Here are 12 free concert series taking place around Louisville this summer

Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters have opened for artists such as Hayes Carll, Justin Townes Earle and Whitey Morgan.
Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters have opened for artists such as Hayes Carll, Justin Townes Earle and Whitey Morgan.

Summer in Louisville means it's time for free concerts. From country to R&B, rock, and more, there's something for everyone to enjoy at a dozen concert series held across Louisville and southern Indiana from now until late August (and beyond!)

Be sure to pack your blankets and lawn chairs, bring some friends, and listen and dance to some of your favorite performers, all for free.

Kick a season of free music off this Wednesday, May 29 at WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday at Waterfront Park, featuring Pokey LaFarge, S.G. Goodman, and the Ellie Ruth Band.

Here's your guide to free outdoor concerts around the Louisville area this summer.

Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series

Bicentennial Park at the corner of Spring and Pearl streets (118 E. Spring St.), New Albany from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Fridays. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. newalbanycityhall.com/bicentennialpark

Joslyn and The Sweet Compression.
Joslyn and The Sweet Compression.
  • May 31: Paul McDonald & the Mourning Doves, Joslyn & the Sweet Compression

  • June 7: Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters, The Ian Abel Trio

  • June 14: The Jesse Lees, Scott T. Smith

  • June 21: Tommy Womack, Club House Troubadours

  • June 28: Jameron, Rockstead

  • July 12: Bibelhauser, Arianna & the Bourbon Britches

  • July 19: Kiana & the Sunkings, Bandits on the Run

  • July 26: Dave Meland Band, The Skinny

Colonial Gardens Summer in the Gardens

On the patio, 818 W. Kenwood Drive, 6-9 p.m. Food and drinks are available for purchase. colonialgardenslouky.com

  • May 31: The Last Band Standing

  • June 6: Jeremy Scharfe

  • June 7: Jonathan Paxton

  • June 13: Dusty Bo

  • June 14: The Checkmates

  • June 20: Lampus

  • June 21: Bluegrass Jam

  • June 27: Ethan & Joey

  • July 12: Jonathan Paxton

  • July 18: Bluegrass Jam

  • July 25: Ethan & Joey

  • July 26: R & R 3

FridayFest Concert Series

Highview Park, 7201 Outer Loop (enter through Briscoe Lane), 6-10 p.m. Fridays. Also children’s activities, food trucks with a variety of food options. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. facebook.com/FridayFestHP/about.

Country Artist J.D. Shelburne of Taylorsville, Ky. entertained the Fest-A-Ville crowd after the Great Steamboat Race on Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Country Artist J.D. Shelburne of Taylorsville, Ky. entertained the Fest-A-Ville crowd after the Great Steamboat Race on Wednesday, May 3, 2023
  • May 31: J.D. Shelburne, School of Rock Louisville

  • June 14: The Brass Pack, PoJo

  • June 28: Radiotronic, BeeGees Tribute

  • July 12: The Sheryl Rouse Band, Jordan Wilson Coalition

  • July 26: An Evening with The Monarchs

  • Aug. 9: DaveMeland Band, Jack n’ Lindsey

Whiskey Wednesdays

3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, 6300 Old La Grange Road, Crestwood, 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Enjoy signature cocktails and beer from 3rd Turn Brewing and food from the Backside Grill. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. touroldham.com.

  • June 5: R & R 3

  • June 12: Mark Conover

  • June 19: Allen Lane

  • June 16: Andrew Lee

Concerts in Warder Park

Sonny Brewster Bandstand, 109 E. Court Ave., Jeffersonville, 7 p.m. Fridays. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Presented by Jeffersonville Main Street and the Jeffersonville Parks Department. jeffmainstreet.org.

Members of the Don Krekel Orchestra perform popular music of the WWII period at Operation Bravo-Zulu, a 75th anniversary D-Day commemoration celebrating the turning point for the U.S. and its allies in World War II. Bravo-Zulu was a U.S. Navy signal communicating "job well done." The commemoration was held at the Louisville Memorial Auditorium.
June 6, 2019
  • June 7: Derby City Brass Band

  • June 14: Cloigheann Irish Band

  • June 21: Polkatz

  • June 28: River Cities Concert Band

  • July 12: Jamey Aebersold Quartet

  • July 19: The Don Krekel Orchestra

  • July 26: Joyful Noise

  • Aug. 2: Moonlight Big Band

  • Aug. 9: Kosair Dance Band

  • Aug. 16: Take Two

  • Aug. 23: The Clark Band

  • Aug. 30: Moon Dogs

Jammin in Jeff Concert Series

Jeffersonville RiverStage, 100 W. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, Indiana, 7 p.m. Fridays. Food trucks, beer garden and cocktails. Chairs, blankets and small coolers are allowed. Pets, smoking and alcohol are not permitted. Sponsored by Shoe Sensation. jeffparks.org/jeffriverstage/.

