Ah, the 4th of July. Barbecues, freedom celebrations, family gatherings, warm weather (fingers crossed), and great music! Perhaps with the exception of Christmas time, there might not be a holiday season with better opportunities for you and your young musician to hear some quality live music. And this year in the Indianapolis area, you've got some good choices to pick from, spanning from the end of June to mid July!
Music is its own language, and just like with any spoken language, the more exposure you have to it, the more fluent you become in it. That's why one of the best things you can do as a parent of a young musician is expose them to great live music. So here's 10 potentially awesome events with live performances that you can choose from during this music-saturated time of year...
Fishers Freedom Festival.
June 24-26
Located at Roy Holland park near downtown-Fishers, this family-friendly extravaganza offers a little bit of everything, including some solid music performances from bands such as Stella Luna and the Satellites, Postcard, and Big Daddy Caddy. Fireworks included! Check out the schedule of events here.
Phillip Phillips Live at The Lawn at White River State Park.
June 26
Don't miss this American Idol-born music icon performance right by downtown Indy! Concert begins at 7PM and also features special guest Matt Nathanson. Get your tickets here.
Kenny Chesney in Concert at Klipsch Music Center.
June 30
What's the 4th of July without some good 'ole country music? And who better to deliver it than superstar, Kenny Chesney, himself! Get tickets here.
Zoolapalooza.
July 1
This four-week outdoor concert series at the Indianapolis Zoo features cookouts and great music. Come July 1st to see Indy favorites, Dave and Rae, performing everything from country to hip hop. See the full schedule here.
Taste of Indy.
July 2
An incredible food and music event that takes place right in the heart of downtown Indy - on the circle. Attendees have the chance to see great performances from artists such as Bashiri Asad, Stepp Walker Project, and Sam Law. See the calendar here.
INDYpendence Day Concert for Cancer.
July 2-3
Located on Georgia Street in downtown Indy, this awesome event started in 2013 as a benefit event for cancer related organizations. This year the beneficiaries are St. Francis Hospital Patient Assistance Fund and Riley Children’s Hospital. You'll be able to see bands like AWOLNATION, Kongos, and Blue October. Learn more about the two-day event here.
Symphony on the Prairie.
July 2-4
This summer-long Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concert series features three nights of their Independence Day performances, entitled "Star Spangled Symphony." This is truly a fantastic opportunity to set up a picnic, bask in the dusk sunlight, and enjoy all the classic 4th of July themes, culminating with fireworks to the 1812 Overture. Learn more here.
Concerts on the Canal.
July 4
This is an impressive, free summer concert series that takes place on Thursdays (and also July 4th). Each week it features an eclectic lineup of dynamite performers, including Tad Robinson (soul/americana), Everett Greene (jazz), Greta Speaks (rock/pop), and The Funk Quarter (New Orleans jazz). See the calendar here.
Chris Isaak Live at the Palladium.
July 5
A guaranteed good time, this old school rock n' roll singer/songwriter will be performing live at the Palladium in Carmel the day after the 4th. Learn more about the concert here.
Todd Harrold Group at Watkins Park.
July 10
Get your boogie on with this super fly blues / R&B band featuring drummer and lead singer Todd Harrold. Learn more here.
Whew! Now that's a solid lineup of live music all over the Circle City during this 4th of July season. Now go grab your young musician and see what they want to go to! I bet you'll see a renewed excitement about playing music in them. The next step is surrounding them with like-minded peers who love music too. Check out the Vibe Music Academy community, and sign up for a free music lesson!
- John Gotsis, Owner and Music Instructor at Vibe Music Academy, Fishers, Indiana.
