The Shane Lalani Center for the Arts has announced their 2025 lineup – the Summer Outdoor Concert Series is back for their fourth year of bringing free family friendly community concerts to the Henry E. Blake Pavilion on Thursdays in June and July. The event kicks off each week at 5pm, with food trucks and libations for all ages. The community is encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to the Pavilion. There is expanded bicycle parking onsite and additional vehicle parking available at the Lincoln School.
“Watching this series grow and become a weekly event for so many has been gratifying,” said Executive Director Erika Adams. “We started in a parking lot, and Livingston showed up. Then we built a pavilion and Livingston continued showing up and bringing friends and family from out of town. Last season, we had approximately 3,850 attendees, and this year’s musical lineup is great – there is absolutely something for everyone.”
Kicking things off for the summer with their first appearance at the Shane Center are The Fossils on Thursday, June 5th. The local favorites have been entertaining Park County for decades. Their energetic dance music includes favorites from the Grateful Dead to the Beatles to Delbert McClinton. Even though Rich “Pinky” Ruggles on keyboards/bass, Bill Dwyer on electric guitar, Scott Boehler on harmonica and Don Scott on drums have been doing this a long time, they make each show feel fresh and new. What a classic way to get the season started. Come and join generations of friends and neighbors and definitely bring your dancing shoes.
John Roberts y Pan Blanco will return to the stage on Thursday, June 12th, for some crowd-pleasing Afro Cuban/Jazz/Funk and Salsa music. Roberts began playing the piano at the age of 5 while living on an isolated ranch in Southeastern Montana. After graduating in 1996 from Montana State University – Billings with a BA in Music Performance, he moved to Los Angeles to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Western Orchestral Performance from California Institute of the Arts. He has performed in all 50 of the United States and around the world.
Thursday, June 19th introduces another new band to the SOCS stage – Tsunami Funk blends funk, rhythm and rock n’ roll. The band is known to bring a party with them wherever they perform their high-energy, funk-based shows. Featuring Luke Flansburg on lead vocals and guitar, Eddie Tsuru on bass, Nathan Anderson on guitar, David Charles on keyboard and Isaiah Morales on drums, Tsunami Funk features some of Montana’s best professional musicians. Playing tunes from artists like Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Earth Wind & Fire and many more, the band plays music that usually makes everyone want to get up and dance. They’ve been dazzling audiences in Southwest Montana for close to twenty years. Get to the pavilion early for this one and grab a spot close to the dance floor.
Texas Country/Americana artist Bo DePeña is bringing his high energy trio to the SOCS stage on Thursday, June 26th. The Colorado-based songwriter/performer has developed a reputation as a consummate working musician. Over the years, his high-energy shows have generated a loyal fan base around the mountain west, and it’s clear to see why fans of the country music tradition embrace his songs. From Texas to Colorado to South Dakota to Montana, DePeña’s music can be heard at bars, breweries, rodeos, honky tonks and beyond. He has shared stages with artists such as William Clark Green, Chris Knight, Dale Watson, William Michael Morgan, Ned LeDoux and Colter Wall. His lyrical content is often universal, evoking memories of past lives, lost loves and a longing for home. This explains why his followers are an eclectic bunch, encompassing many backgrounds, tastes and persuasions. If you are a fan of good stories, good tunes and good vibes, you won’t want to miss his show.
Looking ahead, www.TWANG performs on July 3rd, The Two Tracks July 10th, Swamp Dawg July 17th, Release the Squirrels July 24th and the Tom Catmull Trio closing out the series on July 31st. Stay tuned for details.
“We couldn’t do this without our sponsors – Livingston HealthCare, Marcia McCrum in Memory of Bliss McCrum, and the Yellowstone Valley Lodge & Grill, our booking partners at Mighty Fine Time John and Joanne Lowell, and most importantly, the Livingston community, who keeps us going with their support throughout the year,” said Adams. “Also, join us on June 5th for a special unveiling event!”
For more information, please visit www.theshanecenter.org. •
