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
Mom Among Chaos Macomb 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

Sonic Lunch

Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch sponsored by Bank of Ann Arbor kicks off on Thursday, June 1 and runs through the end of August (taking a break on July 20 for Art Fair).

The schedule of performers is:

🎵June 7 – Sonic Lunch - Moon Taxi with special guest Nadim Azzam
🎵June 14 – Sonic Lunch - ZZ Ward with special guest Jill Jack
🎵June 21 – Sonic Lunch - JD McPherson with special guest Olivia Millerschin
🎵June 28 – Sonic Lunch - Mt. Joy with special guest Michigander
🎵July 5 – Sonic Lunch - Michigan Rattlers with special guest Misty Lyn
🎵July 12 – Sonic Lunch - Sunflower Bean with special guest Kate Peterson
🎵July 26 – Sonic Lunch - The Accidentals with special guest Chris DuPont
🎵August 2 – Sonic Lunch - Anderson East with special guest Phillip-Michael Scales
🎵August 9 – Sonic Lunch - Bettye LaVette with special guest Antwaun Stanley
🎵August 16 – Sonic Lunch - Caitlyn Smith with special guest The Zindles
🎵August 23 – Sonic Lunch - Absofacto with special guest Katie Lee
🎵August 30 – Sonic Lunch - Theo Katzman 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 the Atrium at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Atrium. The concerts are free thanks to support from the Yankee Air Museum

The show schedule is:

🎵 June 21 – The Magic of Patriotic Music and Pies Concert
🎵 July 26 – The Magic of Hollywood

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 9 through July 2 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 8 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 9 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 10 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 12 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 13 – KidZone: Apple Playschools: Make Recycled Instruments
🎵 June 13 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 14 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 15 – KidZone: Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Petting Zoo
🎵 June 15 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 16 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 17 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 19 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 20 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 21 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 22 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 23 – KidZone: Stone School Co-Op Preschool Make Some Music!
🎵 June 23 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 24 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 26 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 27 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 28 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 29 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 June 30 – Top of the Park Music
🎵 July 1 – Top of the Park Music

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

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 schedule is:

🎵 July 9 – Summer Carillon Concert Series: Steven Karp at Ingalls Mall
🎵 July 16 – Summer Carillon Concert Series: Joey Brink at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Tower
🎵 July 23 – Summer Carillon Concert Series: Philippe Beullens at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Tower
🎵 July 30 – Summer Carillon Concert Series: Andy Zhang at Ingalls Mall
🎵 August 6 – Summer Carillon Concert Series: Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Tower

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 20 – Marches - Grand and Spirited - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎵 July 4 – American Celebration Concert - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎵 July 11 – Children's Concert - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎵 July 18 – Broadway on the Big Screen - Ann Arbor Civic Band
🎵 July 25 – Dance from Swing to Ballet - Ann Arbor Civic Band

Concert in the Park

Ann Arbor Parks hosts free concerts on Sunday afternoons at 3p in Burns Park. 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 29 – Gemini (Gemily) - Concert in the Park
🎵 August 5 – Matt Watrobe - Concert in the Park
🎵 August 12 – Guy Louis - Concert in the Park
🎵 August 26 – Mustard's Retreat Trio, Together Again! - Concert in the Park

Check out our playground profile of Burns Park.

Summer Concert Series Beyond Ann Arbor

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 series starts on June 7 and ends on August 16.

🎵 June 7 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 June 14 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 June 21 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 June 28 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 July 5 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 July 12 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 July 19 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 July 26 – Sounds and Sights Festival
🎵 July 27 – Sounds and Sights Festival
🎵 July 28 – Sounds and Sights Festival
🎵 August 2 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 August 9 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts
🎵 August 16 – Sounds and Sights on Thursday NIghts

Manchester Gazebo Concerts

The Manchester Gazebo Concerts are held on Thursday nights from 7:30-9p. The series starts on June 14 and runs through August 9.

🎵 June 14 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Family Concert Featuring Guy Lewis
🎵 June 21 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Warren and Flick
🎵 June 28 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Peter Madcat Ruth & Friends
🎵 July 5 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Manchester Brass Band
🎵 July 26 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Matt Calloway Jazz
🎵 August 2 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Bluegrass Night with Bill Bynum
🎵 August 9 – Manchester Gazebo Concerts - Natalie Mae

Saline Summer Music Series

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

🎵 June 14 – Summer Music Series - Saline Big Band
🎵 June 21 – Summer Music Series - The Invasion
🎵 June 28 – Summer Music Series - Lisa Mary
🎵 July 5 – Summer Music Series - Leverage
🎵 July 12 – Summer Music Series - Celtic Week
🎵 July 19 – Summer Music Series - Air Margaritaville
🎵 July 26 – Summer Music Series - The Pajamas Band
🎵 August 2 – Summer Music Series - The Memphis Thrillbillies
🎵 August 9 – Summer Music Series - Rollie Tussing & the Midwest Territory
🎵 August 16 – Summer Music Series - Saline Area Schools Pep Rally & Saline Fiddlers
🎵 August 23 – Summer Music Series - Hullabaloo

Dexter Summer Music Series at Monument Park

The Dexter Summer Music Series is held on Fridays at Monument Park. The series starts on June 16 and runs through August 25. Their website doesn’t list a time, but I have contacted them for clarification. I will update when the information is available.

🎵 June 15 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Dexter Community Orchestra
🎵 June 22 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Three Men and a Tenor
🎵 June 29 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Paul's Big Radio
🎵 July 6 – Dexter Summer Concerts: The Hangabouts & the Secrets
🎵 July 13 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Surf Zip
🎵 July 20 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Midnight Special
🎵 July 27 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Jerry Mack & the Terraplanes
🎵 August 3 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Randy Brock Band
🎵 August 24 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Men in Black
🎵 August 31 – Dexter Summer Concerts: Salmagundi