Avon’s favorite summer soundtrack is back! Voted Best Music Series, AvonLIVE! concert series returns for the 2026 season at the Avon Pavilion in Harry A. Nottingham Park, bringing a high-energy lineup of award-winning national touring artists, regional favorites, and talented local performers. Hosted by the Town of Avon, this free weekly concert series takes place Wednesdays through the summer and delivers live music enjoyment for all ages.
Concertgoers can enjoy a variety of food offerings from local food vendors and beverages available for purchase at the Hahnewald Bar. The 2026 season kicks off in unforgettable style on Wednesday, June 11, with legendary reggae icons The Original Wailers ft. Al Anderson taking the stage.
“AvonLIVE! unites the community for another summer with free live music, family activities, and local vendors,” said Avon Chief Cultural Officer Danita Dempsey. “Every Wednesday will be memorable, set against the park’s scenic lake and mountain views.”
Wednesday, June 10: The Original Wailers ft. Al Anderson
In 1974 when Bob Marley went solo, on the brink of international stardom, he surprised the music community by choosing as American born lead guitarist, Al Anderson. It was Anderson’s stunning lead work on such classics as No Woman, No Cry, & Three O’clock Road Block, that first alerted rock fans to the Wailer’s music.
Andersons’ musical achievements with Bob Marley & The Wailers include the platinum award winning albums, ‘Live at the Lyceum,’ ‘Babylon by Bus’ and ten times platinum album ‘Legend.’
The Original Wailers received their own Grammy nomination in 2013 for their album ‘Miracle’ making it Andersons’ second Grammy Nomination. Al Anderson is the sole member of the Bob Marley & The Wailers mid-1970’s lineup in the Original Wailers.
The Original Wailers also include Chet Samuel (Lead Vocals / Guitar), Omar Lopez (Bass Guitar), Paapa Nyarkoh (Drums), and Adrian AK Cisneros (Keyboards and Organ) who continue the legacy of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ music. Al Anderson is the sole member of the Bob Marley & The Wailers mid-1970’s line-up in The Original Wailers.
Wednesday, June 17: Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
KDTU has electrified audiences around the world for over 25 years from the fields of Naeba in Japan at the infamous Fuji Rock Festival to the hallowed stage of Madison Square Garden where they previously joined the Dave Matthews Band and The Godfather of Soul, James Brown. From performing as Sexual Chocolate (Karl was in the original band in the movie Coming To America and its sequel) at the Outside Lands Music festival in San Francisco, to being the first late night act at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival, KDTU have been a dominating force in music for the past 25 years.
All-night, sold-out concerts during Jazzfest in New Orleans have featured sit ins by everyone from Lenny Kravitz & Steve Winwood (with whom Karl has recorded and toured) to avant garde luminaries Marc Ribot & Boyfriend. Chuck Leavell and Bernard Fowler (Karl’s bandmates in The Rolling Stones where Karl replaced the great Bobby Keys as saxophonist in 2014) have joined onstage and on record, as have Lukas Nelson, John Oates, Michael Franti, Warren Haynes, Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Big Daddy Kane, Roy Hargrove, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Joshua Redman, Marcus King, and Bernie Worrell, among others.
Touring the country with the Allman Brothers, My Morning Jacket, D’Angelo, The Roots, Public Enemy, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, Parliament Funkadelic, Slightly Stoopid, Widespread Panic, very few concert goers have been untouched by the Tiny Universe live. In addition to KDTU, Karl Denson aka “Diesel” is a founding member of the seminal groove act The Greyboy Allstars.
Wednesday, June 24: HeartByrne – Talking Heads Tribute
HeartByrne pays tribute to Talking Heads and David Byrne, who fused pop, funk, art rock, and African rhythms into perhaps the most adventurous, danceable and timeless music to emerge from the new wave movement. HeartByrne picks up the torch where the seminal concert film ‘Stop Making Sense’ left off, breathing new life into the classics and pushing the grooves into uncharted sonic territory. What began as an informal ‘hoot night’ has evolved into a must-see touring act featuring vocalist Darin Murphy and some of Austin, TX’s most talented musicians.
Wednesday, July 8: Forever Dangerous featuring Brandon Jones as Michael Jackson
Forever Dangerous featuring Brandon Jones as Michael Jackson brings the music, moves, energy, and spectacle of the King of Pop to the stage in a high-energy tribute show built for fans of every era. From the iconic hits and choreography to the costumes, live band, and full-concert feel, Brandon Jones captures the excitement and magic that made Michael Jackson one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Get ready for a night of timeless songs, dancing, and pure MJ energy.
Wednesday, July 15: Fantastic Cat
Dubbed “the Harlem Globetrotters of Americana” by Rolling Stone and “The Wu-Tang Clan of folk rock” by The Village Voice, Fantastic Cat is better seen than described. Featuring four widely lauded singer/songwriters who trade vocals and swap instruments on nearly every tune, the band emerged to broad critical acclaim with the release of their irreverent debut, The Very Best of Fantastic Cat, which earned the group their first national TV appearance, sold out headline dates around the US and Europe, a performance at the Sundance Film Festival, and a song in the Paramount+ series Tulsa King. Two years later, they followed it up with the similarly celebrated Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat, which featured an appearance from Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz, landed the band dates with Dawes and Lucius, and prompted WFUV to declare them “one of the best Americana and rock bands to tumble out of New York over the last few years.”
