Two of the biggest and longest-running free outdoor summer concert series have just announced their line-ups. Both Wade Oval Wednesdays, taking place in University Circle on Wednesday evenings (duh) and Lakewood’s Front Porch series, taking place out on the front steps of the main branch of Lakewood Public Library with the two final shows at Madison Park Pavilion on Friday evenings @ 7pm, offers a wide variety of musical styles and avoid the tribute bands that tend to pack many other summer events. Some of the bands presented are even largely original!
Wade Oval Wednesdays open June 12 with Councilman Kevin Conwell & Footprints doing light jazz. The Unit eXperience Project follows on June 19 with their soul & R&B; members of the Cleveland Orchestra stroll over from Severance Hall a block away on June 26. Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band play their usual Wednesday-before-the-4thslot on July 3 (no word on whether there’ll be fireworks this year). Son Gitano plays Latin/salsa July 10; the Duck Island Bootleggers offer country on July 17; Hubb’s Groove plays smooth jazz on July 24; and in a major contrast the Michael Weber Show rocks hard on July 31. On august 7 Cleveland Soul Kitchen performs soul music (duh!) while the series ends with a band featuring one of the area’s hottest rock/soul/blues bands, Apostle Jones, on an evening themed to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride.
Starting things off on the Lakewood Public Library steps is Jacob Johnson, a pianist/vocalist/percussionist/music director/music minister whose music draws on R&B, jazz, gospel and opera. He’ll be followed on June 14, by the Alla Boara Quartet whose jazzy updating of traditional Italian folk music is some of the most interesting music being made by Clevelanders. Singer/songwriter Liz Bullock performs on June 14, followed by Syrian-American Bassel Almadani and his band the Supernaturals, telling his story in soul, funk, jazz and rock sounds on June 28. Justin Gorski leads American ensemble Big Hoke on July 5, followed by Latin funk ensemble the Labra Brothers on July 12. Popular local swamp rockers Cats on Holiday perform at Madison Park Pavilion on July 19, and S.Y.S, a female trio who combine soul, reggae and house music, will perform at the pavilion on July 26.
2024-front-porch-concert-series
Cleveland, OH 44106
Lakewood, OH 44107