This month, our Levitt Community Spotlight Series continues with seven more exciting towns and cities! Whether you’re deep in the heart of Appalachian coal country or in the “Vehicle City” of Flint, Michigan, the following Levitt AMP Series are a great way to spend a warm summer evening under the stars. You could be dancing to a Celtic rock band, experiencing the beauty of a South African choir, or vibing to jazz legends—but no matter what, you’re in for a fantastic time! 

 

LEVITT AMP CLINTON
McLain Rogers Park
May 23–July 25, 2025 

Native artists at the Levitt AMP Clinton series, located in Western Oklahoma. Photo by Fran Kowalski.

Clinton, Oklahoma is one of the legendary hubs of classic 1900s era American culture. Later in the century, it was a major destination along the famed Route 66 Highway for leisure travelers. For decades, tourists would stop off in Clinton on their way west, taking advantage of one of the town’s many cafes, restaurants, or motels.  

Since 2023, the Levitt AMP Clinton Music Series has taken place in McClain Rogers Park, becoming a new travel destination for residents from all around the local area—as well as those journeying in from towns and cities a bit further afield in neighboring Texas and Kansas.  

Prior to the launch of the series, the park was relatively unused and the bandshell was in disrepair. The Levitt AMP concerts have been integral to changing that. “There aren’t a lot of cultural activities in Western Oklahoma and that’s what we’re bringing. People are always asking what the next concert is,” says Dr. Susan Adams-Johnson, Executive and Co-Artistic Director of Scissortail Productions, which presents the series. “The Levitt grant has springboarded all of these artistic community opportunities.” 

The Levitt AMP Clinton Music Series includes numerous activities for adults and kids alike, including corn hole and hula hoop games. Numerous Native American artists, local vendors, veterans, youth groups, and charities all take part. The historic bandshell, which has been meticulously restored thanks to the enthusiasm for the series, is also slated to hold outdoor musical theater in the future, according to Adams-Johnson. 

This year’s stellar artist lineup includes the Brubeck Brothers (sons of legendary jazz musician Dave Brubeck), Austin indie-folk duo Dawn and Hawkes, and world music band Incendio, coming from Los Angeles.  

The Levitt AMP Clinton Music, which launched May 23, runs every Friday (except for Friday, June 27; that week, the concert will take place on Saturday, June 28) through July 25. 

 

LEVITT AMP FLINT
Totem Books Property
May 27–September 30, 2025 

Artists from all around the world get the Levitt AMP Flint community on the dance floor. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Flint.

Some 60 miles northwest of Detroit, Michigan, lies Flint—a small city of 80,000 people with a rich history of civil rights activism, logging, and manufacturing. Known to many as “Vehicle City” because of its time as a hub for automobile assembly, the community is also home to the Levitt AMP Flint Music Series, which launched in 2023. “The Levitt AMP program has brought an amazing array of artists from around the country and the world to Flint,” says Joel Arnold, Planning and Advocacy Manager of series presenter Communities First, Inc. “This series has brought people together, activated an otherwise underutilized public space, provided liveliness and activity, and most importantly, has brought the kind of world-class music that our neighbors deserve to their community at no cost to them.” 

Each concert in the series features local food trucks, retail vendors, and family-friendly games. Crim Fitness’ Better Block Foundation is providing amenities such as bistro tables, umbrellas, and pergolas to make the space even more welcoming. What’s more, a new partnership with the local library is bringing additional free resources to attendees. 

This year’s roster of bands includes talent from all over the country and world, including the folk talents of Ukraine’s Kommuna Lux, the indie rock stylings of Coral Moons, and up-tempo Latin band Mexicuba. “We’re thrilled by the diversity of the bands represented, the music they perform, where they are from, and their histories,” says Arnold. 

The Levitt AMP Flint series, which launched May 27, runs every other Tuesday until September 30, except for Tuesday, July 29. That week, the concert will take place on August 1, which is a Friday. 

 

LEVITT AMP SPRINGFIELD
Y Block
May 29–July 31, 2025 

Each Levitt AMP Springfield concert begins with an energizing dance performance from local talent. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Springfield.

Visitors from around the country flock every year to Springfield, Illinois, to visit one of the state capital’s many Abraham Lincoln-related historical sites (Lincoln resided in Springfield for more than two decades before he became president), or to enjoy a famed horseshoe sandwich (a decadent, open-faced hamburger sandwich covered in French fries and cheese sauce).   