  • June 7: Juicebox Heroes, Wax Factory

  • June 15: Juneteenth Celebration

  • June 21: Summer Beach party with Sounds of Summer, The Get Down

  • June 28: Big Easy on the Ohio

  • July 5: Princess Purple Party with The Sheryl Rouse Band, The Jesse Lee’s

  • July 12: Nashtucky Country Night with J.D. Shelburne, India Ramey

  • July 19: Pink Floyd Tribute & Light Show with Echoes of Pompeii, Producing a Kind Generation

  • July 26: Thunderstruck, Matt Red Moore

  • Aug. 2: Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Joslyn and the Sweet Compressions

  • Aug. 9: Hot Brown Smackdown, Kindred Valley

  • Aug. 16: The Jayhawks

Trackside Tunes

Alley Loop, corner of Walnut Avenue and Poplar Alley, La Grange, 7-9 p.m. Fridays. Food trucks, beer, and cocktails will be available for purchase at 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs. touroldham.com.

  • June 7: Doorway

  • July 5: Bourbon & Brass

  • Aug. 2: Ladies for Liberty

  • Sept. 6: Allen Lane Band

  • Oct. 4: The Bottle Trees

Dan-O' Sizzling Summer Series

3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, 6300 Old La Grange Road, Crestwood, 6-9 p.m. Fridays. Enjoy signature cocktails and beer from 3rd Turn Brewing, as well as food from the Backside Grill. touroldham.com.

  • June 8: The Aesthetic

Good Times Summer Concert Series Clarksville

Central Green, outside Bolt+Tie complex, 1400 Main St., Clarksville, Indiana, 6-11 p.m. Saturdays. Food trucks, beer garden by Ten20 Craft Brewery. Sponsored in part by the Cornerstone Group. townofclarksville.com/goodtimes.

  • June 8: From Paris, The Echoes

  • July 13: The Mad Taxpayers, The Atomic Groove Machine

  • Aug. 17: The Les Master’s Band, The Swerve

Copper & Kings Sonic Sundays

Copper & Kings Courtyard, 1121 E. Washington St., doors open at 3 p.m.; show starts at 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. Food from the courtyard kitchen, Copper & Kings cocktails, yard games, and small bites. copperandkings.com

Racegoers danced along to the tunes of the Bibelhauser Brothers on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at Churchill Downs.
Racegoers danced along to the tunes of the Bibelhauser Brothers on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at Churchill Downs.
  • June 9: The Bibelhauser Brothers

  • July 14: Jameron

  • Aug. 11: TBA

  • Sept. 8: Scott T. Smith

  • Oct 13: TBA

Old Louisville Live

Treyton Oak Towers, 211 W. Oak St., 7 p.m. Presented by the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council. oldlouisville.org/old-louisville-live.

  • June 22: The Hora Certa Brazilian Jazz Ensemble

WFPK Waterfront Wednesdays

This is the 22nd season of WFPK Waterfront Wednesday, held at Waterfront Park, next to the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, on Wednesdays. Gates open at the rain or shine event at 5 p.m. and music begins at 6 p.m. Alcohol, coolers, glass, and pets are not allowed. Proceeds from WFPK Waterfront Wednesday benefit Louisville Public Media and Waterfront Park. Children and families can enjoy the Waterfront Kids Day, a dedicated area for kids and families to participate in hands-on activities (5-8 p.m.). LPM.org/WaterfrontWednesday

  • June 26: Middle Kids, Relaay (formerly Bridge 19)

  • July 31: Modern English, Snacktime, Digby

  • Aug. 28: Matthew Sweet, Friko, Nise the Nymph

  • Sept. 25: Dark Side of the Wall, Zaniah, Flow

Did we miss an event? Send a note to Features News Clerk Gege Reed at [email protected].

More: Your guide to the 26 best things to do this summer in Louisville and Kentucky

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Free concerts to see this summer in Louisville and Southern Indiana