There are dozens of chances to see free (and nearly free) music this summer in Bloomington-Normal.
Honestly, it’s kind of our thing, so you need only happen upon Downtown, Uptown or Connie Link Amphitheatre almost any night of the week for a bit of live, outdoor entertainment. And mark your calendar for Make Music Normal on July 18-19. The full lineup is still TBD, but the festival always has something for everyone.
Listed by genre, our summer music guide showcases some of the highlights — just the tip of the iceberg for filling your calendar with things to do.
Classical
Bloomington-Normal Community Concert Band: On Thursdays in June and July, this stellar crop of amateur, professional and retired musicians comes together for free concerts in Franklin Park. New this year, they’ve got a rainy-day location too, moving to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts ballroom in unfavorable weather. 7 p.m. June 12-July 24. b-ncommunityband.org.
Sips & Sounds: The Illinois Symphony Orchestra sets up shop at Keg Grove Brewing three times during the summer for a free happy-hour concert to go with your after-work pint. The lineups vary, with conventional chamber groups like string quartet or brass quintet, and sometimes, outside-the-lines pairings like flute and marimba. 6 p.m. Thursdays June 26, July 24 and Aug. 21. ilsymphony.org.
Brass band of Central Illinois: There are three chances to see brass + percussion ensemble in July, which has unique arrangements of orchestral and pops standards and a few contemporary songs with a twist. There is a suggested donation of $5 on July 19, which includes a tour of the historic Broadview Mansion. 5 p.m. July 11 at Connie Link Amphitheatre; 4 p.m. July 19 at Immanuel Bible Foundation; 5:30 p.m. bbcil.org.
MIOpera: After pulling back from large-scale, full-length productions, Bloomington’s professional opera company has begun cropping up at events and festivals again. As the finale to ISU’s Concerts on the Quad series, they’ll sing a set of Zarzuelas: a style of Spanish musical theater incorporating dances like flamenco and seguidilla. 7 p.m. July 28 in front of Cook Hall on the ISU campus. facebook.com/ISUCOTQ.
Roots
TourBus Concert Series: For the past few years, Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall has partnered with Black Dirt Management (the brainchild of Edward David and Kim Anderson) for an impressive lineup of bands. Most Wednesdays, Twin City favorite Chicago Farmer plays a set, with a plethora of regional roots musicians visiting for Fridays on the patio. Among them: Effingham cosmic country band Time to Kill on June 6, Macoupin County-based Delta bluesman Devin C. Williams and female-led Chicago bluegrass string band Fox Crossing. 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. destihl.com/beer-hall-events.
Heartland Jazz Orchestra: There are a couple chances to catch Bloomington-Normal’s venerable big band, which plays a healthy dose of the standards but isn’t afraid to color outside the lines. 7 p.m. June 6 at the McLean County Museum of History; 5 p.m. July 26 at Connie Link Amphitheatre. hjojazz.com.
Saturdays on the Square: Co-produced by the Pantagraph and the Castle Theatre, the city of Bloomington’s free summer concert series includes appearances by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Maggie Rose on June 7, whose soulful sound skirts the lines between country, soul and indie-alt-rock. Like-minded local artist Dan Hubbard opens for her, ahead of additional sets in Uptown Circle (Sept. 17) and at Connie Link Amphitheatre (Aug. 15). A few weeks later, there’s a joint tribute to Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan’s music called Sarah’s Place. 7 p.m. in Museum Square. thecastletheatre.com.
The Sweet Nothings: If you missed The Satyr’s Last Lament, there may not be a chance to see it again for a while, but Bloomington-Normal’s only hot club jazz band will be playing all over town this summer. The band will be busking downtown on June 6 as part of First Friday activities. And they’ve got dates at Mystic Kitchen (Aug. 13) and Destihl (Aug. 29). facebook.com.
Concerts on the Quad: Kicking off Illinois State’s idyllic Concerts on the Quad series on July 7 is L’Esprit Creole, a Midwest trio that preserves the unique sound cultivated by French settlers straddling the present-day Illinois/Missouri border. The following week is Switchback, a duo blending American roots with Irish undertones. And on July 21, there’s the Twin City jazz band Kevin Hart and Vibe Tribe. 7 p.m. Mondays in front of Cook Hall on the ISU campus. facebook.com/ISUCOTQ.
Walker Montgomery: The son of 1990s country star John Michael Montgomery is finding his own way, making his Grand Ole Opry debut last year and garnering 20 million streams in his short career thus far. Bloomington will have two chances to see this up and comer this year; following a First Friday appearance, he’ll be back in November opening for Dustin Lynch and Scotty McCreery’s Two for the Road tour at Grossinger Motors Arena. 7 p.m. July 11 on the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts Lawn; tickets $5-10. facebook.com.
Pop/Rock
First Friday Concert Series: Live music on the BCPA lawn includes two classic rock cover bands, Peoria’s Revel in Red and Deja Voodoo Band from Springfield. The latter, playing Aug. 1, primarily sticks with Yacht Rock and adjacent hits of the 1970s. On June 6, it’s power ballads and classic rock standards from icons like Boston and Journey. 7 p.m. outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts; tickets $5, or free with proof of purchase from a downtown Bloomington business. artsblooming.org.
The Docksiders: As tribute acts go, this Yacht Rock cover band is about as good as it gets, playing all the popped-collar, boat shoe and seersucker short-inspired hits your heart wants. 7 p.m. June 28 in Museum Square, downtown Bloomington. thecastletheatre.com.
