These five, unique towns and cities across the country are closing out the summer with free, outdoor Levitt concerts from renowned musical artists performing in a wide array of genres. Cultural activities at the concerts often go beyond the music, including mural-making, clay stamping, and even an instrument petting zoo where kids can try out musical instruments for the very first time. These wide-ranging experiences have become an integral part of the concerts, creating hubs for people to come together, celebrate, and enjoy great live music and much more in their local communities. 

 

LEVITT AMP HARRISONBURG
Turner Pavilion Grass Lot
June 25–September 10, 2025 

Levitt AMP Harrisonburg has become a beloved destination for audience members of all ages to enjoy free outdoor music. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Harrisonburg.

Harrisonburg, Virginia lies two hours outside of Washington, DC in the largely agricultural, picturesque Shenandoah Valley. The home of James Madison University and a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, the town is also home to the Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series. With a thriving local music scene featuring regular barn concerts and weekly jams, that same downhome spirit is a big part of what brings the Levitt AMP Music Series to life. 

“It’s been really fun hearing from the new parents—who had babies right before our first year of AMP—tell us their children know that if it’s a Wednesday during the summertime, it’s an AMP night,” says Andrea Dono, Executive Director at Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, which presents the series that launched in 2023. “We want to continue reinforcing this community-wide habit, where people come together and enjoy being part of the Harrisonburg community. This is an important part of fostering community cohesion that makes Harrisonburg a tight-knit and strong city.” 

An exciting lineup is underway this season, including blues and roots music from Corey Harris Band, dreamy indie pop from Boys Go to Jupiter, and Ukrainian folk from Kommuna Lux. Local acts are also on the bill each night, opening for the headliners and getting valuable exposure.  

The event series has helped foster connections with the local Latino community by featuring Latin bands and Spanish-language promotions, as well as with nonprofits such as Rocktown House of Music—which created an “instrument petting zoo” allowing kids to play different musical instruments for the first time. “We always enjoy inviting area nonprofits to have a free booth to help get the message out about their mission at each show,” says Dono. “It’s a great way to get the word out and the classes they offer and it’s so cool for kids who never touched an instrument to experience something new.” 

Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series runs Wednesdays through September 10. 

 

LEVITT AMP CUMBERLAND
Festival Grounds at Canal Place
June 26–August 28, 2025 

Levitt AMP Cumberland concertgoers dance to the beats of jazz and hip-hop artist extraordinaire Shamarr Allen in 2024. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Cumberland.

Cumberland, Maryland has a rich and storied history as a vital pathway in the early expansion of the United States, situated along the C&O Canal, the first federally-funded highway, and the B&O Railroad. Today, the Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series has had a profound effect on this community, adding a family-friendly series of events to complement the already beloved outdoor recreation activities and the historic Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.  

Since 2023, the series has been at the center of the city’s cultural calendar, presenting free, live music for 10 consecutive weeks each summer, showcasing a wide range of genres—from Dixieland jazz to Afro-Andean funk—and attracting families and individuals from all backgrounds. “The series has transformed the underutilized Festival Grounds at Canal Place into a vibrant public space where people gather to relax, connect, and engage with the arts,” says Melanie Moore, Director of Frostburg State University Cultural Events Series, a partner organization in presenting the program. “In a county facing significant challenges—such as economic hardship, population decline, and addiction—the program has fostered a renewed sense of pride and belonging by offering consistent, uplifting shared experiences.” 

In addition to exposing the local community to new musical genres, Levitt AMP Cumberland has also helped grow local commerce and create connections among local organizations. “Nearby shops and restaurants have seen a noticeable increase in foot traffic and revenue on concert nights, helping to further energize and revitalize the downtown area,” says Moore. “The series has also fostered deeper collaboration among local government, nonprofits like the Allegany Arts Council, Frostburg State University, Loft 129, and other partners—breaking down silos and paving the way for future joint initiatives that strengthen the cultural and economic fabric of the region.” 

For young attendees, the Allegany Arts Council’s Arts Lab has provided shaded seating, bubble-making, arts and crafts, temporary tattoos, and more. Community members who arrive by 6:30 p.m. can take part in a free, 20-minute dance class. This season’s lineup includes Nashville folk-blues band South For Winter, bluegrass act the Larry Keel Experience, jazz singer Jane Monheit, and R&B artist Joslyn and the Sweet Compression. 

Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series runs Thursdays through August 28. 

 

LEVITT AMP SHEBOYGAN
City Green
June 26–September 18, 2025 

The City Green’s transformation from vacant to vibrant has provided greater access to cultural offerings and a deepened pride of place for Sheboygan residents. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Sheboygan.

Playfully called “The Malibu of the Midwest,” Sheboygan, Wisconsin sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan and boasts several popular local beaches. It’s also known for its locally-made bratwurst sausages and the annual Johnsonville World Bratwurst Eating Championship.  

