Free summer music: Grab your lawn chair and pick a place to hear an outdoor concert

What's better than sitting outdoors on a warm summer evening listening to a concert?

How about a free concert?

The Erie area has numerous free public summer outdoor concert series for you to enjoy in June, July and August. The events feature local, national and even international performers in a variety of genres. All you need to do is take your chair or blanket to sit on.

A crowd packs downtown Erie during CelebrateErie 2019 as the Erie All-Stars band performs their tribute to the rock band Queen. Numerous free concerts are scheduled in the area for summer 2023.
A crowd packs downtown Erie during CelebrateErie 2019 as the Erie All-Stars band performs their tribute to the rock band Queen. Numerous free concerts are scheduled in the area for summer 2023.

Here are as many details as we could find. Check GoErie.com for updates throughout the summer. We'll delete concerts and series from this list once they've happened.

At the peninsula: Summer 2023 at Presque Isle brings lighthouse birthday, swimming, sand, food trucks, music

Coming in September: Erie Philharmonic's 2023-24 Symphonic, Pops series feature Stewart Copeland, more

Summer Concert Series

The Erie Downtown Partnership hosts these eight Thursday concerts with the opening act going on at 7 p.m. and the headliner at 8 p.m. on the stage in West Perry Square.

July 6: Matt Crays and Co., opener; Mayflower Hill, headliner.

July 13: Rodger Montgomery; Brewer and Friends.

July 20: Polka in the Park; Concertina All Stars.

July 27: Sanis; Phunkademic.

Aug. 3: Odd Atrocity, Hellz Bellz.

Aug. 10: Optimistic Apocalypse; Stephen Trohoske's Saturn to Brazil.

Aug. 24: Brooke Surgener; First to Eleven.

Aug. 31: Life Thru Music; The Breeze Band.

Learn more at www.eriedowntown.com.

ErieBank 8 Great Tuesdays

The Port Erie Concert Series includes an opening act and headliner on eight Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Highmark Amphitheater at Liberty Park on Erie's bayfront.

A crowd at Liberty Park listens to The Breeze Band perform in the Highmark Amphitheater during the 2021 ErieBank 8 Great Tuesdays concert series.
A crowd at Liberty Park listens to The Breeze Band perform in the Highmark Amphitheater during the 2021 ErieBank 8 Great Tuesdays concert series.

July 11: Familiar Spirit Band, opener; The Groove, headliner.

July 18: Nat & The Mad Hatters; Turnstiles.

July 25: The I-90s; Glitz.

Aug. 1: Ron Yarosz & The Vehicle; Joslyn & the Sweet Compression.

Aug. 8: First to Eleven; Brown Eyed Women.

Aug. 15: Small Town Revolution; Bindley Hardware Company.

Aug. 22: The V Band with Aaron & Ross; USAF Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble.

Aug. 29: Erie All Stars.

Learn more at www.porterie.org/8greattuesdays.

Earlier this year: Erie Port Authority names new director with a specialty in economic development

CelebrateErie

The downtown Erie celebration is set for Aug. 18-20 with three nights of world-class musical acts and local opening acts on the Mainstage; four District Stages showcasing musical and performing arts from regional entertainers; and Interactive Drum Circles for people to walk up and join. Opening acts will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the headliners starting at 8 p.m., all on the mainstage at Fourth and State streets.

Rapper Flo Rida will perform on the second night of the 2023 CelebrateErie festival.
Rapper Flo Rida will perform on the second night of the 2023 CelebrateErie festival.

Aug. 18: Erie All Stars present Fleetwood Mac as the headliner with Mambo and Stephen Trohoske's Dance JoneZz opening.

Aug. 19: Flo Rida, Life Thru Music and The LEC.

Aug. 20: Parmalee, Blue Sky and Refuge.

Learn more at www.celebrateerie.com.

Mainstage: Flo Rida, Parmalee, Erie All Stars to headline 2023 CelebrateErie summer festival

Other music event lineups

Summer Concert Sessions: Saturdays through Aug. 26, 6-10 p.m. unless otherwise noted, Erie Sports Center, 8161 Oliver Road. June 3, Twisted Lid; June 10, Disco Inferno; June 17, Crush; June 24, Cadets Community Performance, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; June 24, The Groove; July 1, Chris Higbee, 7:30-10 p.m.; July 8, The Breeze Band; July 15, Reign Maker; July 22, Family First Music Festival, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; July 29, Daytona Beach 2000; Aug. 5, Cherry Bomb; Aug. 12, Frontier; Aug. 19, Lucky Dog; and Aug. 26, Northern Accents. www.facebook.com/eriesportscenter

We all scream for ice cream: You'll love this long list of Erie-area stands

Whitford Park Concert Series: Wednesdays, June 7 through Aug. 30, 7-9 p.m., Whitford Park, 5400 Iroquois Ave., Harborcreek Township. Take a lawn chair or blanket. Performers are: June 7, Country Blue; June 14, Generic Grass; June 21, The Mountain Thyme Ramblers; June 28, Abbey Road; July 5, The Collective; July 12, Shady Side; July 19, Acoustic Ear Candy; July 26, Mike and Marie Acoustics; Aug. 2, Jack Stevenson; Aug. 9, Polka Relations; Aug. 16, Kurt Novakowski; Aug. 23, David Julius; and Aug. 30, Gem City Band. https://bit.ly/Whitfordconcerts

Summer Music Series: June 9 and 23, July 7 and 21, and Aug. 4 and 18, 7-9 p.m., Goodell Gardens & Homestead, 221 Waterford St., Edinboro. Also features food trucks. Performers are: June 9, Jess Royer & Nick Warren; June 23, The Mighty Sea; July 7, Tiger Maple String Band; July 21, Matt Texter; Aug. 4, Patchouli & Terra Guitarra; and Aug. 18, West Indian Revelation. Free admission; donations appreciated. https://goodellgardens.org/calendar/music/

Music in the Park: Wednesdays, June 14 through Aug. 23, 7 p.m. to sunset, Lake Erie Community Park, 10192 West Lake Road, Lake City. Girard concert series with food trucks and refreshment tents. Performers are: June 14, Riffriders; June 21, Mambo; June 28, Alexa Raye Unplugged; July 5, Shoreline; July 12, Smilo & The Ghost; July 19, South of 90; July 26, Fugitives; Aug. 2, The Breeze Band; Aug. 9, Matty B & the Pickles; Aug. 16, Abbey Road; and Aug. 23, 6 p.m. start, West County Rangers. https://bit.ly/Girardparkmusic

Music on the Square: Town Square, Center and Seneca streets. July 6, 7 to 9 p.m., The Gordon James Blues Band; July 19, 7 to 9 p.m., Angel Blue & the Prophets; Aug. 3, 7 to 9 p.m., Chuck Justice & the Junkyard Lawyers; Sept. 15, 5 to 8 p.m., The Wyllis Street Band. oilcitymainstreet.org.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Where to find free live music around Erie PA in summer 2023