Outdoor Concert Schedules

There’s nothing quite like sitting under a starry sky on a beautiful, warm summer night with the sounds of vibrant rock beats, country twang, or smooth jazz floating in the air. Indiana has many outstanding outdoor concert venues from which to choose to spend one of these magical evenings.

The Lawn at White River State Park, located in downtown Indianapolis, recently released its summer concert schedule. I think I let out an audible gasp when I saw the lineup–several of my very favorite artists are coming to what I consider to be the best outdoor concert venue around.  This includes Alison Krauss and Union Station on June 9, Ray LaMontagne on June 14, and The Avett Brothers on October 1. (A full schedule is on The Lawn’s website.) I’m already working on finding a babysitter for my son for one or two of these shows! Tickets can be purchased through LiveNation.

Since date nights are a rarity, it’s nice to know there are plenty of family-friendly concert options. I have plans to take the whole family to RiverStage in downtown Jeffersonville this summer. We stumbled upon the park that surrounds this stage on a daytrip to Jeffersonville last fall and I made a note to keep an eye on the schedule of performances. This venue features a large, grass-covered terrace which overlooks both the stage and the Ohio River. The best part is that all the shows are FREE! The RiverStage schedule was just released. There’s a mix of live music, movies, fireworks and barbeque. A little something for everyone!

Heading north from Indianapolis, you’ll find the largest outdoor concert venue, Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville. While it’s not as quaint as White River State Park or RiverStage, you can see some of the nation’s largest touring acts this summer, like Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock, and the always popular Jimmy Buffett.

Time to dust off those dancing shoes and plan out your own summer concert schedule!

Where are your favorite places to listen to music outdoors in the summer around Indiana?