa No Mountain Boys
Aug. 18: The Soul Searchers
Aug. 25: Vinyl Vagabonds
Sept. 1: Stranger Than Fiction
Sept. 8: Alleygrass
Sept. 15: Burnin’ Sensations
Sept. 22: Gladys Lite Acoustic Trio
Sept. 27: Opus Taylor
Wheatsfield Co-op to hold Tiny Deck Concert Series
With its Tiny Deck Concert Series, Wheatsfield Co-op offers free, live, local music from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays from July through August.
The deck is located on the east side of Wheatsfield. Everyone is welcome — you don’t have to be a co-op member.
Drinks and food will be available for purchase.
As advertised in the music series' name, the deck is small and has limited seating. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Address: 413 Northwestern Ave., Ames
Phone: 515-232-4094
Website: wheatsfield.coop
Wheatsfield's 2024 Summer Tiny Deck Concerts
July 5: Miann
July 12: Ben Schrag & The Cautionaries
July 19: Mango Soul
July 2:| Jason Munday
Aug. 2: TBD
Aug. 9: Fred Love & The Bakersfield Brawl
Aug. 16: Doomed Pioneers
Aug 23: Friendly Forecast
Aug 30: Iowa No Mountain Boys
The Cellar Winery offers free music on Fridays, Sundays
The Cellar Winery near Madrid offers free admission to its outdoor concerts on Fridays and Sundays all summer and into the fall.
Fire Pit Fridays feature music by the fire from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The winery’s Sunday music series is held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
No outside alcohol is allowed. The Cellar will have wine, local craft beer, mixed drinks, pop and water available for purchase.
Guests can bring their own snacks, and food will also be available for purchase from occasional food trucks.
A limited number of chairs and tables are offered, and concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
All ages are welcome. Dogs on leashes are allowed.
The shows will be held inside the winery in the event of bad weather,
Address: 2183 320h St. in rural Madrid.
Phone: 515-367-7777
Website: thecellarwinery.com
The Cellar's Fire Pit Fridays 2024
May 31: Beggars Bargain
June 7: Sean Sullivan
June 14: Mike Morgan and The Crawl
June 21: Ducharme Jones
June 28: Alex Schroeder
July 5: Some Friends
July 12: Kracklin
July 19: Cedar County Cobras
July 26: Adam Whitehead
Aug. 2: Robert Deitch
Aug. 9: Gladys Lite
Aug. 16: Ryne Doughty
Aug. 23: Phoenix Mendoza & Josh Leo
Sept. 6: Sean Sullivan
Sept. 13: TBD
Sept. 20: Jake Schrodt
The Cellar's Sunday Music Series 2024
June 2: Kinda Petty
June 9: Burnin’ Sensations
June 16: Bob Pace Band
June 23: Oreo Meatwagon
June 30: The Chocolate Crackers
July 7: Burnin’ Sensations
July 14: Sons of Gladys Kravitz
July 21: Ronley King Band
July 28: Kinda Petty
Aug. 4: Burnin’ Sensations
Aug. 11: Ducharme Jones
Aug. 18: Opus Taylor
Aug. 25: Stercel Barnes Band
Sept. 8: Retrospect
Sept. 15: Royce Johns
Sept. 22: Jesse & The Medicine Men
Sept. 29: Oktoberfest, Malek’s Fishermen Band
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Find out where to catch live music in the Ames area this summer
