A summer’s worth of FREE concerts

 

One of our favorite parts of summer is the plethora of outdoor concerts. Of course, you’ve probably known for months which big-name bands are coming to town to play sold-out shows at the Klipsch Music Center, the Murat, the Palladium, White River State Park. What you probably don’t have quite as memorized is the list of grassroots FREE concerts going on all over town this summer. Well, look no further, because we’ve got a long list of FREE concerts right here:

 

Indiana State Fair 2014 FREE Stage

• August 1: Jennie DeVoe at 7:30 p.m.
• August 2: Charles Esten and Clare Bowen (from ABC’s Nashville) at 7:30 pm.
• August 3: Hispanic/Latino Music Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• August 4: Bridgit Mendler at 7:30 p.m.
• August 5: Dustin Lynch at 7:30 p.m.
• August 6: Eric Paslay and Kelleigh Bannen at 7:30 p.m.
• August 7: Josh Kaufman at 7:30 p.m.
• August 8: Maggie Rose, Brothers Osborne, and Chase Rice starting at 6:00 p.m.
• August 9: Dylan Scott and Dakota Bradley starting at 5:00 p.m.
• August 10: Contemporary Christian Music Fest (featuring Rend Collective Experiment, Digital Age, and more) from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• August 11: Barenaked Ladies at 7:30 p.m.
• August 12: Happy Together Tour at 7:00 p.m.
• August 13: America and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at 7:30 p.m.
• August 14: The Temptations Review (featuring Dennis Edwards) at 7:30 p.m.
• August 15: Kansas at 7:30 p.m.
• August 16: Marc Broussard at 7:30 p.m.
• August 17: Pepsi Gospel Music Fest (featuring Dorinda Clark Cole and more) at 7:30 p.m.

Artsgarden

• June 10: Scott Jarman, 12:15 pm (acoustic country and southern rock)
• June 11: Dana and Sue Robinson, 12:15 pm (acoustic duo)
• June 15: Mel Chance and the Noteables, 2 pm (big band)
• June 17: Cosmic Preachers, 12:15 pm (funk, blues and rock)
• June 18: Paul Holdman Trio, 12:15 pm (blues, rockabilly and surf)
• June 19: Jeff DeHerdt Group, 12:15 pm (pop and jazz)
• June 20: Don Elbreg, 12:15 pm (guitarist, singer)
• June 24: Rick Matillo, 12:15 pm (Jimmey Buffett, blues and ballads)
• June 25: Windsor Woodwind Quintet, 12:15 pm (classical)
• June 29: Seldom Surreal, 2 pm (vinyl-era rock)

Broad Ripple Park (all shows start at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays)

• June 13: The Michael Kelsey Group
• June 27: Jared Thompson & Premium Blend
• July 11: Sarah Grain & The Maple Trio
• July 25: Heather Michelle Chapman

Brownsburg Summer Concert Series (all held 5 pm to 7 pm on the Town Hall Green)

• June 15: The Flying Toasters
• July 4: Indy Jazz Orchestra (Special Time 7:45-9:45 p.m.)
• July 13: My Yellow Rickshaw
• August 10: Zanna-Doo
• August 24: Haywire

Carmel City Center (interior plaza)

• June 12: Actors Theatre of Indiana performing the music of Indiana’s favorite son, Cole Porter, 6:30 p.m.

Central Library (held  at various times. Check the link for specifics and consider these Hometown Roots Concerts, too!)

• June 8: Classical Concert
• June 23: Wizard Rock and Nerd Rock
• July 13: Summer Family Concert
• August 3: Hometown Roots
• August 24: Classical Concert

Clay Terrace Summer Concert Series (all concerts start at 7 p.m. on Thursdays):

• August 8: Rayford Griffin
• June 5th: Zanna-Doo
• June 12th: Barometer Soup
• June 19th: Toy Factory
• June 26th: Area Code 812
• July 3rd: Living Proof
• July 10th: Phone Club
• July 17th: My Yellow Rickshaw

Concerts on the Canal (at the Indiana Historical Society Center’s Kruse Family Stardust Terrace on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

• June 5: The Flying Toasters
  June 12: Hopkins and Miller
  June 19: IUPUI: Seth Jenkins and the Tides
  June 26: Cynthia Layne
  July 3: Carmel Brass
  July 4: Indianapolis Municipal Band, King James and the Verses (this show starts at 5 – 9:30 pm)
  July 10: The Cool City Band featuring Shannon Forsell and Laney Wilson
  July 17: Deb Mullins
  July 24: IUPUI: David Mannell and Friends featuring Laura Hammer-Erhart and Becky Barton
  July 31: Jessie Brown

Danville Jam is every Thursday from 6 pm to 8 pm at Ellis Park Train Station. No announced line-up at this time, but all acts will be local.