Together, they form a four-headed songwriting Hydra (yes, we know the Hydra had nine heads, but this one has four, so just deal with it) that combines the lush harmonies of CSNY, the playful wit of The Traveling Wilburys, and the relentless interpersonal strife of the Eagles.
Wednesday, July 22: Dogs in a Pile
The sandy shores of Asbury Park, New Jersey are hallowed ground in the northeast; the rolling waves have ushered generations of venerated musicians to worldwide acclaim. Dogs in a Pile, an eclectic quintet, has emerged as the heir apparent to the town’s rich musical legacy. Merging funk, jazz, and rock and roll with psychedelia, the quintet presents a completely original vibe built on kaleidoscopic soundscapes eerily reminiscent of the days of yesteryear.
The Dogs employ a unified approach to performance and songwriting, crafting aural mosaics through adept instrumentation and humble precocity. As avid storytellers, they draw inspiration from personal experiences, balancing life’s foibles with ever-present youthful sanguinity.
Wednesday, July 29:The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr
On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you’ll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line, known as “the rumble”. Featuring seven GRAMMY-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band — it’s an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture. Composed of Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Young Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardist Andriu Yanovski, and drummer Trenton O’Neal, the group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers — but updated, modern and vibrant befitting the next generation — with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black Masking carnival tradition.
The Rumble’s debut album, “Live at the Maple Leaf”, received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Regional Roots Album 2024. Their live show is a symphony of rich color and propulsive sound, with each member sharing vocal duties and engaging the audience in the classic Mardi Gras Indian-style call-and-response chanting. The group pays homage to trailblazers like Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles, both of which featured the vocal stylings of Boudreaux’s father, Monk Boudreaux. The Rumble continues the fight to preserve the legacies and traditions of the community for the next generation while bringing new layers of depth to their live performance. The Rumble provides audiences with not only a top-tier musical event, but a chance to participate in a culture that, while deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition, is thriving and evolving through the active work of this next generation of bold and passionate culture-bearers.
Wednesday, August 5: Lindsay Lou
Lindsay Lou is commonly dubbed the Queen of festivals she plays as someone you’re highly likely to see sitting in with other bands and curating All Stars sets in addition to playing her own music. Her roots are in Michigan, where she started making records, including the artist defining Ionia, and touring worldwide with The Flatbellys and The Sweet Water Warblers. Since making Nashville her home, she’s toured with her folk/rock Queen of Time Band and acoustic/harmony driven Honey Moon Trio and has celebrated records like Southland and Queen of Time. She’s a bringer together of people and a purveyor of buttery, sweet, meaningful experience. In whatever ensemble she chooses to deliver her sound, you hear the common thread of her love for traditional music and authentic new songs inspired by it.
Wednesday, August 12: Assembly of Dust
Reid Genauer, widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential songwriters of his generation, leads Assembly of Dust, a band that embodies the spirit of American roots music. As a founding member of Strangefolk, Genauer’s career spans over two decades, with a distinctive voice and masterful storytelling that have drawn comparison to legendary artists like Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and Paul Simon. Genauer’s songwriting is infused with poetic depth and emotional resonance, earning him a reputation as a songwriter’s songwriter. His lyrics are both deeply personal and universally relatable, making him a beloved figure in the music world. Assembly of Dust’s sound is rooted in the classic rock and folk traditions of the 1970s, with influences from legendary acts like the Grateful Dead, The Band, Little Feat, and Bob Dylan. They share a live energy with contemporary jam bands like Phish, Widespread Panic, and Dave Matthews Band, and their focus on songcraft draws comparisons to acclaimed Americana artists like Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, and Jason Isbell. With their unique blend of rock, folk, and country, Assembly of Dust is a great fit for fans of Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and The Avett Brothers.
Wednesday, August 19: Vandelux (DJ Set)
Multi-instrumentalist, producer, and vocalist Evan White—better known as Vandelux—refracts human emotion through a prism of pulsating beats and shimmering keys. From his Vancouver roots to his current San Francisco base, Vandelux has mastered the art of balancing organic instrumentation with cutting-edge electronic production. With 100s of millions of streams, multiple viral hits, and a reputation for high-energy live performances at festivals like Outside Lands, Bonnaroo, and soon Electric Forest and Lollapalooza, he remains one of the most compelling voices in the modern indie-electronic landscape.
- What: AvonLIVE! Concerts in the Park
- Where: Avon Pavilion at Nottingham Park
- When: Wednesdays, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.: June 10, 17, 24 | July 8, 15, 22, 29 | August 5, 12, 19, 2026
- Live Music: Begins at 6:00 p.m.
Sponsors: The Town of Avon is proud to present AvonLIVE! Free Concert Series with support from Mountain Beverage and Christy Lodge.
Transportation & Parking: The use of public transit is encouraged, as well as walking or riding a bike to the park.
Event Policies: Well-behaved, leashed pets are allowed in the “Pet-Friendly” designated areas, provided their owners are always present. Low-back chairs (not exceeding 5 inches off the ground), blankets and small tables that do not obstruct others’ views are permitted. Please reduce, reuse and recycle. Smoking, drones and UAV’s are prohibited.
More Information: For more information, please visit DiscoverAvon.org or contact Avon Chief Cultural Officer Danita Dempsey at ddempsey@avon.org or (970) 748-4065.
