Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
The Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series presented by PNC Bank will showcase a lineup of international, national, regional and local artists who will perform on the vacant block north of the Illinois Governor’s Mansion each Thursday at 6 p.m., starting May 30th to August 1st.
“We believe very strongly in the correlation between access to the arts and better communities,” said Brian Ray, PNC regional president of Central Illinois. “Bringing this music series to downtown Springfield will allow our neighborhoods to come together, on a weekly basis, and celebrate a diverse and culturally rich experience.”
Sponsored in part by a matching grant from the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, which Springfield won after a nationwide vote, the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series will present a total of 10 free, family-friendly concerts on the “Y Block.” The series will feature a diverse lineup of high-caliber talent spanning genres including gospel, reggae, Americana and jazz.
Visit http://levittamp.org/
Kicking off the series on May 30 is gospel artist Damon Mitchell, a singer, pianist and songwriter from Madison, Illinois whose love for hymns, jazz, soul, and traditional gospel music have led to a unique sound. The opening act will be Ntegrity, who calls himself a “spiritual hip hop” artist.
Other artists scheduled to perform are The Skatalites on June 6th, whose founding members were the backup band for Bob Marley plus other Jamaican superstars and 55 years later continue to tour with their infectious brand of real Jamaican ska; Oro Solido, one of the most popular merengue outfits of the early 21st century, playing on June 20th; the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans, featuring their “musical gumbo” of Bebop Jazz, Funk and R&B/Soul on July 11th; and Stephen Colbert new favorite and Americana singer-songwriter John Moreland closing out the series on August 1st.
“We invite every neighborhood to host a block party on the Y block this summer, to come together to experience new music, to meet new people and to weigh in on what activities could or should be on a future green space here,” said Lisa Clemmons Stott, executive director of Downtown Springfield Inc.
Hospitality Sponsor Wyndham City Centre, located just a few blocks from the Y Block, is offering a special Levitt AMP Springfield rate of $99 plus parking and two breakfasts, available Wednesday – Saturday throughout the music series at http://bit.ly/levittampspfld.
Last December, Springfield was named one of 18 Levitt AMP Grant Awards winners presented to small and mid-sized towns and cities across America. Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation, Downtown Springfield Inc. and Springfield Area Arts Council submitted the Levitt AMP proposal and are co-presenting the concert series. Additionally, the Springfield Park District is sponsoring children’s activities before the concerts and during intermissions.
The public is invited to bring their own picnics, blankets and lawn chairs to the concerts, which will have an open lawn setting. In case of lightning, performances will be held at Central Baptist Church. In addition to nearby downtown restaurants, food and drinks will be available for purchase. Admission is free.
Other series sponsors include Isringhausen Imports, US Bank, Levi Ray & Shoup, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Illinois REALTORS. In-kind series sponsors include the City of Springfield, the Radio Matters partnership with Midwest Family Broadcasting, Capitol Radio Group and Neuhoff Radio, the Springfield Park District, Wyndham City Centre, Central Baptist Church, Evan Lloyd Architects, Illinois National Bank and HISO Music.
Concert sponsors include Conn’s Hospitality, Recycled Records, Dumb Records, Heartland Coca-Cola, Kerber Eck & Braeckel, WUIS’ Nightsounds, Alderman Kristin DiCenso, and Cavanagh & O’Hara Law Firm.
In-kind concert sponsors include the Springfield Jaycees and Viper Mine for fireworks after the performances on July 4th; the Springfield Sliders; Catalano Creative; and UAct.
About Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation
The mission of the Heritage Foundation, a 501c3, is to support, enhance, promote and preserve the historic, architectural, artistic and cultural heritage of the City of Springfield and the hometown area of Abraham Lincoln through education, preservation and beautification.
About Downtown Springfield Inc.
Founded in 1993, DSI is the capital city’s non-profit business association and nationally accredited Main Street organization with the mission to increase the economic and cultural vitality of historic downtown Springfield.
About Springfield Area Arts Council
SAAC is dedicated to developing and sustaining arts and culture initiatives in Springfield and surrounding communities, something they’ve been doing since 1976. Their mission is to enrich the community by promoting all art forms and providing creative opportunities to participate in and enjoy the arts.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
About Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation
The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation is a national funder of creative placemaking that empowers towns and cities across America to transform underused public spaces into thriving destinations through the power of free, live music. In 2019, more than 550 free Levitt concerts will take place in 26 towns and cities, all featuring a rich array of music genres and high-caliber talent. Learn more at levitt.org.
