Levitt at the Falls is back with 50 free concerts in its 2023 lineup

Symmone Gauer, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·4 min read
Hundreds of people attend the inaugural concert at Levitt at the Falls on Friday, June 14, 2020 in Sioux Falls.
Hundreds of people attend the inaugural concert at Levitt at the Falls on Friday, June 14, 2020 in Sioux Falls.

The sun's out and summer is almost here, and that means it's time to get ready for music and fun at Falls Park. The Levitt at the Falls concert series will kick off its fifth season on June 2 in Sioux Falls.

This year, there will be another 50 free concerts for fans to attend each weekend until Sept. 9. The concerts will cover 10 different music genres: Americana, blues, country, hip-hop, homegrown, indie vibe, rock & roll, women of song, world music and a family series.

“This summer we’re celebrating our fifth season with an updated genre list including a new Hip-Hop and Indie Vibe series filled with dynamic musicians bringing fresh talent to the Levitt stage," Nancy Halverson, executive director of Levitt at the Falls, said in a press release. "There is much to celebrate and something for everyone to take part in during this much-anticipated 2023 summer season."

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Concerts are every Thursday through Saturday evening. The Levitt Shell is located at 504 North Phillips Avenue at Falls Park West. The lawn will open at 6:30 p.m. each night with the local opener performing at 7 p.m. before the headliners take stage at 7:30 p.m.

There will also be concerts for kids and families at 10:30 a.m. on five Saturday mornings throughout the summer. All concerts are live streamed and projected onto giant screens for people to see.

Acclaimed blues saxophonist and vocalist Vanessa Collier will perform at Levitt at the Falls on June 2.
Acclaimed blues saxophonist and vocalist Vanessa Collier will perform at Levitt at the Falls on June 2.

Opening night on June 2 will feature acclaimed blues saxophonist and vocalist Vanessa Collier. Celtic rock favorites the Young Dubliners will close out the season on Sept. 9.

Other season concert highlights include acclaimed international artists Pascuala Ilabaca and Doolin’, South Dakota rock and roll hall of famers Indigenous, hip-hop artists Cocoa Sarai and former Sioux Falls local Mato Wayuhi, and Grammy-nominated mother and son artists Nnenna and Pierce Freelon. There will also be a special Fourth of July performance by the U.S. Army Band’s Six-String Soldiers.

The Levitt is partnering with the LSS Multi-Culture Center this year to host the annual Festival of Cultures on June 10. Other music and culture festival collaborations, such as the All My Relatives Music Festival, will also take place during the Levitt summer season as a way to celebrate the diversity of Sioux Falls.

Young Dubliners will headline the Levitt at the Falls concert on Saturday, Sept. 9, in Sioux Falls.
Young Dubliners will headline the Levitt at the Falls concert on Saturday, Sept. 9, in Sioux Falls.

Food trucks and alcoholic drinks served by JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars will be at each event. There will be extra activities on the lawn, too, such as dance lessons before the musicians take the stage.

Levitt at the Falls was cancelled in 2020 because of the coronavirus but came back strong in 2021. Last year was also a high-success year as the series reached over 100,000. The Brulé concert in July drew in a record crowd of 10,000 people.

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Here's the 2023 Levitt at the Shell concert lineup

  • June 2: Vanessa Collier

  • June 3: Davina and the Vagabonds

  • June 8: Yam Haus

  • June 9: The Lao Tizer Band

  • June 10: Pascuala Ilabaca

  • June 15: Stillhouse Junkies

  • June 16: Nnenna Feelon

  • June 17: Mato Wayuhi

  • June 22: The Boneskakers

  • June 23: The Shindellas

  • June 24: La Santa Cecilia

  • June 29: Rowan Grace

  • June 30: Annie Mack

  • July 1: Lvcy Moon

  • July 4: Six-String Soldiers

  • July 6: Fiddles & Friends

  • July 7: Frank Waln

  • July 8: Indigenous

  • July 13: Ultra Violet Fever

  • July 14: Dee-1

  • July 15: Kings & Associates

  • July 20: The Buckmiller Schwager Band

  • July 21: Ax and the Hatchetmen

  • July 22: Tiera Kennedy

  • July 27: The Arcadian Wild

  • July 28: Blood Brothers

  • July 29: Ian Flanigan

  • Aug. 3: Never Come Down

  • Aug. 4: Radio Free Honduras

  • Aug. 5: Chinobay

  • Aug. 10: Droolin'

  • Aug. 11: Bywater Call

  • Aug. 12: Scott Tournet

  • Aug. 17: Robert Jon & The Wreck

  • Aug. 18: Presley & Taylor

  • Aug. 19: Cocoa Sarai

  • Aug. 24: Damn Tall Buildings

  • Aug. 25: Autumn Kings

  • Aug. 26: Fox Royale

  • Aug. 31: The Contenders

  • Sept. 1: DuPont Brass

  • Sept. 2: The Vindys

  • Sept. 7: Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps

  • Sept. 8: Little Joe McCarthy & Big Trouble

  • Sept. 9: Young Dubliners

Family Shows:

  • June 3: Buckets N Boards

  • June 17: Pierce Freelon

  • July 8: Jackie Bird

  • July 22: Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players

  • Aug. 5: Christian Adeti & Titambe West African Dance Ensemble

A full list of the performers, genres and biographies can be found the Levitt Sioux Falls website.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Levitt at the Falls announces 50 free shows in its 2023 concert lineup