Are you looking for free, outdoor concerts this summer? Outdoor concerts are a staple summer activity. Our list below includes Ann Arbor Summer Concert Series (as well as concert series in all of Washtenaw County). I’ve collaborated with other sites in Metro Detroit to bring you a list of concert series throughout the area.

Mrs. Weber’s Neighborhood Livingston County Summer Concert Series
Metro Detroit Mommy Oakland County Summer Concert Series
Ann Arbor With Kids (Us) Washtenaw County Summer Concert Series
Redesigning Happiness Wayne County Summer Concert Series

I’ve listed the Ann Arbor Summer Concert Series by Start Date followed by the Summer Concert Series in surrounding communities.

Ann Arbor Summer Concert Series

Note we are in the process of updating the list for 2019. 2018 information is included for some concerts that have not announced their 2019 selection.

Sonic Lunch

Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch sponsored by Bank of Ann Arbor kicks off on Thursday, June 6 2019 and runs through the end of August (taking a break for July 4th and Art Fair).

The schedule of performers is:

🎶June 6 – Sonic Lunch - Laith Al-Saadi with special guest Sam Corbin
🎶June 13 – Sonic Lunch - The Accidentals with special guest Adam Plomaritas
🎶June 20 – Sonic Lunch - morgxn with special guest Magdalen Fossum
🎶June 27 – Sonic Lunch - Adia Victoria with special guest Erin Zindle
🎶July 11 – Sonic Lunch - Rayland Baxter with special guest Matthew Milia
🎶July 25 – Sonic Lunch - Guster with special guest Andrew Horowitz of Tally Hall
🎶August 1 – Sonic Lunch - SHAED with special guest Ladysse
🎶August 8 – Sonic Lunch - Matt Kerekes with special guest Oren Levin
🎶August 15 – Sonic Lunch - TBA with special guest Amy Petty
🎶August 22 – Sonic Lunch - Michael Franti and Spearhead with special guest Abigail Stauffer
🎶August 29 – Sonic Lunch - Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas with special guest Jacob Sigman

Washtenaw Community Concert Band

Join the Washtenaw Community Concert Band for their summer series of concerts. The concerts are in Towsley Auditorium in Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building. The concerts are free thanks to support from the Yankee Air Museum

The show schedule is:

🎶 June 27 – The Magic of Patriotic Music and Pies Concert
🎶 July 25 – A Broadway Celebration

Top of the Park

Ann Arbor Summer Festival’s Top of the Park is my favorite outdoor concert event. It runs for 2.5 weeks from June 14 through July 7 with concerts every night except Monday. Music typically starts at 6p on the Grove stage and at 7p on the Rackham stage although it starts as early as 5p on some days.

🎶 June 14 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 15 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 16 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 18 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 19 – KidZone: Mary A. Rackham Institute - Elephant and Piggie Series
🎶 June 19 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 20 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 21 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 22 – KidZone: Treasuring Christ Church - Feel the Beat
🎶 June 22 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 23 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 25 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 26 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 27 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 28 – KidZone: Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Petting Zoo
🎶 June 28 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 29 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 June 30 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 July 2 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 July 3 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 July 4 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 July 5 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 July 6 – Top of the Park Music
🎶 July 7 – Top of the Park Music

Be sure to check our Top of the Park Kids Guide (2019 information coming soon) for information on all the fun at Top of the Park. This includes the KidZone Tents, Movie Listings, and other activities.

Ann Arbor Civic Band Concerts

Ann Arbor Civic Band holds a series of concerts on Wednesday evenings in the summer. Concerts are free. Bring your own blanket or chairs. Three years ago my daughter and I had fun at the Children’s Concert.

The schedule is:

🎶 June 19 – On the March - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎶 June 26 – Around the Band - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎶 July 3 – American Celebration Concert - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎶 July 10 – Children's Concert - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎶 July 17 – Let's Fall in Love - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎶 July 24 – Pop Icons - Ann Arbor Civic Band

Concert in the Park

Ann Arbor Parks hosts free concerts on Sunday afternoons at 3p in Burns Park starting the weekend after Art Fair. The concerts are free, but donations of canned goods and other non-perishable food for Community Action Network (CAN) are appreciated.

