The Lowell Summer Music Series announced its third show of the 2017 season and it is a doozy! Stephen Stills and Judy Collins are performing on a co-bill on Sunday, August 20th! Wow!!!

“Fifty years ago, singer-songwriter Stephen Stills met singer-songwriter Judy Collins, known for her piercing ocean blue eyes. Their tumultuous love affair would later be immortalized by Stills with his composition “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash on their landmark début album. Both artists would go on to shape modern music with visionary approaches, but Stills and Collins’ short fiery union remains a transformative era for the two artists.

Stephen Stills and Judy Collins (Official Photo)

“This summer, the two icons of folk will celebrate the golden anniversary of their formative time together. Their joint summer tour marks the first time ever Stills and Collins have been onstage together. For this once in a lifetime experience, the two music legends will pull from their rich catalogs, début songs from their upcoming album, due out in the summer of 2017, and share warm and intimate stories from their journeys and the 1960s folk and Laurel Canyon scenes they helped build.

“Stills and Collins met in 1967 and dated for two years. Stills wrote and demoed his legendary love song to Collins right after he left Buffalo Springfield, before he joined CSN. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” is a five-section romantic epic brimming with heartfelt sincerity. The song has been ranked #418 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time Poll.

Stephen Stills and Judy Collins (Official Photo)

“Stills is known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash, as well as for his solo work. In addition to “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” Still is best known for the hits “ For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield and “Love The One You’re With” from his solo début, Stephen Stills. He’s a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and ranked #28 in Rolling Stone’s “The 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time.” He also has the added distinction of being the first artist to be inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame twice in one night (for his work with CSN and Buffalo Springfield).

“Collins is known for her eclectic palette as a solo artist, melding folk, rock, classical, and jazz into a singular aesthetic. She’s earned five Grammy nominations including one in 2017 and one Grammy win. Outside of music, Collins has published two memoirs, one novel, and, in 1975, was nominated for an Academy Award for the documentary Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman. Collins is also a lifelong activist.”

Tickets for the Stills/Collins show are priced at $54 in advance (fee-free!) 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 $154. Tickets for this show go on sale on Friday, March 3rd at 9 a.m. 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 mid-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 another excellent year!

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

The final lineup is:

June 16 (Friday) – Michael Franti & Spearhead

June 17 (Saturday) – Vince Gill

August 20 (Sunday) – Stephen Stills and Judy Collins