After former Beatles member Paul McCartney played a sold-out show at Camden Yards on Sunday, Baltimore has been abuzz with the spirit of live music.
For those looking for more live music events, Baltimore has a host of outdoor music events to look out for this summer:
Pride Events
Baltimore’s official Pride events kick off on June 20. There are several live performances scheduled throughout the week, which can be found on Baltimore Pride’s website.
On June 25, Baltimore Pride is hosting a Block Party on Charles Street from 3-9 p.m. Headliners include musical artists Trina, Keke Wyatt, DDM, and Davon Fleming.
The following day, Pride in the Park will be held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in Druid Hill Park. Pride in the Park will feature live performances by Mya, Averie Wilson, and George Lovett.
While the Block Party and Pride in the Park are some of Maryland’s largest Pride events, keep an eye out for smaller live musical events throughout the week. Motor House is holding a Pride Open Mic on June 23. Hosted by educator and activist Unique Robinson, the open mic is “a space for comedians, singers, rappers, dancers, poets and more.”
Concert Series
There’s an assortment of free outdoor concert series held throughout Baltimore and its surrounding counties.
Every other Friday night from May 27 through Sept. 2, Belvedere Square is hosting “Summer Sounds.” This summer’s concert lineup can be found on Belvedere Square’s website.
On the weekends, Catonsville outdoor amphitheater Lurman Woodland Theater is home to a summer concert series. From 6-8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the amphitheater hosts a wide variety of musical artists, including bluegrass, rock, and R&B performers.
Sponsored by WYPR, local nonprofit Friends of Patterson Park will be hosting a handful of concerts throughout the summer. The park will host concerts June 26, July 10, July 24 and Aug. 14.
Foundry Row in Owings Mills hosts live music every Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. Located on the shopping center’s “Main Street,” the Twilight Thursdays concert series encourages attendees to bring their own seating. The concert series even has dedicated Kids Nights on June 30, July 28, and Aug. 18, with pre-concert magic performances and balloon artists onsite.
Hunt Valley Town Centre is also home to a summer concert series. Every Friday night, the shopping center hosts live music, along with a pre-concert magic show, balloon art, and a wine and beer garden sponsored by one of Hunt Valley Town Centre’s many restaurants.
In Hamilton, live music performances will be held the second Saturday of every month through September. Located on 4500 Harford Rd., the Music at 4500 concert series is a fundraiser for Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street. Each performance will feature two local musical artists, and food and drinks will be provided by Zeke’s Coffee.
According to South BMore, Riverside Park in Federal Hill kicked off their summer concert series this past weekend. Presented by Domino Sugar, the concert series will be held on the second Sunday of every month until Sept. 11. Local restaurants, like The Smoking Swine and Miss Twist, will provide refreshments. Beer and wine proceeds will go to the Riverside Neighborhood Association.
WTMD’s First Thursdays Festival is one of the most well-known outdoor concert series in Baltimore. True to its name, the First Thursday Festival is held on the first Thursday of every month in Canton Waterfront Park, featuring live music and 20 food and drink vendors.
On Fridays and Saturdays throughout June and July, The Avenue at White Marsh will be hosting live music. Attendees are prohibited from bringing outside food and drink, but are welcome to purchase refreshments from any of the shopping center’s restaurants. Also, attendees cannot bring their own chairs, but Perry Hall High School is renting out chairs for $2 apiece, with the proceeds from those rentals benefitting the school.
Festivals
Baltimore also has a number of music festivals throughout the summer. Representing a wide range of music genres, there’s sure to be a summer music festival in Baltimore to suit everyone’s taste.
This coming weekend is AFRAM, Baltimore’s African American festival on June 18 and 19. Estimated to draw a crowd of more than 100,000 people to Druid Hill Park, AFRAM’s headliners include musical artists Ne-Yo, Yung Bleu, Inayah, El Debarge, and more.
The following weekend, Chant Down Reggae Festival is being held in Carroll Park on June 25. Bringing in reggae artists from across the world, like Freddie McGregor and Iba Mahr, the festival supports marginalized people throughout Baltimore. Admission is free, but attendees are required to donate at least one essential item, like baby supplies, toiletries, and cold weather clothes. To find an extended lists of items Chant Down Reggae is asking attendees to donate, visit their website.
On July 17, IconiQ Entertainment is hosting Blackout 2022, a comedy and music festival, in Greektown. Blackout 2022 will feature over 20 local entertainers, including Stiletto, Bret Sears, and Naiqwanwanya. Tickets for Blackout 2022 can be purchased on the festival’s EventBrite page.
Greektown is hosting the third Zest Fest on July 23. Zest Fest showcases indie artists from around Baltimore, offering food and drink vendors and live music for a cover fee of $15. Proof of vaccination and masks are required for this event. To purchase tickets, visit Zest Fest’s HappeningNext page.
For fans of pop punk, Journeys’ Sad Summer Festival will be held at Pier Six Pavilion on July 24. Featuring nine different pop-punk acts, including Waterparks, Neck Deep, and State Champs, the festival is an all-day event. Sad Summer Festival tickets can be found on the tour’s website.
To round out the summer festivals, Friends of Patterson Park will be hosting a Haitian Caribbean music festival alongside their free summer concert series. Festivities will take place on Aug. 14 in Patterson Park.