The schedule is:

🎶 July 28 – Gemini (Gemily) - Concert in the Park
🎶 August 4 – Dan Hall - Concert in the Park
🎶 August 11 – Guy Louis - Concert in the Park
🎶 August 18 – Matt Watroba - Concert in the Park

Check out our playground profile of Burns Park.

Summer Carillon Concert Series

The University of Michigan holds a Summer Carillon Concert Series with performances at both Burton Tower (Bell Tower on Ingalls Mall) and Lurie Tower (on North Campus). They are select Mondays at 7p.

The 2019 schedule has not been announced, but will be added here:

No Events

Summer Concert Series Beyond Ann Arbor

Cultivate’s Sundays in the Garden

Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse is holding a series of concerts on Sunday evenings. Each will feature a different musical act, a featured brewery, and a local non-profit.

🎶 June 16 – Sundays in the Garden: Channing & Quinn with Heather Quillen at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 June 23 – Sundays in the Garden: Planet D Nonet at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 June 23 – Sundays in the Garden: Planet D Nonet at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 June 30 – Sundays in the Garden: Al Bettis with Jill Govan at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 July 7 – Sundays in the Garden: The Tone Farmers at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 July 14 – Sundays in the Garden: Chris Dupont & Adam Plomaritas at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 July 21 – Sundays in the Garden: Madelyn Grant with Jacob Sigman at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 July 28 – Sundays in the Garden: Honey Monsoon with Rachael & Dominic John Davis at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 August 4 – Sundays in the Garden: Hullabaloo at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 August 11 – Sundays in the Garden: Trey Priest & Dani Darling at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 August 18 – Sundays in the Garden: Rachel Mazer at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 August 25 – Sundays in the Garden: Abigail Stauffer & Kate Peterson at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse
🎶 September 1 – Sundays in the Garden: Seth Bernard & Jordan Hamilton at Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse

Chelsea Sounds & Sight

Head to Chelsea for Sounds & Sights on Thursday night from 6:30-8:30p. There are musical and other performances throughout downtown. Once school lets out, the event ends with a movie at dusk. The 2019 series starts on June 6 and ends on August 15.

🎶 June 6 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 June 13 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 June 20 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 June 27 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 July 11 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 July 18 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 July 25 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 August 1 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 August 8 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights
🎶 August 15 – Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights

Manchester Gazebo Concerts

The Manchester Gazebo Concerts are held on Thursday nights from 7:30-9p (except the first week which starts at 7).

🎶 June 13 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Family Concert Featuring Gemini
🎶 June 20 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Billy King & Friends
🎶 June 27 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Westbound Situation
🎶 July 4 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Blue Water Ramblers
🎶 July 25 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic
🎶 August 1 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - The Big Band Theory
🎶 August 8 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Brockman Brass

Saline Summer Music Series

The Summer Music Series in Saline features a different group each night and kids activities. The 2019 lineup is

🎶 June 13 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 June 20 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 June 27 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 July 4 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 July 11 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 July 18 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 July 25 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 August 1 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 August 8 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 August 15 – Salty Summer Sounds
🎶 August 22 – Salty Summer Sounds

Dexter Summer Music Series at Monument Park

The Dexter Summer Music Series is held on Fridays at Monument Park.

🎶 June 14 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Dexter Community Orchestra
🎶 June 21 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Billy Mack & the Juke Joint Johnnies
🎶 June 28 – Dexter Summer Concerts: The Jazz Bums
🎶 July 5 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Gemini
🎶 July 12 – Dexter Summer Concerts: The Invasion
🎶 July 19 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Randy Brock Group
🎶 July 26 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Surfs Zup
🎶 August 2 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Ranson Jones
🎶 August 16 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Orchestra Jazz Ens
🎶 August 23 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Men in Black
🎶 August 30 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Salmagundi