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Sit back, relax to the music
By Dan Craft
dcraft@pantagraph.com
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In today's GO! cover story, we've given you an extensive preview of all the big-name concert events scheduled in Pantagraphland between now and summer's end.

Here we're going to take a look at the many regularly scheduled summer concert series featuring local and area musicians performing in parks, pavilions, lawns, downtown squares and other open-air spaces.

Most of these events, we're happy to report, are free.

All you need to bring is a lawn chair, a blanket or a bottom that doesn't mind making direct contact with terra firma.

Bloomington-Normal



• Downtown Lunchtime Concert Series: After a two-year detour to Withers Park in Bloomington, the free noon-hour series returned last year to its roots on the north side of the courthouse square. It remains put this year.

Performances are every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., now through Aug. 15.

Scheduled: Jason Gordon (country), May 23; The Dynamics (country-rock), May 30; The New Prairie Ramblers ('70s hits), June 6; J108 (vocalist), June 13; Prairieland Dixieland Band (Dixieland standards), June 20; Jim Park & The Starlighters (big band), June 27; no concert, July 4; The Aristocrats (big band), July 11; Dave Berchtold & Steve "The Harp" (blues), July 18; Inland Island (steel drum/Caribbean), July 25; The Colleagues (big band), Aug. 1; Markum Little Swing Band (swing music), Aug. 8; Brian Choban Quintet (jazz), Aug. 15.

• Music Under the Stars: The venerable Miller Park Bandstand concert series returns with its free weekly lineup, beginning at 8 p.m. June 5 and continuing every Tuesday thereafter, through Aug. 7.

Scheduled: Modern Cowboyz (country), June 5; Decatur Park Singers (show choir), June 12; Jim Markum Swing Band (swing), June 19; The Bygones (oldies), June 26; The Pantagraph's Celebrate America (patriotic show), July 3; Heartland Jazz Orchestra (Jazz), July 10; Inland Island (steel drum/Caribbean), July 17; Sound of Illinois Chorus (barbershop), July 24; Central Illinois Banjo Band (old-time sing-alongs), July 31; Hip Pocket (R&B), Aug. 7 (as part of the annual National Night Out celebration).

• Franklin Park Thursday Night Concert Series: Another longstanding summer concert tradition returns to Bloomington's historic Franklin Park with weekly ice cream socials and pops performances by the Community Concert Band.

This year's socials and concerts are set for June 14, 21 and 28; and July 5, 12, 19 and 26. The socials begin at 6 p.m., followed by the concerts at 7 p.m.

• Music at McGraw: Among the newer summer music traditions at B-N parks is this concert series in Bloomington's McGraw Park, similar to the Music Under the Stars series at Miller Park, but with several exceptions: it's not weekly, and the concerts veer from Sunday to Saturday.

Each free show begins at 7:30 p.m. On tap: The X-Ray Men ('50s-'60s music), June 10; Hip Pocket (R&B), July 15; Brass Band of Central Illinois (English brass music), July 28.

Danvers



• Danvers Town Band Summer Concert Series: Free outdoor pops concerts return July 1 to the Danvers Municipal Park Bandstand downtown, with the traditional ice cream social at 5 p.m., followed by the Danvers Town Band performance at 7 p.m.

The hot-weather ritual continues, same time, same place, July 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Metamora



• Concerts in the Park: Metamora's long-running concert series on the downtown park bandstand returns at 7:30 p.m. June 1, along with its unbeatable combination of ice cream socials and weekly guest performers.

The combination continues every Friday night thereafter, through Labor Day Weekend. If rain threatens, notices posted in the park will direct concertgoers to the designated rain location.

This year's lineup: Jim Markum Swing Band (Dixieland jazz), June 1 and Aug. 3; Caterpillar Employees Big Band (big band jazz), June 8 and Aug. 17; Metamora Community Band (pops), June 15 and July 20; Gus Gustafson Concert Band (pops), June 29 and Aug. 24; Curt & Anita Rowden (annual Fourth of July God & Country Concert), 2:30 p.m. July 4; The Aristocrats (big band), July 6; Bill Hardesty Band (big band), July 13; Jim Park & The Starlighters (big band), July 27; Glenn Reader & The Countrymen (country), Aug. 10; The Nostalgics (ballroom oldies), Aug. 31.

Peoria



• Peoria Municipal Band Summer Concerts: Free outdoor pops concerts return to the Glen Oak Park Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays. The specific dates: June 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20 and 24; July 2, 8, 15, 22, 29; and Aug. 1, 5, 8, 12, 15 and 19.

• Dancing Under the Stars: Al fresco big band dances are also part of the Glen Oak Park Amphitheater summer regimen at 7 p.m. Thursdays. Admission is free.

Scheduled: Jim Markum Swing Band, June 14; Bill Hardesty Band, June 21; The Aristocrats, June 28; Caterpillar Employees Big Band, July 12; Nancy West & The Colleagues, July 26; Jim Park & The Starlighters, Aug. 2;

• Gigs in the Garden: Peoria's Luthy Botanical Garden in Glen Oak Park will host a monthly summer concert series, bringing plenty of fauna to the floral setting.

Scheduled: Bogside Zukes (Celtic folk), June 10; Barry Cloyd (folk), July 8; Lizzie Neal Band (rock-blues), Aug. 12. All performances begin at 5 p.m. There is an admission charge of $5, with kids 9 and under admitted free.

• Riverfront Festival Park Concerts: In addition to the big-name concerts listed in today's cover story, the Park's CEFCU Stage also will host other performers through the season, with various start times and ticket prices.

Among them: Dot Dot Dot and Catfight (rock), June 1; American English (Beatles tribute), June 2; Boat Drunks (Jimmy Buffett tribute), June 9; The Wave (jazz), June 21; Monica Herzog Acoustic Project (jazz), June 28; JammSammich (jam rock), June 29 and Aug. 3; Capt. Rat & The Blind Rivets, June 30.

Also: Kevin Hart & The Vibe Tribe (jazz), July 5; 6V6 and Southside Cindy & The Sliptones (blues), July 6; Dave Matthews Tribute Band (rock), July 7; Speak'Easy, July 12; WaterStreet (rock), July 13; Generations (rock oldies), July 14; Bubble Gum Jack (funk-rock), July 20; Capt'n Groovy (disco-funk), July 21; Adam Larson Quartet (jazz), July 26; Hello Dave (classic rock), July 27; Lowe Profile (rock), July 28.

And: Cassie Hart & Friends (jazz), Aug. 2; Larry Harms Trio with Peg Schickedanz & Trefan Owen, Aug. 9; River City Soul Fest, Aug. 10-11; Dave Hoffman Quartet (jazz), Aug. 16; Steve Heineman Quartet (jazz), Aug. 23; Billy Cooke Quartet Plus (jazz), Aug. 30.

Pontiac



• Pontiac Municipal Band Summer Concerts: Per summer tradition, Pontiac's civic band takes over the south side of the downtown square at 7:30 p.m. Fridays on June 8, 15, 22 and 29, and July 6, 13, 20 and 27.

The free concerts feature not only the band but some special guest performers to be announced. Bring blankets or chairs; if it rains, ditch the chairs and blankets and head to the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall nearby.

Take a look
Popular Beatles tribute band American English performs an outdoor summer show June 2 on the CEFCU Stage of Peoria's Riverfront Festival Park.
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