Garfield Park Pops (all shows start at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays at MacAllister Amphitheatre in Garfield Park)

• June 12: Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis
• June 19: Atheneum Pops Orchestra
• June 26: Indianapolis Municipal Band
• July 3: Greater Greenwood Community Band
• July 10: Indianapolis Brass Choir
• July 17: New Horizons Band of Indianapolis
• July 24: Jazz Renegades Dance Band
• July 31: Pride of Indy Concert and Jazz Bands
• August 7: Indianapolis Symphonic Band

Georgia Street Happy Hour (4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.p. every Friday)

• June 13 and July 11:Laney Wilson Trio
  June 20 and July 18: Joe Deal Trio
  June 6 & 27, July 26 and Aug. 1: Cocktail Sax Jazz Band

Greenwood Concert Series (all concerts start at 7:00 p.m. at Greenwood Amphitheatre)

• June 7: 8 Miles High
• June 14: Toy Factory
• June 21: Park Avenue Band
• July 5: Karma
• July 12: The Blue River Band
• July 19: Taste Like Chicken
• July 26: Parrots of the Caribbean
• August 2: Jayne Bond and the Pink Martinis
• August 23: My Yellow Rickshaw
• August 30: Indy Nile

Greenwood Park Mall Concert Series (all concerts take place on Thursdays at 7 p.m.)

• 6/5/14: Parrots of the Caribbean
  6/12/14: Mike & Joe
  6/19/14: Blue River Band
  6/26/14: Naptown Boogie
  7/10/14: Cornfield Mafia
  7/17/14: Quincy’s Brass
  7/24/14: Toy factory
  7/31/14: My Yellow Rickshaw
  8/7/14: Living Proof
  8/14/14: Hairbangers Ball

Grooving in the Garden  (Easley Winery, Saturdays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., wine specials available; BYOC — bring your own chair)

• June 7: Al Shikaly
  June 14: Random Harvest
  June 21: Second Wind Trio
  June 28: Island Breeze
  July 5: 3:1 Band
  July 12: Al Shikaly
  July 19: Indiana Island Band
  July 26: The Brave
  Aug. 2: Second Wind Trio
  Aug. 9: Island Breeze
  Aug. 16: Brett Wiscons
  Aug. 23: 3:1 Band
  Aug. 30: The Yellow Kites
  Sept. 6: 3:1 Band
  Sept. 13: Island Breeze
  Sept. 20: The Brave
  Sept. 27: Indiana Island Band

Holliday Park (all shows start at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays at Holliday Park unless otherwise noted)

• June 5: Dave and Rae
• June 19: Matt Roush
• July 3: Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra
• July 16: Indianapolis Symphony Brass and Percussion Ensemble (this one starts at 8:00 p.m.)
• July 31: Milemarker
• August 14: Cathy Morris

In Concert with Nature (all shows at Eagle Creek Park, 6:30 pm, concert is  but there is a $5 per car fee for park admission)

• June 11: Flatland Harmony Experiment
• June 25: Hogeye Navvy
• July 9: Blackberry Jam: The Folk Band
• July 23: Emily Ann Thompson
• August 6: Punkin’ Holler Boys
• August 20: Tim Grimm

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (all shows start at 8:00 p.m.)

• July 1:  Garfield Park MacAllister Amphitheatre
• July 8: Ellenberger Park
• July 16: Holliday Park (just the Brass the Percussion Ensemble)

Irving Circle (all shows start at 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays at Irvington Circle Park)

• June 21: Audio Diner
• July 26: The Lightweights XL
• September 6: Blue Alchemy

Irvington Artists (all shows start at 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays at Ellenberger Park unless otherwise noted)

• June 21: Irvington Folk Festival with the Half Step Sisters (this one lasts from 2:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
• July 19: Brains Behind Pa
• August 16: Blue Alchemy and Radio Diner

Jazz on the Monon (all shows start in Carmel’s Arts and Design District at 6 p.m.)

