Yes, friends, the Lowell Summer Music Series starts its stellar 29th season tomorrow, Thursday, June 13th! This weekend promises three incredible shows – I’ve seen all the artists (except Sunday night’s opener) perform multiple times and attendees are in for a treat each night as well as the rest of the summer.

VIP Parking is available on a limited basis in the lot closest to the venue entrance for just $27. The Series benefits from a portion of the income.

This Weekend:

David Crosby & Friends will perform on Thursday, June 14, 2018. David Crosby is best known as a member of The Byrds and as one-third of the supergroup Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Opening the show will be another founding member of The Byrds, Chris Hillman, also known for his work in the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Desert Rose Band. More info at https://davidcrosby.com/. Advance tickets are $54 and premium seats in front of the stage are $154. 

Rhiannon Giddens will perform on Friday, June 15, 2018. Giddens was formerly lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. More info at http://www.rhiannongiddens.com. Advance tickets are $44 and premium seats in front of the stage are $144.

Fitz & The Tantrums will perform on Sunday, June 17, 2018. The neo-soul group is known for such radio hits as “Moneygrabber” and “Out of My League.”  More info at www.fitzandthetantrums.com/.  Advance tickets are $41 and premium seats in front of the stage are $141.

Previously announced:

Lettuce will perform on Saturday, June 23, 2018.  For more than 25 years, Lettuce have brought a new vitality to classic funk, matching their smooth and soulful grooves with a hip-hop-inspired urgency, mastery of beat and the infectious energy of their incendiary live show. More info at http://www.lettucefunk.com/.  Advance tickets are $35 and premium seats in front of the stage are $135.

Brian Setzer’s Rockabilliy Riot will perform on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Brian Setzer has been a guitar icon since his time with the band, Stray Cats. More info at https://briansetzer.com/.  Advance tickets are $49 and premium seats in front of the stage are $149. 

Boz Scaggs will perform on Saturday, June 30, 2018. An accomplished vocalist and guitar player, Scaggs had many hits in the 70’s, including “Lido Shuffle,” “Lowdown” and “Jojo.” More info at http://www.bozscaggs.com/.  Advance tickets are $59 and premium seats in front of the stage are $159..   

Big Head Todd & The Monsters will perform on Friday, July 13, 2018.  Thirty years in, Big Head Todd & The Monsters are playing the brashest rock’n’roll of their career. More info at http://www.bigheadtodd.com/. Advance tickets are $37 and premium seats in front of the stage are $137. 

Rebirth Brass Band will perform on Saturday, July 14, 2018. Rebirth is a New Orleans tradition since being formed in 1983. The Grammy-winning band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. More info at http://www.rebirthbrassband.com.  Advance tickets are $32 and premium seats in front of the stage are $132.

Alan Doyle & The Beautiful Beautiful Band will perform on Friday, July 20, 2018.  Alan Doyle was lead singer of Great Big Sea for twenty years before the band broke up in 2013.. He has released three solo albums. Great Big Sea presented two of the Lowell Summer Music Series most successful shows ever. More info at http://www.alandoyle.ca. Advance tickets are $35 and premium seats in front of the stage are $135.

32nd Annual Lowell Folk Festival takes place on Friday, July 27 through Sunday, July 29 in Downtown Lowell across five stages, with ethnic foods, authentic traditional crafts and foodways demonstrations, kids area and much more!

Find details at http://www.lowellfolkfestival.org.

The Revivalists will perform on Friday, August 3, 2018. After 10 years on the road, the New Orleans-based septet The Revivalists scored a game-changing hit with “Wish I Knew You,” a wistful song from their third album. Their name heralds their hometown’s rebounding from the devastation of Katrina. Their latest songs are “Monster” and “Keep Going.”  More info at http://www.therevivalists.com/.  Advance tickets are $45 and premium seats in front of the stage are $145.

Peter Cetera will perform on Saturday, August 4, 2018.  Cetera became known as the lead singer of the group Chicago and later for his solo hits. His best known songs include “If You Leave Me Now” “Hard To Say I’m Sorry,” “You’re The Inspiration,” and “The Glory of Love.” More info at http://www.petercetera.com.  Advance tickets are $69 and premium seats in front of the stage are $169.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo  will perform on Saturday, August 11, 2018. The African a capella group rose to prominence in 1986, appearing on Paul Simon’s album, Graceland.  More info at http://mambazo.com/.  Advance tickets are $38 and premium seats in front of the stage are $138.

Postmodern Jukebox will perform on Friday, August 17, 2018. The YouTube phenomenon  with 915 million views will perform modern classic songs with a vintage twist.  More info at http://postmodernjukebox.com/.  Advance tickets are $49 and premium seats in front of the stage are $149.

Blues Traveler will perform on Saturday, August 18, 2018 as part of its 30th Anniversary Tour.  Their biggest hits are “Run Around” and “But Anyway.” More info at http://www.bluestraveler.com.  Advance tickets are $36 and premium seats immediately in front of the stage are $136.

Classic Albums Live: Dark Side of the Moon will perform on Friday, August 24, 2018.  The Classic Albums Live band returns to perform a classic Pink Floyd album note for note, cut for cut, plus a second set of hits,  More info at http://clasicalbumslive.com/.  Advance tickets are $31 and premium seats in front of the stage are $81

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy will perform on Saturday, September 1, 2018.  This fierce fiddling husband-wife duo commands the stage with an explosive celebration of raw energy and passion that infuses their traditional heritage with their taste for the contemporary.  More info at http://www.natalieanddonnell.com/. Advance tickets are $42 and premium seats in front of the stage are $142.

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 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!