Saturday will be the first concert in a series of 10 free family-friendly outdoor concerts this summer and fall featuring a musical array of talents, artists and genres in downtown Shreveport.
The Levitt Amp Shreveport Music Series announced its impressive lineup of artists who will perform at Caddo Common Park, 869 Texas Ave. beginning with this weekend’s concert.
The Shreveport Regional Arts Council was named one of over 65 nonprofits across America to receive a multi-year Levitt Music Series grant from the Levitt Family Foundation to present free outdoor concerts in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
The Levitt Family Foundation is supporting nonprofits nationwide through the Levitt AMP Music Series program by injecting new life into underused public spaces through free, outdoor concerts and helping build community bonds across the country, according to the news release.
These free concerts will primarily be held from 5 to 7 p.m., with the first on Saturday, in conjunction with Taco Wars, at the Municipal Auditorium, according to the Shreveport Arts Council Executive Director, Rebecca Bonnevier.
According to Bonnevier, it’s been a dream of the arts council for a couple of years to have the popular Taco Wars festival spread into Caddo Common Park.
“We were just blessed to make it work out so we could secure a Latin band for that date,” Bonnevier said. “We expect to have a big crowd this Saturday, and we’re hoping that announcing from that we’ll have another nine concerts to follow will help get the word out for people to come again.”
Bonnevier said the public is invited to bring their own picnic and snacks, blankets and lawn chairs to the concerts, and there will also be food trucks for purchasing food, an arts market, hands-on activities for kids and yard games like corn hole.
The headliner for the first concert will be QUIMIKOZ, a high-energy Latino cumbia-fusion band that blends Afro-Cuban cumbia rhythms, reggae and hip-hop influences, often featuring a dynamic horn ensemble, according to the news release.
While QUIMIKOZ will headline from 5 to 7 p.m., the Mariachi Caporales Los Caporales will also perform from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and Los Varela will open for QUIMIKOZ from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Also scheduled to perform for the summer lineup are the following artists:
- May 9 – Hillbilly Slip (Kevin Mac and Jacob Lyda) – Kevin is a country artist and songwriter renowned for exciting live performances that seamlessly blend country and bluegrass influences, and Jacob is a singer-songwriter with a timeless, classic country music style.
- May 16 – Chubby Carrier – As a third-generation zydeco musician and renowned accordion player and drummer, Chubby Carrier shares the love of his home state, Louisiana, while celebrating its unique musical expression.
- May 30 – Terence Fisher Band – Whether playing an original piece or singing a time-tested cover, the sound of smooth jazz artist, Terence Fisher Band is sure to have you vibing with your favorites.
- June 6 – Natural Change Band – As seasoned musicians, these gentlemen define the word, flow. Whether they are playing R&B, funk, or smooth jazz, Natural Change Band is first-class entertainment.
- June 13 – Titus Showers – The God-given talent of Titus Showers combines traditional gospel with a contemporary R&B feel. He is the former lead singer of the family group, the Showers, and his soulful, award-winning sound is sure to move you.
“It’s a free event, but the purpose is for as many people to come together and help create community,” Bonnevier said.
Shreveport is one of 34 cities in the nation that was awarded a grant from the Levitt Foundation for three years of free music.
The Shreveport Regional Arts Council applied for the Levitt AMP program grant to bring free live music to Caddo Common Park. Levitt AMP is a multi-year matching grant “bringing the joy of free, live music to small to mid-sized towns and cities,” according to the website.
The Top 50 finalist cities out of 100 semifinalists were chosen through public voting in September. In an email announcing the grant which was addressed “Dear Friends,” Bonnevier wrote in part, “You texted, you voted, you spread the word. This grant exists because of you—because Shreveport showed up.”
You can visit the website for more detailed information.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.shreveportbossieradvocate.com ’
