This summer, the power of free, live music to strengthen the social fabric of our communities is on radiant display, with more than 400+ free Levitt concerts across the country. These shows bring people together of all ages and backgrounds in beautiful green settings for the shared experience of free music under the stars. Levitt Pavilions, the national nonprofit behind America’s largest free outdoor concert series, has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants in 2015, in partnership with the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, to support free concerts in 16 towns and cities. These include six signature Levitt locations with permanent, state-of-the-art outdoor music venues, and 10 Levitt AMP sites that were selected following a grant competition with online public voting.
Experience the joy of free, live music with 400+ free Levitt concerts in 16 towns and cities across America, featuring GRAMMY-winning artists to acclaimed, emerging talent in a wide array of music genres. (PRNewsFoto/Levitt Pavilions)
Levitt concerts feature GRAMMY-winning artists and acclaimed, emerging talent in a wide array of music genres, including rock, blues, soul, country, jazz, world, Latin, children’s and more. Levitt’s welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere ensures access to high caliber, live music experiences open to all. Beyond the free concerts, Levitt locations share a mission to reinvigorate once-neglected public spaces, creating vibrant citywide destinations. “Each Levitt location is a unique reflection of its city and celebrates community pride,” says philanthropist Liz Levitt Hirsch, board chair of Levitt Pavilions and president of the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation. “It’s amazing to see people across the United States come together through music.”
Below are just some of the highlights of the hundreds of exciting upcoming free Levitt concerts across the country. Making a stop at six Levitt locations this summer is the genre-busting, classical strings meets hip-hop duo Black Violin, presented as part of the 2015Levitt National Tour.
2015 Season Highlights
Signature Levitt Locations
50+ free concerts at each state-of-the-art, permanent outdoor music venue located in a once-neglected or crime-ridden public space, today serving as an anchor community destination
Arlington, TX(5/22-7/12; 9/4-10/11)
Levitt Pavilion Arlington – levittarlington.org
Highlights include the swing/big band Glen Miller Orchestra (6/28); rock ‘n’ rollers TheBand of Heathens (7/5); and Americana singer/songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard (7/11).
Bethlehem, PA (5/22-9/12)
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks – levittsteelstacks.org
Highlights include 1960s girl group The Crystals(6/27); Celtic favorite The Killdares(7/24) and “The Voice” contestant Luke Wade(8/27).
Los Angeles (6/6-9/19)
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles – levittla.org
Highlights include GRAMMY-winning folk singer Judy Collins (7/17); soul/blues duo Johnnyswim (7/30); and GRAMMY-winning Chicano-American rock band Los Lobos (9/19).
Memphis (5/16-8/2; 9/4-10/4)
Levitt Shell Memphis – levittshell.org
Highlights include Seun Kuti(6/25), son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti; Southern soul revivalists St. Paul & The Broken Bones(7/18); and singer/songwriter Cory Chisel(7/31).
Pasadena, CA (6/14-9/20)
Levitt Pavilion Pasadena – levittpasadena.org
Highlights include legendary jazz vocalist Barbara Morrison (6/28); pop/rock band Brightside (8/7); and returning fan favorite, GRAMMY-winning Chicano rock band Quetzal (9/12).
Westport, CT (6/28-8/30)
Levitt Pavilion Westport – levittwestport.org
Highlights include classic American pop/rock band Orleans (6/28); zydeco group River City Slim & the Zydeco Hogs (7/4); and the lush vocal harmonies of The Sweet Remains (7/31).
Levitt AMP Music Series
10 free concerts at each pop-up Levitt location reinvigorating a neglected or underused public space
See full artist lineups, concert info and more at http://www.levittamp.org
Anchorage, AK (5/29-7/31)
Highlights include the soul/rock band Mama Lenny and the Remedy (7/17) and rock/blues band The Knew (7/31).
Bellingham, WA (7/1-9/4)
Highlights include Jamaican roots reggae band Third World(7/1) and the horn-powered, percussion-fueled Afro-Funk/Latin group Five Alarm Funk (7/29).
Charlottesville, VA (9/11-11/7)
Highlights include jug band Roosevelt Dime (10/17) and circus-style spectacle MarchFourth! (10/23).
Cleveland, MS (8/20-10/22)
Highlights include indie rock band The Weeks (9/3) and Americana folk group The Memphis Dawls (10/15).
Denison, TX (5/29-7/31)
Highlights include Former Cross Canadian Ragweed frontman Cody Canada (6/26) and renowned Texas country singer/songwriter Billie Joe Shaver (7/10).
Frederick, MD (6/16-8/18)
Highlights include sister duo The Hello Strangers (7/14) and the family-friendly Danny & the Red Pants Band (7/21), featuring GRAMMY-winning artist and longtime bassist for They Might Be Giants Danny Weinkauf.
Lafayette, LA (5/27-7/29)
Highlights include GRAMMY-nominated Cajun and Creole band Pine Leaf Boys (6/24) and Southern boogie and roadhouse blues singer/pianist Marcia Ball (7/29).
Middlesboro, KY (8/1-10/3)
Highlights include Southern vocal powerhouse Jenna and Her Cool Friends (8/1) and vintage rock inspired MACH22 (8/15).
Sheboygan, WI (6/25-9/3)
Highlights include rapper, beatboxer, DJ, comedian, singer and television personality Biz Markie (7/9) and the energetic Russian native folk group Otava Yo (9/3).
Trenton, NJ (8/25-9/26)
Highlights include rock and roll band Low Cut Connie (8/15) and jazz pianist Orrin Evans Captain Black Band (8/22).
About Levitt Pavilions and the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation
Levitt Pavilions is a national nonprofit organization that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. We empower communities to transform neglected public spaces into welcoming destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together and invigorates community life.
Through an innovative partnership with the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a private family foundation, Levitt Pavilions provides funding support, resources and technical expertise to advance the national Levitt program, which collectively serves more than half a million people in 16 cities annually through 400+ free, family-friendly outdoor concerts. During the past decade, more than $18 million in grants has been awarded to support the core Levitt program of creating access to free, live music experiences while transforming public spaces.
Each signature Levitt venue is its own 501(c)(3) Friends of Levitt nonprofit organization, supporting and presenting 50+ free concerts every year. The meaningful impact of the signature Levitt program is sparking its growth, with developing Levitt locations in Denver (opening 2016) and Houston (opening 2017), amongst other cities. The Levitt AMP Music Series is a new annual creative placemaking grant competition serving small to mid-sized towns and cities across America to activate dormant public spaces through free concerts.
Learn more: www.levitt.org