The days are getting longer, the temperatures keep climbing and it’s the perfect weather to sit outside under the stars.
Around Johnson County, that means one thing: concert season is back.
Music lovers will once again have an eclectic variety of free shows to enjoy, as bands playing everything from rock and country to R&B and classical come to the county to perform in the coming months.
Long-time favorites like the Greenwood Summer Concert Series are back. Franklin officials are excited to introduce their brand new DriveHubler.com amphitheater, hosting a series of shows for a permanent venue that can hold up to 5,000 people.
Throughout the week, people can find concerts on the Franklin College campus, Greenwood Park Mall, and Mallow Run Winery.
Any live music is a good thing. But to help you sort through the busy schedule, here are 10 must-see shows in Johnson County this summer. All concerts free unless otherwise stated.
toy factory
Details: 6-9 p.m. May 28, Mallow Run Winery, 6964 W. Whiteland Road, Bargersville, free; 6:30 p.m. June 9, Greenwood Park Mall, 1251 US 31 N., free; 7 p.m. June 11, Greenwood Amphitheater, 100 Surina Way, free
What: Get off the beat when this Indianapolis-based band takes the stage. Playing R&B, soul, funk and rock tunes from the past five decades, the band is one of the most popular in the area and is a guest performer at Johnson County events multiple times. From their pitch-perfect rendition of Van Halen’s “Jump” to the uplifting “Uptown Funk,” get ready to dance.
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Details: 7 p.m. June 11, Mallow Run Winery, $15 advance, $20 day of show
What: This high-octane roots band delivers hard-hitting shows known as “stompin’ good times.” Rev. Peyton, the band’s lead singer and guitarist, is world famous for his finger picking style. Breezy Peyton, his wife and the band’s washboard player, and drummer Max Senteney laid the foundation for the entire band’s sound.
The Woomblies
Details: 4:30 p.m. June 16, Greenwood Park Mall; 7 p.m. June 18, Greenwood Amphitheater; 6-9:30 p.m. July, Mallow Run Winery
What: Viewers can expect a good mix of covers from the best bands in rock history as well as some hidden gems from this high-energy band. Since reuniting in 2000, the Woomblies have greatly expanded their reach over the past two decades. They added dozens of songs to their repertoire, performing throughout the region and expanding into another project, the Woomblies Rock Orchestra, with a larger base of musicians.
Southern Indiana taiko drums
Details: 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. June 22, Franklin College timeskip
What: Feel the beat of this Columbus-based band. What started as a recreational organization studying world drumming has grown into a full-time performance group specializing in Taiko – the traditional types of Japanese drumming. The concert is part of the Franklin Symphonic Council’s summer concert series, along with weekly musical performances, refreshment trucks.
Grupo Bembe Salsa Ensemble
Details: 7 to 8:15 p.m. July 6, Franklin College Timeskip
What: Hot summer nights are about to get a whole lot hotter with this set from Grupo Bembe. The Indianapolis-based Latin band performs a searing style of salsa music with horns, percussion, guitar and powerful vocals. The group aims to promote the art of Puerto Rico and other Latin cultures throughout Indiana and beyond.
Endless Summer Strip
Details: 7 p.m. July 9, Greenwood Amphitheater; 6-9 p.m. August 6, Mallow Run Winery
What: Summer may seem to be flying away, but for one night, the timeless sounds of this band from Indianapolis help you enjoy every second of it. The band bring a burst of energy to the stage, drawing from a library that includes everything from Motown and rock to swing and pop. You’ll be as likely to hear Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars as you are to enjoy James Brown and the Temptations.
GlamericA
Details: 7 p.m. July 15, DriveHubler.com Amphitheater, 237 W. Monroe St., Franklin
What: The big hair, big personalities and big sounds of the ’80s are brought back to life with the power of this Indy-based band. GlamëricA distills the decade of decadence into a rock spectacle, bringing the best hair rock of the era, like Guns N’ Roses and Def Leppard, while paying homage to other titans like Prince, Journey and Tesla. The show is the centerpiece of the annual Daily Journal Street party, which will also include food trucks as well as a beer and wine garden.
five after midnight
Details: 6:30 p.m. July 14, Greenwood Park Mall
What: As part of the Ray Skillman Summer Concert Series, music fans can gather around the mall’s outdoor fountain plaza to jam to the sounds of pop, rock, funk and rock classic. Five After Midnight have been playing together since 2018 and cover everything from Stevie Wonder, Harry Styles and Justin Timberlake to The Beatles, Toto and Destiny’s Child. Wine, food and other refreshments will be available for purchase.
7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience
Details: 11:00 PM, July 29, DriveHubler.com Amphitheater
What: This band from Nashville, Tennessee, pays tribute with love and precision to one of the greatest rock bands in history in a celebration of the Eagles. They’ll take you on a trip to “Hotel California”, ask you to “Take It To the Limit”, and ask the audience to “Take It Easy”. Fans can expect the best of the Eagles roster, recreated with the bravado of Glenn Frey, the seriousness of Don Henley and the wild energy of Joe Walsh.
Boy Group Review
Details: 7 p.m. Aug. 13, Mallow Run Winery; $15 in advance, $20 the day of the show; 8 p.m. Sept. 10, DriveHubler.com Amphitheater
What: The cheesy choreography, crisp outfits and pitch-perfect harmonies of music’s most screaming boy bands are the centerpiece of this Chicago-based group. Spanning the 80s and 90s, their repertoire includes songs from NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block and more.
Click here to see a more detailed list of concerts taking place this summer.
