Event Duration: Thursday-Saturday from June 3-September 10
“The Levitt Shell is an outdoor concert facility in Falls Park West in Sioux Falls. We are a nonprofit organization, and our mission is to build community through music,” said Rose Ann Hofland, director of communications and community engagement for Levitt at the Falls. “This summer, we are presenting 50 free concerts.”
The lawn opens at 6:30 p.m., and music starts at 7 p.m. For the Family Series on select Friday mornings, the lawn opens at 10 a.m. with music starting at 10:30 a.m.
Here are the top five reasons why you should find a spot on the lawn and enjoy some music this season.
1. Truly Priceless Entertainment
A variety of live music artists perform for anyone on the lawn, and the best part is that each concert has free entry.
“We do a lot of local fundraising, and we have a lot of corporate sponsors that help to facilitate the free music,” said Hofland. “This year’s 2022 season sponsor is Sanford Health, but then we also have corporate sponsors who sponsor different genres of music.”
Concerts are supported by individuals and attendee optional donations as well.
Fact
The city’s own Brulé will be back to perform on July 30. Hofland says the last time Brulé performed on the Levitt stage, the Native American rock band brought in the most attendees ever to crowd the lawn, pushing past the 3,000-person comfortable seating capacity.
2. 50 Ways to Expand Your Playlist
Each concert begins with an opening act before a headliner takes the stage. Here’s a sneak peek into some of the artists.
Opening night, June 3, kicks off this Levitt at the Falls season with The Burroughs, which is described as “sweaty, soul music.”
“They include a four-piece horn section and a four-piece rhythm section, so it’s a fun, funk soul group,” said Hofland.
As part of the Innoskate festival, Dessa will perform on July 8. She’ll also collaborate with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra by joining them for part of their set and vice versa.
July 16 brings the Levitt National Tour, Nashville’s The New Respects, to perform their pop, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll mix of music.
Mark your calendars for August 20 to welcome the Lemon Bucket Orkestra.
“They’re actually a Canadian group, but they describe themselves as a guerrilla-folk, party-punk massive like no other, which is a very apt description,” said Hofland. “They actually have deep ties to Ukraine, so it’ll be a timely and moving performance as well.”
“We have a group called D’DAT, which is a fun fusion group. They fuse hip hop, jazz, traditional Navajo music (Diné) into this really fun group that will be performing the same night as the Festival of Cultures.” -Rose Ann Hofland
3. Dinner and a Show
Whether you decide to bring your own picnic or grab dinner and a drink on the lawn, enjoy your meal with music in the South Dakota summer air.
JJ’s Wine & Spirits will offer beer (local and domestic), wine, and spirits for guests to purchase at concerts, but there will also be a handful of food options available through other vendors.
“We have at least three food trucks at each concert to provide a variety of food options,” said Hofland.
Trucks include The Leaf Grill & Wokery, Breaking Burrito, Curbside Delights, The Lunch Box, Backyard BBQ, Ollies, Kota Cafe, Black Iron Waffles, and more.
“We’ll have Stensland Family Farms with us to bring a little ice cream cart for some of the shows, too,” she said.
“Closing out our season on Friday, September 10, we have Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats. A lot of people may be familiar with the Stray Cats swing band. They’re a GRAMMY nominated group, and Lee Rocker was one of their core members.” -Rose Ann Hofland
4. Entertainment for the Whole Family
The lawn welcomes every member of the family from adults and kids to furry friends.
“As long as your pets are on a leash and well behaved, we’re good to go,” said Hofland.
On five select Friday mornings throughout the summer, the stage will host the Family Series with music starting at 10 a.m. This series is sponsored by Therapy Dogs International.
“Kids are welcome to any Levitt concert, but these are artists specifically performing with youth in mind. The concerts are a little shorter, too,” said Hofland.
Performances will cover many genres from Haitian music with Ayiti: Stories and Songs from Haiti to hip hop with The Secret Agency to Jazz for Kids with Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.
“Sonia De Los Santos’s music is a bilingual collection of songs that explore hope, homes, where we come from, our personal journeys, nature, and just being true to oneself,” said Hofland, mentioning June 10.
Another artist is Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, appearing July 22. Families would be familiar with Simien as one of the composers of the music from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.
Levitt Lineup
The Burroughs | Friday, June 3
The Clover Fold | Saturday, June 4
Sonia De Los Santos | Thursday, June 9
Carrie Newcomer | Friday, June 10
D’DAT | Saturday, June 11
Avey Grouws Band | Thursday, June 16
Toronzo Cannon | Friday, June 17
Brody Ray | Saturday, June 18
Inez Barlatier | Thursday, June 23
Brian Hanegan Quintet | Friday, June 24
Joropo Band | Saturday, June 25
Britnee Kellogg | Thursday, June 30
Danielle Nicole | Friday, July 1
The Yawpers | Saturday, July 2
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra | Thursday, July 7 *part of Innoskate
Dessa | Friday, July 8 *part of Innoskate
A Visual Sound | Saturday, July 9 | 6 p.m. *part of Innoskate
Meet Me @ The Altar | Saturday, July 9 *part of Innoskate
Miss Myra and The Moonshiners | Thursday, July 14
The Kris Lager Band | Friday, July 15
The New Respects | Saturday, July 16
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience | Thursday, July 21
The Nadas | Friday, July 22
The Wilder Blue | Saturday, July 23
Socks in the Frying Pan | Thursday, July 28
Bette Smith | Friday, July 29
Brulé | Saturday, July 30
Nate Botsford| Thursday, August 4
Chapel Hart | Friday, August 5
Janitor Bob and the Armchair Cowboys | Saturday, August 6
Eddie 9V | Thursday, August 11
Hot Club of Cowtown| Friday, August 12
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys | Saturday, August 13
Sophia Beatty | Thursday, August 18
Kuinka | Friday, August 19
Lemon Bucket Orkestra | Saturday, August 20
Jazzed Up Big Band | Thursday, August 25
Everyday Everybody | Friday, August 26
Eliza Blue | Saturday, August 27
Parranderos Latin Combo | Thursday, September 1
Making Movies | Friday, September 2
KORY and the FIREFLIES | Saturday, September 3
Roanoke | Thursday, September 8
Mae Estes | Friday, September 9
Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats | Saturday, September 10
5. Summer Nights on the Lawn
Choose to go to concerts of your favorite genres, or find something new to add to your playlist. Or attend all 50 concerts held at Levitt at the Falls.
“It’s really supposed to be a community gathering space, where people have access and can enjoy really high caliber music on a consistent basis all throughout the summer,” said Hofland.
Save the dates, or bring your plans to the Levitt lawn.
“One of the pieces of all the Levitt venues is the fact that they are outdoors. It’s a more accessible location,” said Hofland. “People are able to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets, have a seat on the grass, enjoy some wonderful music, and enjoy their summer in downtown Sioux Falls.”
