Arts Council unveils 54th Summer Arts Festival lineup

The Summer Arts Festival will feature a tribute to 70 and 80s rockers with That Arena Rock Show on July 17.

The Summer Arts Festival will feature a tribute to 70 and 80s rockers with That Arena Rock Show on July 17.

A House, Hotel, Journey, Jets, the Caribbean, Hollywood and California all sound like vacation clues. They also work as staycation summer keywords in Springfield.

Each word hints at some of the 24 acts, performances and events that make up the 54th Summer Arts Festival, presented by the Springfield Arts Council. The admission-free festival will launch on June 10 and conclude on July 18 in Veterans Park.

This year will bring in a mix of returning favorites, tributes, variety shows and local talent. The announcement of a new lineup always brings a smile to Arts Council executive director Tim Rowe’s face.

“This is a community event that Springfield has enjoyed with 54 years of consistency, bringing people to the park in the summer. We’re excited to present it again,” said Rowe.

The festival will start strong with five consecutive nights, debuting on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday with a familiar Festival presence – Springfield native singer/songwriter Griffin House on June 10. Opening week continues with two of the most anticipated returnees beginning with Eagles tribute Hotel California on the 11th.

Probably the most popular attraction of recent festivals past is Resurrection – A Journey Tribute.

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“We recognize Resurrection is a festival favorite and we couldn’t work them in due to a scheduling conflict last year,” Rowe said. “Other towns like Troy and Sidney use some of these acts and it can be hard not to oversaturate the market, so we’re glad to have Resurrection back to our festival and they’re excited about coming back.”

Resurrection will play on June 12, followed by another festival fixture, Phil Dirt and the Dozers on June 13 and the bluegrass sounds of Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, yet another returnee on June 14. Rowe pointed out the latter two acts are coming off of big years.

“Phil Dirt had its biggest crowd here in five years last year and they’ve played the festival 30 times,” he said. “Joe Mullins just won entertainer of the year and collaborative recording of the year at the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards in 2019.”

From June 25-27, the Youth Arts Ambassadors will launch a debut musical, “Disney’s Newsies.” The Ambassadors are also writing their own original show, “Sticky Notes” on July 7. Rowe said these shows are important as they showcase local youth talent as well as some adult performers.

A first-time festival act with a following in Dayton is the folk-pop sister act of Adelee & Gentry on June 18, while the Nehemiah Foundation will present area musicians Amber Hargett and The American Landscape on June 28.

Tribute acts are festival staples. Rowe works each year to bring back popular acts, some after a few years’ absence and adding new ones.

“We look for original acts to book when we can, but these are harder and harder to come by,” Rowe said. “There was a time when we could get them, but these acts ask for more money and we’re an admission-free festival. We try to bring in tribute acts that do music people love.”

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New additions include Elton John tribute Bennie and the Jets (June 19); a tribute to those great compilation albums of the 1970s and ‘80s, The K-Tel All-Stars (July 1); Huey Lewis and the News tribute Heart of Rock and Roll (July 10); a tribute to ’70 and ‘80s rockers, That Arena Rock Show (July 17); and rounding out the 2020 festival is Hollywood Nights: Bob Seger Tribute on July 18.

Returning tributes are Tom Petty act Pettybreakers (June 17); The McCartney Years (July 2); Parrots of the Caribbean (July 3); one of 2019’s biggest draws, Queen Nation (July 8); Masters of Soul (July 9); Chicago tribute Brass Transit (July 11); and Big Band Legends – Tom Daugherty Orchestra (July 16).

Rounding out the festival will be KidsFest on June 28, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, which has appeared at all 54 festivals, on July 12 and Acrobats of CirqueTacular on July 15, along with theme nights, ParrotHead Party in the Park (July 3), Sip of Summer (July 10-11) and BBQ & Brews (July 17-18).

“Get your lawn chairs and blankets ready, Springfield. We have your entertainment,” said Rowe.

For more information, go to www.springfieldartscouncil.org.

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