Fairfield's outdoor summer concert series is back

FAIRFIELD — The outdoor summer concert series that debuted in 2021 is back for another year at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.

The six concerts will be held every other Thursday from June 9 through Aug. 18 outside the arts center at 200 N. Main St. in Fairfield. The concerts will begin at 7 p.m.

The series features Iowa- and Midwest-based bands, just like last year’s series. It is free and open to the public. Since the concerts will be held outdoors, the public is encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, or make use of the seating available in the nearby Petra Park.

Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Director Lindsay Bauer said the center launched the outdoor concert series in 2021 as a “transitional programming option” since the public was hungry for live entertainment, but pandemic concerns kept the center closed to indoor events.

“Last year’s series was such a huge success that we all felt like continuing with free summer concerts on an annual basis was definitely the way to go,” Bauer said.

The series is supported in part by 2022-2023 Season Sponsors, and a pending grant from the Arts Midwest GIG Fund.

The calendar of performers follow:

June 9 — Bambu: This Fairfield favorite kicks off the series. This group has been described as “rockin’ hip-hop with a Latin flair,” and performed during the World Fair Field International Festival in 2019. Bambu is a collective of genuine soul-driven melodies combined with world-class dance rhythms which include Reggae, South American and African styles with a regular dose of psychedelic jam to make this unique band a one-way ticket to nirvana.

June 23 — Tropicante: Tropicante’s performance is synonymous with rhythm and dance. This group, headed by Panamanian Edgar East and Colombian Karin Stein, celebrates the dance music of Latin America and the Caribbean, much of it rooted in the myriad of rhythms originally brought to the Americas by African slaves.

July 7 — James Tutson & The Rollback: Iowa Public Radio’s “Artist of the Month” in February 2022, James Tutson & The Rollback are a modern rhythm and blues/soul band from Iowa City. Critics have termed their seamless blend of old school R&B, southern gospel, and gorgeous vocals “roughed up soul” — and audiences are responding in a big way, propelling James and the band to a third studio album to be released Spring 2022.

July 21 — Way Down Wanderers: The Way Down Wanderers sing like angels but write songs with guts that are unmistakably earthbound: a soon-to-be dad, excited but scared, fighting for self-growth; someone recovering from alcohol dependency, devoted to healing but with a confession to make — there are no fairy tales here.

Aug. 4 — Diplomats of Solid Sound: Diplomats of Solid Sound is an American band and song writing powerhouse. Their mixture of old school funk, soul, and Americana has appeared in dozens of hit TV shows and movies throughout their 20-plus year career. With more than 50 million streams, the Diplomats have a dedicated following in Europe and North America.

Aug. 18 — Dandelion Stompers: The Dandelion Stompers bring you New Orleans jazz with all the trimmings. Start with a grade-A rhythm section, add a savory selection of horns, round out the mixture with hot and spicy vocals and you’ve got a recipe for Dandelion gumbo.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com