For visitors and residents alike, the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series provides an inclusive atmosphere where people of all ages and backgrounds converge to enjoy concerts and a welcoming energy, since 2019, in the formerly-vacant “Y Block” in the downtown area of Springfield. “As with so many Levitt locations, we get to see everyone come together during our Thursday night shows,” says Christi H. Walden, Coordinating Chair of Levitt AMP Springfield.  

The organizers give great care to ensuring both new and returning audiences remain engaged—Walden says, for example, that they took attendees’ feedback and shifted the timing of their programming to feature local dance performances at the beginning of the night, rather than later in the evening, so families with younger kids could enjoy them before bedtime. 

This year’s lineup includes the series’ most nationally recognized performer yet: R&B soul sensation Lee Fields. Other exciting acts performing over the course of the series include country singer Emily Nenni and famed blues guitarist Cedric Burnside.  

This year, nearly a dozen new vendors and partners are taking part in Levitt AMP Springfield, including food trucks and local service organizations. For families attending with young kids, the nearby Kidzeum, which promotes health, wellness, and science education, is hosting a “Kidz Korner” at every show, offering information about their programs and services.  

The Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series began May 29 and runs every Thursday through July 31. 

 

LEVITT AMP WHITESBURG
Mountain Heritage Festival Stage
May 29–July 31, 2025 

Free live music strengthens the Whitesburg community each week during the Levitt series. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Whitesburg.

Deep in the heart of Letcher County, nestled in the Appalachian mountains, lies the town of Whitesburg. This community, like much of the rest of Eastern Kentucky, was shaped by the coal industry, with local infrastructure blooming up around the workers whom the coal industry attracted over the decades.  

Despite more recent economic and climate-related hardships as one of the hardest-hit counties in the devastating 2022 regional floods, the area has become a vibrant home for music and culture steeped in Appalachian traditions. An important part of that movement is the Levitt AMP Whitesburg Music Series, which launched in 2018.  

“The music is always a driving force for Levitt,” says Valerie Horn, Executive Director of the Cowan Community Center, presenter of the music series. “We are excited for the lineup, as everything builds around that.”  

This year’s schedule features two-time Juno Award-winning artist Kiran Ahluwalia, who combines traditional Indian music with African desert blues. Beyond her performance, she is also sharing a traditional dance that the local Kids on the Creek students will learn and showcase at the event, according to Horn. The event series also enjoys a strong alliance with Partners for Rural Impact, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing educational outcomes for students from cradle to career. 

This season’s lineup also includes inventive vocal harmony group Windborne and Appalachian rocker Corduroy Brown, who will conclude the series with a bang on July 31. Taking place at the Mountain Heritage Stage, the concerts begin with opening acts around 6:30 p.m., just as the local Whitesburg Farmers Market starts winding to a close.   

The Levitt AMP Whitesburg Music Series began May 29 and runs every Thursday through July 31 (except 4th of July week). 

 

LEVITT AMP SHENANDOAH JUNCTION
The AMP at Sam Michaels Park
May 3 –July 31, 2025 

Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction is the perfect place to discover and support new artists. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction.

Named Shenandoah Junction in 1881 due to the intersection of the B&O and Norfolk and Western Railway that once sat at its center, this West Virginian town is a charming bedroom community just outside Washington, D.C., and close to the historic town of Harpers Ferry, located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.  

Still befitting its name, residents from surrounding areas such as Charles Town, Ranson, Shepherdstown, and even from nearby Virginia and Maryland now converge on Shenandoah Junction for the Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction Music Series, taking place at The AMP at Sam Michaels Park since 2020. 

“The Levitt Series has really brought something special to our community,” says Becki Zaglifa, Community Development Manager for Jefferson County Parks and Recreation, which presents the series. “It introduces all kinds of music we might not hear otherwise, and it’s been great seeing people come out, relax, dance, smile, and enjoy it together. One of the best parts is that the concerts are free, so there’s no cost barrier. Everyone’s welcome, and that’s made a big difference.” 

That welcoming atmosphere is due in no small part to the volunteers, who hail from all parts of the area and have teamed up to make the series a success, “whether they’re greeting folks at the gate, selling t-shirts, collecting donations, running concessions, or helping behind the scenes,” says Zaglifa. “It’s been amazing to see so many people want to be part of our Levitt AMP Music Series.” 

