Beginning on June 11, Levitt in Your Living Room will make way for live, in-person musical performances as Levitt at the Falls encourages people to gather and enjoy the beat together once again for the 2021 season, “Our City, Our Music.”
“We’re thrilled,” exclaimed Rose Ann Hofland, director of communications and community engagement with Levitt Sioux Falls. “I know that it’s been a really hard year for everyone, and so to be able to provide an opportunity for people to get together again for an arts experience in the outdoors will be very powerful, joyful, and healing.”
Throughout the summer, there will be a total of 40 free concerts spanning eight genres for anyone to attend in downtown Sioux Falls at the Levitt Shell, thanks to season sponsor Sanford Health. Some acts are local, while others range even to international with one group coming from Canada. South Dakota Public Broadcasting is partnering with Levitt to make the concerts available on Facebook livestreams as well.
The eight genres of music at the Levitt this year will include Americana, Women of Song, Country, Garden Fresh, Homegrown, World, Rock & Blues, and Family.
“We try to really create a season that’s reflective of our community in terms of people’s different musical tastes and the diversity of our community,” said Hofland.
The 2020 Grammy winner for best regional roots music, Ranky Tanky, will take the stage to kick off Levitt at the Falls 2021 season.
“Their music is inspired by and gives a modern interpretation of the music you might traditionally think about as Gullah culture,” she said. “It brings west African music tradition into the first African American tradition. The flavor of what they’re bringing is very gospel, jazz.”
Levitt Lineup
Below is the whole lineup of 40 shows at the Levitt Shell. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. with an opening act, and the main act will take the stage a little after 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Opening Night
+Ranky Tanky // Friday, June 11
Americana
+The Two Tracks // Saturday, June 26
+Pert Near Sandstone // Thursday, July 22
+The Steel Wheels // Thursday, July 29
+Superior Siren // Saturday, August 7
+The Rad Trads // Friday, August 20
Women of Song
+Chastity Brown // Saturday, July 10
+Shayna Steele // Friday, August 13
+Britnee Kellogg // Saturday, August 14
+The Claudettes // Thursday, August 19
+Miss Myra & The Moonshiners // Thursday, August 26
Country
+Lucas Hoge // Saturday, June 12
+Bo Depeña // Friday, June 18
+Wild Earp // Saturday, July 24
+Farewell Angelina // Friday, September 10
Garden Fresh
+Mae Simpson Band // Saturday, June 19
+The Reminders // Friday, July 2
+Nur-D // Saturday, July 17
+The Foxies // Friday, July 30
+Jackie Venson // Friday, August 27
Homegrown
+Goodroad // Friday, June 25
+East of Westerville // Saturday, July 3
+Beautiful Kingdom // Friday, August 6
+Tonic Sol-Fa // Friday, September 3
+V the Noble One & The Knights Tempo // Saturday, September 4
World
+Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba // Thursday, July 8
+Rhythm Collective // Friday, July 9
+Ring of Kerry // Friday, July 16
+Esencia Latina Band // Saturday, July 31
+Lemon Bucket Orkestra // Saturday, August 21
Rock & Blues
+Jocelyn & Chris // Thursday, July 15
+Southern Avenue // Friday, July 23
+Caleb Johnson & The Ramblin’ Saints // Thursday, August 5
+Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Muscle Theory // Thursday, August 12
+Taylor Scott Band // Saturday, August 28
Family
+Dallas Chief Eagle // Friday, June 18 // 10 a.m.
+Celtic for Kids // Friday, July 16 // 10 a.m.
+The Okee Dokee Brothers // Friday, July 23 // 10 a.m.
+123 Andrés // Friday, August 6 // 10 a.m.
Closing Night
+Lowdown Brass Band // Saturday, September 11
Some acts who missed out on the stage last year but appeared on Levitt in Your Living Room are also performing this time around. A few of those are Goodroad in June, V the Noble One and The Knights Tempo in September, and East of Westerville in July.
Another band that Hofland is excited about is Wild Earp.
“They’re a Chicago based group with really clever lyrics,” said Hofland. “[Their music] really harkens back to some classic country sounds but has really modern sometimes absurd lyrics.”
This year, Levitt at the Falls has a special program for family-friendly music on select Friday mornings at 10 a.m.
All of these performers will be especially kid-oriented, helping to introduce different cultures and learning opportunities as well as a fun experience.
“The first one is going to be Dallas Chief Eagle,” said Hofland. “He’s a Lakota hoop dancer. He’s going to celebrate his hoop dancing with other dancers, and he’ll be backed by a Lakota drum circle.”
Love on the Lawn
Experience various activities on the lawn like puppy love from Therapy Dogs International, dance demonstrations, and even some special fun for the kids.
For the other shows, the lawn opens at 6 p.m.
“You can come at 6 p.m., get your food, get your drink, get your spot, and then music kicks off at 6:30 every night,” she said.
Bring a blanket or a lawn chair to stake claim on the perfect spot, or there are lawn chairs for rent if needed.
Every night, there will be three different food trucks for dinner, snacks, and drinks.
“Always be checking in before you come. We have covid safety guidelines in place, but things are subject to change. Not just with COVID, but with the weather.” -Rose Ann Hofland
For the first portion of the show, a local opening act will perform before the main headliner takes the stage a little after 7 p.m.
“To be able to provide these artists with a gig again after a year that’s been really difficult for artists is just a great thing,” said Hofland.
If music lovers still are wary about public spaces, or they simply can’t make the show, tune in via Levitt in Your Living Room to watch performances live with the Levitt’s partnership with South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
Hofland continued, “We’re excited to live our mission again, bring that vibrancy to downtown Sioux Falls again, and to just see everybody.”
