Brave Combo on Aug. 30. (Photo: Levitt Pavilion Arlington)
Get ready for more great, free music in the heart of The American Dream City. Levitt Pavilion Arlington’s free concerts will return on Friday, Aug. 30, offering Downtown visitors a variety of new artists and fan favorites over the fall season.
Kicking off the seven-week season will be North Texas’ favorite Grammy-winning polka band, Brave Combo, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary. Brave Combo continues the Levitt’s 11-year tradition of getting the fall concert season started at 8 p.m.
Two rained-out concerts from the summer were rescheduled for the fall, including one of the most anticipated groups, Rare Earth, the 1970s classic rock Motown artists known for “Get Ready” and “I Just Want to Celebrate.” The Rare Earth concert is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, on Labor Day weekend. Country music artist, Zane Williams, was rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14, also at 8 p.m.
Levitt-goers can experience something a little different on Sunday, Sept 22, when critically acclaimed Indie classical group, Montopolis, presents “The Legend of Big Bend” featuring music, poetry, stories and breathtaking video that captures the epic grandeur of Texas’ own Big Bend National Park. It’s the first time the Levitt has had musicians playing a live score to accompany video on its giant video screen.
Another highlight is a free community event as part of Arlington Gives!, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation’s annual event for North Texas Giving Day.
This year’s event is Thursday, Sept. 19, and features the infectious, genre-defying music of Daphne Willis, who has performed at the Levitt several times, including last fall when she opened for Barenaked Ladies. The evening includes a showcase of Arlington’s nonprofit charities, food trucks and bonus grants awarded by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. Attendees also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite Arlington charity to receive a special People’s Choice grant.
New artists making their Levitt debut during the fall season include Texas triple threat, Lee Roy Parnell; the fiery Celtic rock of Dallas’ Rathmore, crazy cool conjunto from Los Garcia Brothers, the Cuban/Caribbean rhythms of Flow Tribe, Texas country artist Kody West, and Tejano master Albert Zamora.
The annual jazz on the lawn night with the University of Texas at Arlington’s Jazz Orchestra will include special guest jazz saxophonist, Quamon Fowler, from Fort Worth.
Artists making a return visit to the Levitt include Deep Blue Something, the pop artists known for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s;” Prophets and Outlaws and their Southern soul, the old-school blues of The Peterson Brothers, home-grown Texas music by Eleven Hundred Springs, and the hard-scrabble package of folk, rock and bluegrass that is The Dirty River Boys.
The Levitt’s 2019 Fall Concert Season runs through Oct. 13 with concerts at 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The concert calendar, including a printable version, is available on the Levitt’s website, levittpavilionarlington.org, and on its free mobile app, Levitt Arlington.
Levitt Pavilion Arlington is located at 100 W. Abram St. just south of Arlington City Hall.
The City of Arlington has partnered with the free driving app, Waze, to give drivers the best experience possible to get around town. Drivers can download Waze for free at waze.com/get for iOS and Android and see real-time traffic, find optimal routes, avoid road closures and more. The app will lead you straight to the Levitt using the quickest, easiest route. The Levitt’s website and mobile app also have parking maps and links to the latest in street updates under Your Visit, then Directions & Parking. Drivers can also click here to find up-to-date information about the transformative Abram Street Rebuild in Downtown.
Audiences are seated on an open lawn and can bring lawn chairs and blankets, picnics, and coolers with beverages for the free concerts. Concessions are sold at the pavilion, including beer and wine. All concerts are free and family friendly except for the 38 Special concert, which requires a ticket purchase. The Levitt has a 24-hour information line at 817-543-4301 for weekly concert/weather information.
