The Blue River Band plays at the Firecracker Festival at the Driverhubler.com Amphitheater in downtown Franklin on July 3, 2023. The locally based band will perform on July 3 in Franklin and Aug. 17 at Mallow Run Winery in Bargersville.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
As summertime approaches, something’s in the air.
Not the scent of blooming flowers, the smoky smell of barbecue grills or the tang of fresh-cut grass — though all of those are ubiquitous this time of year.
No, for music lovers, the return of warm weather means the sounds of rock, R&B, pop, country and more drifting over the region.
Communities throughout Johnson County are gearing up for summer concert season. Local organizers have put together lineups of local favorites and new-to-town acts. People are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs, enjoy food trucks and beer gardens, and soak in the summertime sounds over the coming months.
Best of all, nearly every power chord, bassline shuffle and twangy riff comes free of charge.
To help you plan, here are 10 performers to not miss:
Franklin Community Band
Details: 10 a.m. May 27, Johnson County courthouse lawn, downtown Franklin
What: Franklin’s annual Memorial Day ceremony on the courthouse lawn brings the city together to remember and honor all those who have served our country — and all of those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy. That focus is only emphasized by the Franklin Community Band’s patriotic score, which has become a tradition along with the ceremony. Before hitting the pool or firing up the grill, reflect on the meaning behind Memorial Day with this moving performance.
Toy Factory
Details: 7 p.m. June 1, Greenwood Amphitheater, 300 S. Washington St.; 6 p.m. July 20, Mallow Run Winery, 6964 W. Whiteland Road, Bargersville; 7 p.m. Aug. 10, DriveHubler.com Amphitheater, 161 W. Monroe St., Franklin
What: It wouldn’t be summer in Johnson County with the Toys. This Indianapolis-based band has become a staple of the local concert scene, performing at some of the area’s biggest events. Mixing up a delightful blend of R&B, soul, funk and rock tunes from the past five decades, the group is one of the most popular in the area, and is booked to perform a number of times at Johnson County events again this year. From their spot-on rendition of Van Halen’s “Jump” to the rousing “Uptown Funk,” be prepared to boogie.
Greater Greenwood Community Band
Details: 6 p.m. June 2, Greenwood Amphitheater
What: Spice up the start of the summer with this Latin-themed concert by one of the county’s most endearing community institutions. The Greater Greenwood Community Band has been bringing delightful band music to county events and special concerts for the past 31 years, and continues to draw big crowds to its innovative shows. The Latin-themed show promises big rhythm, big horns and big fun.
Crush Bon Jovi Experience
Details: 7 p.m. June 15, Greenwood Amphitheater; 7 p.m. June 21, DriveHubler.com Amphitheater
What: The guitar-driven arena rock of Bon Jovi has been a part of the soundtrack of summertime for generations. Crush Bon Jovi Experience brings that energy and atmosphere to downtown Franklin in a special tribute concert event. Led by front man and lead singer Doug Shepard — who not only sounds and moves like Jon Bon Jovi, but looks surprisingly like him — the band will rip off all of the classics, from “Livin on a Prayer” to “Bad Medicine.”
Duke Tumatoe & the Power Trio
Details: 7:30 p.m. June 20, downtown Bargersville
One of the titans of the Indianapolis blues scene is coming to Bargersville’s new summer concert series. Tumatoe, whose real name is William “Bill” Severen Fiorio, may be 77 years old, but he can still jam with the best of them. He’s performed with Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, John Fogerty and George Thorogood, and typically still does more than 100 shows each year.
Blue River Band
Details: 5 p.m. July 3, DriveHubler.com Amphitheater; 6 p.m. Aug. 17, Mallow Run Winery
What: Blending country, rock, blues and other elements together, the Greenwood-based band stays true to the grit that makes country music great. Their shows are heavy on the energy, with the band performing their own original songs as well as beloved country classics. One of the hardest-working bands in the region, local fans will have plenty of chances to see them this summer.
The Happy Enchiladas
Details: 7 p.m. July 24, Franklin College campus
Summertime has a way of just making you happy, and this quintet of Franklin residents aim to do so with laid-back Americana music. The Happy Enchiladas formed out of casual jam sessions that evolved into public performances, with increasingly more high-profile shows performed around the Franklin area in recent years. Audiences are invited to get lost in their mix of folk, Americana and acoustic rock when they perform as part of the Franklin Symphonic Council’s weekly summer concert series.
The Nauti Yachtys
Details: 6 p.m. Aug. 3, Mallow Run Winery, 6964 W. Whiteland Road, Bargersville; free
What: Throw on your best white blazer, boat shoes and pastel shirt to groove out to the easy-going guitars and warm harmonies of late ’70s and early ’80s rock. Specializing in what’s become known as “yacht rock,” the Nauti Yachtys bring the sounds of Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates, Gerry Rafferty, Christopher Cross, Jackson Browne, Little River Band, Ambrosia and more to the stage. You might not be cruising on the water with a glass of champagne in hand, but it’s still going to be a night as sophisticated as it is smooth.
Burning Red
Details: 7 p.m. Aug. 24, Mallow Run Winery; $15 advance, $20 day of show
Taylor Swift’s massive concerts have become the biggest thing in pop culture over the past two years. Even if you couldn’t score tickets to one of her shows, Mallow Run’s Picnic Concert Series has all the Swifties covered. This tribute act is a live-band sing-along led by Chicago-based artist Gina CC, a staple of the city’s alt-rock scene who formed Burning Red after becoming an unabashed Swift fan. Jam out to all of your favorite songs in this sneak-peak of the Eras Tour’s arrival in Indianapolis later this year.
Gone 2 Paradise Band
Details: 7 p.m. Sept. 7, Mallow Run Winery; $15 advance, $20 day of show
What: The world may have lost some of those tropical vibes when Jimmy Buffett died in 2023, but Gone 2 Paradise Band pays tribute to Mr. Margaritaville himself. The Chicago-based band brings infectious island-bound energy to the stage.
