Country rockers Blue River Band perform in downtown Franklin during the Firecracker Festival in 2021. The band will perform on July 3 at the DriveHubler.com Amphitheater in Franklin and July 15 at the Greenwood Amphitheater.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Winter is in full force in Johnson County. But area music lovers now have some warm weather vibes to look forward to.
Officials from both Franklin and Greenwood parks have announced their free summer concert lineups for this year, offering some light at the end of the cold, dark winter tunnel. People can expect a blend of local favorites, such as Toy Factory, Blue River Band and Living Proof, as well as new additions to the concert lineup.
The Nauti Yachtys and Sounds of Summer bring the best of the Beach Boys and yacht rock for those sizzling summer nights. Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks and John Mellencamp tribute bands will take the stage to play all of your favorites.
And all of it will be offered for free.
“We’re all about offering free things for the community. We saw it with the crowds last year — people really enjoy it,” said Holly Johnston, program and special events director for Franklin Parks and Recreation. “It’s important for us to have this opportunity and share it with the community and make it welcoming, to have something different for everybody.”
The concerts in Greenwood and Franklin have become summertime traditions throughout the county, drawing hundreds of people on weekends from May through August.
This year, residents will spread out on the lawn around the Greenwood Amphitheater to hear a slate of bands that have become favorites in Johnson County.
The lineup, which starts on June 3, includes Toy Factory, the Woomblies, the Big 80s, Living Proof, Blue River Band and Tastes Like Chicken. The Nauti Yachtys, Sounds of Summer and pop-rock band My Yellow Rickshaw round out the performances.
Franklin, which opened its DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Youngs Creek Park in 2022, has put together a slate of past favorites and new offerings to keep things fresh, Johnston said.
“We want to make it where we don’t have the exact same bands every year. We’re going to have our favorites, like the Blue River Band, who are a tradition on July 3. But we really hope to have some different bands each year,” she said.
Besides the Blue River Band’s show at the Firecracker Festival, the concert series includes a show from country artist Clayton Anderson, as well as locally flavored groups Cadillac Scott & Rural Soul and JAMBOX. Jai Baker, an R&B/rock outfit, and the Revelators are popular groups throughout the Indianapolis region.
Organizers also invited a trio of tribute bands to perform: Crush, which specializes in the songs of Bon Jovi; No Fences, a Garth Brooks tribute, and Mellen Cougar, who rock to the sounds of Hoosier native John Mellencamp.
“If you look them up on Facebook or YouTube, they really do a great job. They sound just like them. The guy in Crush even looks like Jon Bon Jovi,” Johnston said.
Franklin plans to announce a few additional concerts for its Arts at the Amp program, which will be held on weekdays during the summer months. Greenwood officials also will release the fall concert series lineup in the near future.
IF YOU GO
Franklin Summer Concert Series
DriveHubler.com Amphitheater, 161 W. Monroe St.
May 19: Clayton Anderson
June 10: Cadillac Scott & Rural Soul, JAMBOX
June 23: Crush (Bon Jovi tribute band)
July 3: Blue River Band
July 28: Jai Baker
Aug. 11: The Revelators
Aug. 2: No Fences (Garth Brooks tribute band)
Sept. 30: Mellen Cougar (John Cougar Mellencamp tribute band)
Greenwood Summer Concert Series
Greenwood Amphitheater, 300 S. Washington St.
June 3: Toy Factory
June 10: The Woomblies
June 17: The Big 80s
July 8: Living Proof
July 15: Blue River Band
July 22: Tastes Like Chicken
July 29: Nauti Yachtys
Aug. 5: Sounds of Summer
Aug. 12: My Yellow Rickshaw