Since 2015, the Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series has brought its own local color to the area, helping transform the local landscape. “Prior to Levitt, the three-acre site home to Levitt AMP Sheboygan consisted of a vacant, big-box store that blocked foot traffic and served as a barrier separating the downtown district from the city’s cultural institutions—including John Michael Kohler Arts Center, the library, and children’s museum,” says Ann Brusky, Deputy Director of Programming for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC), which presents the series. “When the city was able to purchase the property in 2014 and was weighing plans to create an open green space, JMKAC seized the opportunity to show how this blank canvas could be used to bring the community together and develop a greater pride of place.” 

The music series also feature special contributions from local arts partners. “Each week is a new hands-on art project that ties into the current Arts Center’s theme, This Is Where I’m Coming From, which focuses on how artists address perspective, place, and placelessness,” says Brusky. “The first week featured a clay stamping project with artist E. Saffronia Downing; one week was making a sail mural; and, most recently, it has been creating a mythical sculpture creature with artist Sarah Rowe.” 

This year’s series lineup features an impressive array of talent, including reggae dancehall artist Ammoye, ranchera jazz group Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices, and indie rock/powwow band Bizhiki.  

Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series runs Thursdays through September 18 (excluding August 21, 28, and September 4 and 11).  

 

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY
Dog Mountain
June 27–August 31, 2025 

Vendors at Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury include a wide range of artisans and nonprofits—each providing an opportunity for community members to connect, create, or learn something new each week on the lawn. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury.

Located in one of the most geographically isolated areas of Vermont, the idyllic town of St. Johnsbury also faces an aging population, generational poverty, and limited access to arts and culture.  

Since 2017, the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series, presented by Catamount Arts, has breathed life into the town’s Dog Mountain area in the heart of a formerly industrial neighborhood, and brought much-needed cultural opportunities to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. 

“Early goals [of the series] were to revitalize Dog Mountain, reinforce its link to downtown, and alleviate boundaries to community engagement and civic pride. Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury has been such a success, we now use it as a springboard,” says Jody Fried, Executive Director of series presenter Catamount Arts. “Each concert is a chance for community organizations, sponsors, vendors, and patrons to engage with each other. We invite spectators to become participants with add-ons like workshops, student performances, on-site community artmaking, and Levitt artist meet-and-greets.” 

The success of the music series has inspired the organizers to expand programming to other areas in the community. “Three times each season, Levitt gets off Dog Mountain, taking audiences with it to downtown St. Jay for Final Fridays, and, in bad weather, to Lyndonville’s Fenton Chester arena, an ice rink,” explains Fried. “Levitt has also become a blueprint to help other local communities develop their own events and series; now there’s live music all summer long nearly every night of the week throughout the region.” 

This year’s stellar lineup features Latin Grammy-nominated band Afro-Andrean Funk, lively Montreal-based Zydeco ensemble Le Winston Band, and a popular local quintet led by renowned trumpeter Tom Gershwin. 

Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series runs Sundays through August 31 (as well as Friday, August 29). 

 

LEVITT AMP UTICA
Kopernik Park
July 7–August 29, 2025 

Küf Knotz and Christine Elise return to the Levitt stage to share their inspiring blend of harp and hip hop. Photo courtesy of Levitt AMP Utica.

A vibrant city in upstate New York with a population of 65,000, Utica has been undergoing a resurgence over the past decade with new housing and entrepreneurial opportunities that have helped bring neighborhoods back to life. Home to a large refugee resettlement community and with more than 40 languages spoken at the local high school, this culturally-diverse area is also known for its unique cuisine—including popular pasta dish “Chicken Riggies” (rigatoni), tomato pies, and chocolate-and-vanilla frosted half-moon cookies.  

Since 2016, the Levitt AMP Utica Music Series at Kopernik Park has helped convert an under-activated space into a destination for hundreds of people to enjoy live music. “We are extremely proud of the work that has been done, the transformation of the park over the years, and the many, many artists we have exposed our audience to since 2016,” says Michelle Truett, Coordinator for Levitt AMP Utica. “You can feel that the social fabric in Utica has strengthened with audience members who have consistently come together week after week, summer after summer.” 

This season’s diverse lineup features uplifting Boston-based alt-rock band Bermuda Search Party, soul-funk group Joslyn and the Sweet Compression, and Küf Knotz and Christine Elise, who will hold a “Behind the Beats” workshop for students on the day of their concert, in partnership with the Utica Children’s Museum and ICAN’s Utica City School District System of Care program. The events also features numerous food truck options and the weekly Kids Art Circle led by local photographers and other artists. “What an opportunity it will be for students to learn about careers in music, how to make beats, and harp fundamentals—and they’ll be creating a collective song together as well,” adds Truett.  

The Levitt AMP Utica Music Series runs Mondays and select Fridays through August 29.