Rocking the roof – free curbside concerts are back

Curbside Concerts turns 7 this year – still wide-eyed and ready for adventure at that age. These are very good days to be a proud parent of the best rooftop shows in Elkhart.

Let’s get back outside and enjoy time with friends in downtown Elkhart. The stage lights back up at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22. Come hungry for the food trucks. Come thirsty for the beer tent. Come smiling and we’ll protect that ready-for-the-weekend mood.

Let’s get right to it, because we have to uphold our reputation as a “Well Crafted” event in Elkhart County.

The bands

Every year, we mix it up. For 2026, the stars will shine.

  • Friday, May 22 – Darryl Buchanan and the Soul Motown Allstars fire up the season with an all-new experience – don’t look up, because Darryl and the guys will be performing in the round!
  • Friday, May 29 – For the first time on the roof … BLAMMO!
  • Friday, June 5 – The Erly bring some high-energy as we swing into June.
  • Friday, June 12 – Starlord – this exceptional prog rock band is the one every musician you love takes the night off to come see perform.
  • Friday, June 19 – Our jazz fest parking lot party weekend starts with reggae band Zion Lion from Kalamazoo.
  • Saturday, June 20 – St. Eve and The Vibe keeps the party going on this special Saturday night show.
  • Friday, June 26 – House band High Gravity takes their seventh turn on the roof. How about we double the drums – Jordan Adams joins Adam Fann on stage to back our favorite band!
  • Friday, July 3 – Paul Erdman with special guest Marcus Clingaman help us ring in America 250 – special start time of 6pm.
  • Friday, Aug. 21 – The Buddy System gets us back into the swing for the fall set, with Buddy Pearson, Rafael Chavez and Nelson Miles taking the stage.
  • Friday, Aug. 28 – The one, the only … Duke Tumatoe.
  • Friday, Sept. 4 – Southside Denny brings the blues and makes his first rooftop appearance.
  • Friday, Sept. 11 – The feel-good band of forever and always: The Tumbleweed Jumpers!
  • Friday, Sept. 18 – Why Not Both? is making an impact on the South Bend indie rock scene. They’ll be first-timers on our roof.
  • Friday, Sept. 25 – Announcement coming soon! Or maybe a rain date, even though it never rains in Downtown Elkhart.

All these shows are presented with the support of the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The food and the other things to know

As always, these concerts are free. Bands play on our roof, so bring camp chairs and watch from our parking lot. We sell beer, wine and soda – ask the bartenders, and they’ll probably get you the library book you’ve been wanting, too.

And what about the food?

That Guys Gourmet Ribs will be here almost every Friday and all jazz fest weekend. Tropicana Ice Cream Shop and – new this year – Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn – have the snacks and sweet treats.

The library parking lot is open to all ages. The city’s new social district – the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area – lets you enjoy beverages without having to be in the beer garden – you must have an approved cup, though!

Parking is available on the street or in nearby municipal lots. Musicians may bring merch to sell, and the library accepts cash and card.

Like every year, we are saying it never rains in downtown Elkhart. High winds, wildfire smoke and dust storms – things of the past. The gnat that flew into Katy Dubois’ throat that one time on a high note – nah, no longer welcome. But if you’re curious if the show is still on, watch our Facebook page for all the updates.

And if you missed them …

We like to say High Gravity is the house band because we couldn’t have gotten here without them and a bunch of other great musicians who have brightened our stage. We had this bright idea, then Covid happened, but we didn’t give up. In fact, we saw this is our way to support local musicians through a difficult era – they stuck with us, we continue to give them a stage.

New to the Curbside crowd? Here’s a list of all the bands we’ve featured.

  • 2025 – The Buddy System, Society’s Child, High Gravity, Lalo Cura, Nine2K, The Erly, Anna p.s., JR Clark Band, Dylan Tolbert, Duke Tumatoe, Abbie Thomas and the Crazy Hearts, JAGALCHI, Tumbleweed Jumpers, Jake Miller and the Midwest Heat
  • 2024 – Paul Decker and the Remnants, Jake Miller and the Midwest Heat, Society’s Child, Darryl Buchanan, The Hatchbacks, Half Built Homes, The Distractions, High Gravity, Paul Erdman, JAGALCHI, rebel noire and the accomplices, Lalo Cura, BEE! The Band, JR Clark Band, Los Ortega, Quite Frank Lee, Nine2K
  • 2023 – Shiny Shiny Black, Anna p.s., Kansas Bible Co., Society’s Child, Joe Baughman and the Righteous Few, High Gravity, Gretchen’s Revenge, Bumpus, Dylan Tolbert, Empire Strikes Brass, Lalo Cura, Paul Erdman, Quite Frank Lee, SPACESHIPS, SHAM, Rica Obsesion, Los Ortega, Grupo Renacer
  • 2022 – Zach Dubois, Darryl Buchanan, Anna p.s., Tumbleweed Jumpers, High Gravity, LowDown Brass Band, The Go-Rounds, Lalo Cura, Paul Erdman, Abbie Thomas, Memphis Underground
  • 2021 – Rica Obsesion, High Gravity, Caught on Cline, Maybe April
  • 2020 – The Dean’s List, High Gravity, Darryl Buchanan and the Soul Motown Allstars

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