Editorial
For those who enjoy live outdoor music in the summertime, there’s a plethora of opportunities in our midst over the next several weeks to fulfill this desire. We have outdoor concert venues aplenty that are presenting live music featuring a wide variety of genres, from top forty to bluegrass to old-time to classic rock to country to beach music.
This Friday, June 6, concert-goers have a choice. In Lexington at Davidson Park, the Friday’s Alive concert series kicks off its season with a performance by The Pickups. Over in Buena Vista, at Glen Maury Park, Frequency will be performing on the stage of the multi-purpose pavilion in the second installment of this season’s Friday’s in the Park concert series.
The Lexington-Rockbridge Jaycees are again presenting the Friday’s Alive shows. The concerts raise funds for the VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment and the Rockbridge SPCA. Admission is free. Concerts start at 6 p.m. The rest of the 2025 schedule includes Little Marvin & the Martians on June 27, Will Reid on July 18 and the Party Crasher Band on Aug. 8.
The Fridays at the Park concert series at Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista will have their music starting at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with children 16 and under admitted free with a paying adult. The next two shows are Rewind on July 18 and Southpaw on Aug. 18.
Other musical events at Glen Maury Park this summer include the Maury River Fiddlers Convention June 13 and 14, Independence Day concert July 4, a beach music festival pre-concert July 25, Bank of Botetourt Beach Music Festival July 26, Labor Day festival music Sept. 1, the Mountain Music and Dance Festival Sept. 4-6, the Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival Sept. 1820 and the Pickin’Family Music Rally Sept. 22-27.
Boxerwood Garden’s Music in the Garden concert series’ 2025 season is already underway. The concerts are held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free for children and current Boxerwood members, with admission $5 per adults for nonmembers. The remaining concert schedule is as follows: Hoss & Soss with Pete Davis, June 13; Caravan of Fools, June 27; Late Night Stumblers, July 18; Fatty Lumpkin and the Love Hogs, July 25; Honest Labor, Aug. 8; Ruckus Bluegrass Band, Aug. 22; and Betty and the Hot Flashes, Sept. 5.
There are four shows in the Rockin’ the Gorge concert series scheduled this year at the Locher Pavilion in Glasgow. Admission is free. On the schedule are Southpaw, June 28; Little Marvin & the Martians, Aug. 2; Late Night Stumblers, Sept. 6; and Tom Proctor, Sept. 27.
Presenting a live music concert series for the first time is Hull’s Drive-In Theater on U.S. 11, north of Lexington. On select (mostly) Saturday evenings, Hull’s is presenting concerts on the Buddy Derrick stage in front of the screen at 6 p.m., preceding the night’s movies. A ticket to the movie will get you into the concert. The remaining schedule is as follows: Ella Folk, June 14; BruceAllen and Jason Burke, June 28; Gentlemen South, July 12; Glen Shelton, July 19; Keith Bryant, Aug. 2; Cash Unchained, Aug. 6; Bluegrass, Aug. 23; Johnny King and Friends, Sept. 6; Party Crashers, Sept. 20; Will Reid, Oct. 4; and Betty and the Hot Flashes, Oct. 18.
The Lime Kiln Theater is again presenting a line-up of quality musical entertainment under the stars. Ticket prices vary and some concerts are sold out. In addition to the music, the Traveling Players Ensemble will be presenting the Shakespeare play “Cymbaline” on July 26. Visit limekilntheater. org for more information. The remaining lineup of concerts for this season includes Kashus Culpepper with Brenna MacMillan, June 13; Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder with John Doyle, June 27 and 28; Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, July 11; Steep Canyon Rangers with Timbo, Aug. 1 and 2; Brent Cobb, Aug. 29; Rising Appalachia, Sept. 12; Darrell Scott with Michael Daves and Jacob Jolliff, Sept. 13; and Keller and the Keels, Sept. 27.
We invite everyone to enjoy the variety of music at this multitude of outdoor venues in the Rockbridge area this summer!
THE PICKUPS will kick off the Fridays in the Park concert series at Davidson Park in Lexington this Friday, June 6.