This year’s lineup includes local favorites such as Christian Lopez, Celtic invasion rock group Tartan Terrors, and Korean-American folk musician BettySoo. Adds Zaglifa, “Between the exciting lineup, the growing community support, and general excitement for music in our community, we think the 2025 season is going to be our best one yet!” 

The Levitt AMP Shenandoah Junction Music Series began May 30 and runs every Thursday night through July 31.  

 

LEVITT AMP GREEN BAY
Leicht Memorial Park
June 1– August 3, 2025 

This year, the Levitt AMP Green Bay music series is introducing a wide range of new partnerships to enhance the concert experience and offerings. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Green Bay.

Originally settled as a fur trading post in what was known as New France in 1634, Green Bay, Wisconsin, is world famous for its hometown NFL football team, The Packers, and is a lively city with a population of just over 100,000.  

The Broadway District of the city is renowned as a regional cultural core, and is an area where local art and music thrive. The Levitt AMP Green Bay Music Series, launched in 2023, further electrifies and energizes downtown, bringing together families, friends, and neighbors from all walks of life.

“This music series has truly been a convener for this community,” says Betsy Sorensen, Director of Special Events for On Broadway, Inc., which presents the series. “We’ve seen this music series truly change the fabric of our downtown and we look forward to taking it a step further this year by weaving the Levitt AMP stage into two existing annual events.” Those events are the igNight Market, a traveling night market featuring local artisans and interactive art demonstrations, and Fire Over the Fox, the city’s annual 4th of July fireworks display.

A slew of exciting bands is on tap for this season, including alternative rockers Brigitte Calls Me Baby, husband-and-wife led Southern rock band Parker Barrow, women-led bluegrass group Fox Crossing Stringband, Radio Free Honduras from Chicago, and local favorite, Grupo Kn Zavor. The event series is partnering with numerous organizations to help elevate the series, including Green Bay Area Public Schools, La Mas Grande (the only Spanish-language radio station in the area), How To Concerts (which helps book the event), Hmong nonprofit Maiv Passion, and others.  

The Levitt AMP Green Bay Music Series launched June 1 and runs on Sundays (except for concerts on Saturday, June 21, and Friday, July 4) through August 3. 

 

LEVITT AMP EARLHAM
Earlham City Park
June 1–August 10, 2025 

The Levitt AMP Earlham series boosts the local economy through onsite vendors and increasing traffic to downtown businesses on Sundays. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Earlham.

Earlham is a rural town in Iowa about 30 miles west of Des Moines that owns and enjoys its small-town stature. With a population of around 1,450, Earlham aims for simplicity. “Our town has one of everything—one school, one bank, one coffee shop, one library, one dentist, one doctor’s office, one restaurant,” says Connie Terry, Founding Member of Levitt AMP Earlham, which launched in 2019. It is due in part to this can-do, small-town spirit that the Levitt AMP Earlham Music Series thrives. 

Presented by Earlham Chicks with Checks, an all-female giving circle that makes charitable contributions to organizations and projects that promote the betterment of Earlham, the music series is hardwired into the local business community, where the series enjoys a mutually-beneficial relationship with these businesses. Local shops—normally closed on Sundays—are staying open for the increased business opportunities and to provide a more engaging experience.  

“This year we are trying out our ‘Social During Soundcheck,’ where we partner with a local business in the hours just before our concerts,” says Terry. “We will be encouraging our patrons to come to Earlham early to meet our local business owners and shop in their stores. Each business owner is pulling out their creativity to give our concertgoers a special experience.”  

Some of these experiences include a beer and bratwurst tasting at local grocery store Hometown Market, and a DIY charm bar, where concertgoers can make their own necklaces and bracelets at Rose & June clothing boutique. Additionally, the Earlham Historical Society will also provide access to the Old Schoolhouse Museum—where guests can see the first building ever constructed in the city, and sip on tasty root beer floats. 

This year’ lineup includes Olivia Fox’s three-piece band, Celtic folk band Blame Not the Bard (BNTB), and rapper/singer and hip-hop collective Doomtree member Dessa, performing a special set with the 29:11 South African Choir. 

The Levitt AMP Earlham Music Series began June 1 and runs every Sunday (except July 6) until August 10.