Two more fabulous artists were added to the lineup for the 25th anniversary season of the Lowell Summer Music Series.

Andrew Bird is performing on Saturday, July 12 and Marcia Ball is performing on Friday, August 8.

Andrew Bird (official photo)

Marcia Ball (official photo)

Andrew was at the Newport Folk Festival last year, but the only time I saw him was as a guest of Tift Merritt; his set unfortunately conflicted with another one I wanted to see. I loved what I heard, though, and am thrilled that he will be performing in Lowell.

“Andrew Bird first picked up a violin at age four and proceeded to spend his formative years soaking up classical repertoire completely by ear. As a teen,Bird mastered the sounds of early jazz, country blues and gypsy music. All these influences still percolate within Bird’s brand of pop, but he has established a sound that is distinctly his own.”

I have seen Marcia perform a number of times and always enjoy her. Her style of piano playing is one that is so much fun to experience live. The long, tall Texan, as she is known, never fails to entertain, and Lowell is a great stage for her.

According to Marcia’s press release, “Marcia Ball is a woman with a reputation. The Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist/vocalist/songwriter is famed worldwide for igniting a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues party every time she strolls on stage. Ball’s groove-laden New Orleans boogie and rollicking Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite with music fans all over the world. But she’s also a master at transfixing her audience with an emotionally rich, passionately sung ballad.”

Tickets for Andrew Bird’s show are priced at $39 in advance (fee-free!), $45 on the day of the show, and children 12 and under are always free courtesy of Eastern Bank. There are also premium seats – beach chairs are provided by the series – set in two rows directly in front of the stage for $139.  Tickets went on sale today through Lowell Summer Music Series.

Tickets for Marcia Ball’s show are priced at $25 in advance (fee-free!), $30 on the day of the show, and children 12 and under are always free courtesy of Eastern Bank. There are also premium seats – beach chairs are provided by the series – set in two rows directly in front of the stage for $125.  Tickets go on sale Friday, March 14 through Lowell Summer Music Series.

For those of you who are unaware of the  Series, or if you are aware of it but have never attended a show there, it is an outdoor (weather permitting) concert series held on National Park Service grounds in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Series is not-for-profit, which helps keep the ticket prices reasonable.

Surrounding Boarding House Park are old mill buildings, part of the Lowell National Historical Park, which you can tour if you arrive early enough. They provide an unusual setting for an evening of great music and ambiance.

The Series generally runs from late June to early September.

This Series is dear to my heart. I have been a season pass holder since 2007 and it is one of the highlights of the year (and of summer in particular) for me. Many lasting friendships have been made there. I expect this will be an especially excellent year since they are celebrating their 25th season!

I will post additional announcements for the Series as they are made.

Shows announced to date are:

Delta Rae – Friday, June 20

Amos Lee – Saturday, June 21

Neko Case – Saturday, June 28

Trombone Shorty – Thursday, July 10

Andrew Bird – Saturday, July 12

Marcia Ball – Friday, August 8