• June 21: Slammer Jazz Trio
• June 28: Heather Ramsey Clark
• July 26: Monika Herzig
• August 2: Cynthia Layne

Jazz on the Point (all concerts at 6:30 pm Eagle Creek Park marina, FREE concert but it does cost $5 per car for park admisssion)

• June 18: Frank Smith Quartet
• July 2: Sophie Faught Quartet
• July 16: Monika Herzig Acoustic Project
• July 30: Kenny Phelps Quartet
• August 13: Si Seno
• August 27: Wade Baker Trio

Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission (all concerts at 6:30 p.m. at Seminary Park)

• June 26: Army Concert Band and Jazz Band
• July 6: Lapel Community Band
• July 13: Indianapolis Symphonic Band
• July 20: Directors Jazz Orchestra
• July 27: Barton Rogers Big Band
• August 3: Joy Swing Jazz Orchestra
• August 10: Blue Skies Big Band
• August 17: Indianapolis Municipal Band
• August 24: Indianapolis Brass Choir

Music in the Garden (all shows start at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays at the Garfield Park Conservatory)

• June 5: Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra
• August 14: Swing Shift Indy
• August 21: Barton Rogers Big Band

Shakespeare in the Park (all shows start at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at Garfield Park, and feature the show Camelot)

• Friday, August 22
• Friday, August 29
• Saturday, August 30
• Friday, September 5
• Saturday, September 6

Summer Concerts at the Gazebo in Carmel (all shows are on Wednesdays at  7:30 pm)

• June 4: Flying Toasters
• June 11: Big Roscoe and the Hammers
• June 18: Bishops
• June 25: Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra
• July 9: My Yellow Rickshaw
• July 16: The Woomblies Rock Orchestra
• July 23: Zanna-doo
• July 30: Blair & Company
• August 6: Endless Summer Band
• Ruditoonz children’s  concerts at 6 pm on June 11 and July 9

Teddy’s Burger Joint in Southport

• June 6: Music from 6:30 to 9:30 PM by Meca Rain
  June 7: Music from 6 to 9 PM by Bryan Myers
  June 12: Music from 7 to 9 PM by Side Affect
  June 13: Music from 6 to 9 PM by Wilson and Company

The Stacked Pickle (all concerts take place from 9:30 pm to 12:30 pm)

Carmel

• June 16: Dave & Rae
• July 19: That’s What She Said
• August 8: Rade & Rae
• August 29: Bishops

96th Street

• July 25: Dave & Rae
• August 23: Stella Luna

Fishers

• June 13: The Bishops
• June 28: That’s What She Said
• August 29: Living Proof

Greenwood

• July 11: Living Proof
• August 23: Taste Like Chicken

Washington Park in Avon (7 pm to 9 pm in the lower level amphitheater)

• June 26: Hunny Tung
  July 17: Patrick Keller Band
  Aug. 21: Heather Michele Chapman & Co.

Watkins Parks’ Blues and Jazz in the Park (all shows start at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays at Watkins Park unless otherwise noted)

• June 8: Milton Tee Blues Band
• June 29: The Indy Jazz Men
• July 13: Harvey Cook and the Blue Tones
• July 27: Johnny Dial
• August 3: The Upsetters (this one takes place at Bethel Park)
• August 10: Todd Harold Group
• August 31: Finnell Factor
• September 14: On Cue (this one starts at 4:00 p.m.)
• September 28: Clifford Ratliff and the Indy Jazz Company (this one starts at 4:00 p.m.)

Zionsville’s Lincoln Park Concert Series (all shows begin at 7 pm – 8:30 pm)

• June 4: School’s Out for Summer Family Concert, featuring Chad Mills (starting at 6 pm, kids activities include face-painting)
• June 11: Downtown Motown featuring Lonnie Lester
• June 18: Rock and Soul, featuring Karen and the Beast
• June 25: Rockin’ the Blues featuring The Breakers
• July 2: Jazz Fusion featuring the Wade Baker Kazz Trip
• July 9: Rythm and Blues featuring the Tommy Baldwin Trio
• July 16: Bluegrass on the Grass featuring Cornfields and Crossroads
• July 23: Eclectic Eurofolk featuring Tonos Triad
• July 30: Broadway Showstoppers, featuring area performers

Zoopalooza (included with paid admission to the Indianapolis Zoo)

• June 20: Impalas
  June 27: Jennie DeVoe
  July 4: 8 Miles High
  July 11: Bahama Llama
  July 18: West Central Quartet

Want to narrow down your summer fun to activities just for the kids? Check out our ever-growing list of FREE kids activities, too!