TOLEDO, Ohio — ProMedica announced the return of its Summer Concert Series Monday with a star-studded lineup of concerts the public can enjoy from June to September!
The full lineup:
July 9 - Collective Soul, Tonic, another act TBD
July 16 - Kool and The Gang
July 23 - 38 Special
July 30 - Warrant, Winger
Aug 6 - Josh Turner, Lauren Alaina
Aug 13 - Vanilla Ice, Young MC, All 4 One, CNC Music Factory
Aug 26 - Third Eye Blind
Aug. 27 - Old Crow Medicine Show
Sept. 3 - Gwen Stefani
Sept. 4 - Chris Young
The Stefani and Young concerts were previously announced as part of the Solheim Cup opening ceremony festivities.
Ticket information can be found here.
The popular concerts were canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The series underscores a revival of sorts for the city as events are coming back, businesses are opening and folks are shedding their masks once and for all.
"We have been working hard to bring music back to the riverfront," ProMedica vice president of marketing and communications Kathleen Merrill said during the announcement.
2020 was a dark year with so much loss. Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel in Toledo.
"After that mellow year we had last year of no music, no fun, a stay-at-home kind of lifestyle, it's all back and downtown's just going to blossom with people and activities," Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak said.
"Both of our trucks were relying on these type of concerts and events last year," said Trevor Deeter, owner of Deet's BBQ. "So to have them back is a huge deal for our sales and for our staff."
The excitement extends beyond Promenade Park. Baseball is back and Fifth Third Field will be at full capacity beginning Tuesday. Restaurants and bars, like Holy Toledo, are opening their doors once again, and major events including the Solheim Cup lay ahead.
"People are so excited to get out again," said Michael Francis, owner of The Loaded Chicken food truck. "I mean, it's time. We're ready."
"Honestly I think people aren't going to recognize Summit Street with all the new restaurant opportunities, they're creating outdoor seating," Wozniak said.
Don't forget about the intangibles that come with downtown's revitalization. Morale is bound to skyrocket.
"It's going to be just beautiful for everybody to feel that pride of Toledo and Lucas County living," Wozniak said.
In 2019, ProMedica hosted 12 concerts encompassing 13 music genres. Almost 90,000 guests attended from 39 different states. Five hundred and sixty-five community members volunteered and 32 companies sponsored the series. Fifteen non-profit organizations benefited by receiving a portion of beverage sales.
The concerts have featured all-star performers in the past, such as Diana Ross and Gladys Knight.