Write a commentNow that the weather is warmer and the kids are out of school, summer is officially in full swing.
For many, this also means concert season and enjoying as much live music as possible. Luckily, there are plenty of free or budget-friendly concerts to check out all summer long in the area.
- Oswego Sunset Concert Series
The City of Oswego is sponsoring a summer concert series at three different locations in 2024. The Sunset Concert Series takes place at Breitbeck Park every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. starting June 26 and running until August 21, featuring local artists of all genres. More information on individual dates and performers can be found on the Oswego Summer Concert Series Facebook page.
- Oswego Summer Concert Series at Veterans Stage
On Thursdays, local musicians will take to Veterans Stage at 6 p.m. June 27-August 29 at Veterans Memorial Park right on the Oswego River. The lineup includes artists such as The Billionaires, Dirtroad Ruckus, Off The Record and more!
- Oswego Summer Concert Series at Water Street Square
Fridays will finish off the work week with weekly concerts at Water Street Square 6 p.m. June 28-August 30. This lineup features some of Oswego County’s solo artists like Mike Place, Dave Domicolo, Cam Caruso and others. All these concerts in the Oswego Concert Series are free to the public courtesy of the City of Oswego.
- “Kids in Free” Concert Series at Empower FCU Amphitheatre at Lakeview
The Amphitheatre is offering a program where one child under the age of 12 receives a free ticket with each paid adult ticket for five select shows in their 2024 lineup. These shows include Santana with Counting Crows (July 24), Dan + Shay (July 26), Train and REO Speedwagon (July 31), Hootie & The Blowfish (August 3), and Xscape and SVW (September 6). These free tickets will be available for pickup the day of the show near the entrance of the venue, but spots will be limited so be sure to grab your tickets through Live Nation soon.
- Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville
Paper Mill Island has a full schedule lineup of free and budget-friendly events for this summer, from Shakespeare acts to free food trucks and music nights available to all ages! The venue is also offering free admission to performances by The Dirty Doves and Modafferi, Salt City Jazz Collective, Amber Fly and Fondu, and Marie DeSantis Orchestra. For other performances and the full schedule, click here to explore what Paper Mill Island will be offering this summer.
- Music Nights at Colloca Estate Winery
If you prefer to have your live music paired with a sophisticated night out, Colloca Estate Winery may be the perfect place to enjoy some tunes. This summer will include an abundance of local bands and artists like Dave Wolever, Pop Rox, On The Brink, Faded Vinyl, Long Time Coming, Mike Place, and many more! Most events are free cover and the perfect opportunity to relax with your favorite local music.
- Fulton Jazz Festival
For jazz lovers in the area, Fulton Jazz Festival has you covered with their annual event celebrating jazz music and artists. The event is August 7-10 behind Tavern on the Lock Restaurant and features vendors and food alongside the performances. For more information, go to the Fulton Jazz Fest website.
- Lakeview Lanes Summer Concert Series
Lakeview Lanes in Fulton is hosting their own cover-free summer concert series with a different performance roughly every two weeks! Artists include Gold Dust Gypsies (Fleetwood Mac Tribute), Infinity, and The Billionaires among many others. All concerts will be held outdoors in The Yard so the schedule is weather permitting, and you can find more information about dates and artists on their website.
- Pulaski Farmers Market
For our friends in the North Country, the Pulaski Farmers Market has free music every Friday from 5pm to 8pm, so bring a chair and get comfortable! The Richland Farmers Market on Wednesdays is also planning live music; that market is held each Wednesday at the Half-Shire Historical Society.
With all these options, there’s a lot to enjoy this summer in Oswego County and the surrounding area for music lovers. Smaller restaurant and bar venues also have local artists regularly perform, so be sure to check out your favorite spot to see if there’s anything coming to you soon, in addition to these venues and events!
