Author Archives: Lucy Truong

Spotlight_Series_Cynthia Sayer

Cynthia Sayer, one of the world’s greatest jazz banjoists, will grace the Levitt Pavilion Westport stage on Sunday night. Sayer breaks the mold as a female instrumentalist in a traditionally male-dominated genre by putting the banjo, usually a rhythm section instrument in jazz, front and center in her performances. Continue reading


Rocking and bopping across the country six months out of the year, the Emmy Award-nominated kindie rock group Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band share their music with the youngest of Levitteers! In 2014 and 2015 their tour stops included free concerts at both Levitt Pavilion Pasadena and Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles

In our latest Meet the Artist video, the band tells us why they love performing and making music for kids. “We have so many parents come up to us, beaming and totally joyful—like, ‘That was my kid’s first concert!’” said Alisha Gaddis, who co-founded the band with her husband Lucky Diaz. “It’s a really beautiful thing to be a part of their family’s memory and something that affected them so profoundly.”

Tonight, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band returns to Levitt Pavilion Pasadena for its fifth Levitt concert, so bring out the kids for a hip-shaking good time! Want to learn more about Levitt artists? Check out the Levitt Foundation YouTube channel!

Spotlight_Series_Taylor Hicks

Tomorrow night, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will bring his soulful vocals and high energy stage presence to Levitt AMP Midvale’s final concert of the season. This passionate soul singer is one of the singing competition’s most memorable contestants, having competed in the show’s most-watched season.

Hailing from Birmingham, Ala., Hicks began his music career as an independent artist making a name for himself in the South. Hicks even shared the stage with several high profile artists early in his career, including James Brown, Tom Petty and Jackson Browne. Despite his regional success, Hicks struggled to land a recording contract, and with encouragement from his half-brother, he decided to audition for American Idol in 2006. Continue reading

AMP Playlist Banner

From left to right, top to bottom: Eternal Summers (Levitt AMP Charlottesville), Jane Monheit (Levitt AMP Utica), Bumper Jacksons (Levitt AMP Charlottesville, Levitt AMP Trenton), Jeni Carr (Levitt AMP Middlesboro), Gary U.S. Bonds (Levitt AMP Asbury Park), Young Valley (Levitt AMP New Albany), Cedric Burnside Project (Levitt AMP Cleveland), Taylor Hicks (Levitt AMP Midvale), Kate Campbell (Levitt AMP Cleveland), Holy Ghost Electric Show (Levitt AMP New Albany), Alex Boyé (Levitt AMP Midvale), Molly Venter and Goodnight Moonshine (Levitt AMP Middlesboro), Scott Ambush and Funkelociraptor! (Levitt AMP Frederick), Seratones (Levitt AMP North Adams), Stitch Early (Levitt AMP Frederick)

The wait is over! All 15 of this year’s Levitt AMP Music Series artist lineups have been revealed, meaning you can check out who is performing every week at the Levitt AMP site closest to you! And not only that—you can start listening to acts headlining Levitt AMP concerts with our latest 2016 Levitt AMP playlist. 

Earlier this season, we posted a Levitt AMP playlist featuring headlining artists from five Levitt AMP music series lineups. Now you can check out this sampling of artists playing other Levitt AMP music series, taking place in Asbury Park, Charlottesville, Cleveland, Frederick, Middlesboro, Midvale, New Albany, North Adams, Trenton and Utica!

While we’re in the thick of concert season—with 11 free Levitt AMP concerts this week—four Levitt AMP music series are gearing to kick off, including Levitt AMP Middlesboro opening this Saturday! Click here to check out the Kentucky-based series’ first headlining act of the season, Americana quartet and Levitt AMP veteran Roosevelt Dime.

Levitt-AMP-for-Email
Are you in a small to mid-sized town or city? Does your community have an underused public space with the potential to transform into a vibrant destination for the arts? We’ve got the opportunity for you!

The Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards return for a third year, bringing free, live music to communities across America! This is an exciting matching grant opportunity created by the Levitt Foundation to activate dormant public spaces through free concerts. Up to 15 nonprofits serving small to mid-sized towns and cities will receive $25K each in matching funds to produce their own Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series—an outdoor, free concert series featuring a diverse lineup of high caliber entertainment. Applications are now open—visit levittamp.org to learn more. Continue reading

Spotlight_Series_Wayne Toups
Tonight, Levitt AMP Denison fans will be treated to the Cajun fusion stylings of GRAMMY-winning singer and accordionist Wayne Toups. Awarded the Best Regional Roots Music Album GRAMMY in 2013 as a member of The Band Courtbouillon, Toups is well known as an artist who incorporates a mix of genres—particularly country, R&B and rock—into his unique sound, which he dubs “ZydeCajun.” Released this past April, his latest, self-titled album is heavy with R&B and country influences, audible in the album’s first single, “A Good One.” Continue reading


Free Levitt concerts turn underused parks into destinations, attracting thousands of music fans from near and far every concert season to enjoy live performances under the stars. Delphine Williams, who lives an hour away from Levitt Pavilion Pasadena, is one of those Levitteers. In this Faces of Levitt video, she says the free concerts are worth the travel, and that she checks out the lineup every week so that she and her friends “can come out and party.”

Audiences may choose to keep their evening simple and comfortable, resting on a picnic blanket or lawn chair as the show begins. But if you want to go all out with food and friends, Levitt lawns have plenty of space for you to do so! Check out Delphine’s candles, ample spread and vased flowers on the lawn, set up for all her friends to enjoy before they start dancing to the evening’s show. Not bad for a night out!

This concert season still has plenty of shows for Levitteers like Delphine to enjoy with friends. Check out the concert schedules and come join the fun!

Spotlight_Series_The BroadcastTomorrow night, Levitt AMP Greensboro gears up for its last show featuring one of Asheville, N.C.’s finest bands, The Broadcast. With a sound as big and sweeping as a 70s hard rock band, this rock-and-soul group has a knack for using storytelling in their lyrics and an electric stage presence to reach their fans on an intimate level. 

Continue reading

Levitt loves_July4

With barbecues and fireworks happening all across the country, Independence Day just isn’t complete without festive music and the American flag! Check out this photo from Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks’ opening weekend in 2011, with Old Glory displayed for the 4th of July holiday. Local group Allentown Symphony Orchestra performed an exciting night of patriotic music, followed by fireworks lighting up the Bethlehem sky.

Levitt concert series continue to delight audiences’ eyes and ears this Independence Day. Tonight, Levitt AMP Utica kicks off its concert series with Los Angeles jazz-funk fusion band Groove Legacy while Doug Wimbish of GRAMMY-winning Living Colour rocks Levitt AMP Asbury Park as Wim-bash.

Wishing you a fun and memorable night of Independence Day festivities!

Weekend Roundup Graphic_Jun21_blog

On the cusp of the first day of summer, this past weekend was full of outdoor activity options—including going to free Levitt concerts! So far this season, Levitt shows have been taking place in 10 cities across America, with even more Levitt concert series to roll out in the coming weeks. Check out all the fun that was had on Levitt lawns over the weekend as music lovers geared up for another summer of free music under the stars and a celebration of community. Continue reading