Arlo Parks and Buddy Miller
Dunno about you, but every time I’ve gotten in my car this week the thermometer has read close to 100 degrees, so I’m ready to be thinking about the autumn. That makes me even more glad to hear that Musicians Corner, Centennial Park Conservancy’s annual series of free outdoor concerts, is gearing up for its 2026 fall run with the kind of wide-ranging lineup of great mostly local talent you’ve come to know and love.
The events are set for Friday evenings from Aug. 28 through Sept. 25, plus the three-day Lightning 100 Free Fest on Labor Day weekend. Shows start at 5 p.m. and wrap by 9. (Free Fest is slightly different; Friday, Sept. 4, has a 5-to-9 show, but the Saturday and Sunday shows run noon to 6 p.m. All are very family-friendly times, nonetheless.)
The kickoff gig includes rockers Sweet Lizzy Project, fresh off their new single “Aftermath,” with folk-popsters Birdtalker headlining. Singer-songwriters of many kinds — including Rayland Baxter (who’s just released his own new single, the acoustic-driven “The Fool”), Elke and MORGXN — play the Free Fest, with the great Arlo Parks closing it down on Sunday, amid the tour behind her latest long-player Desire. Rising R&B songsmith Casper Sage, rising country-Americana ace She Returns From War (during the AmericanaFest partner event on Sept. 18) and Americana legend Buddy Miller (whose self-titled LP, his first solo album in 15 years, is out Sept. 11) are among the highlights from the rest of the run.
There are a few performers who’ll be announced later on. Keep an eye on the Musicians Corner website for updates, and follow the series on Instagram.
Musicians Corner Fall 2026 Concert Series
Friday, Aug. 28: Birdtalker, Josh Okeefe, Kara Frazier, Sweet Lizzy Project, Gerald Alain
Friday, Sept. 4 (Labor Day weekend, Lightning 100 Free Fest): Rayland Baxter, Vlad Holiday, verygently, Creamer, Eva Cassel
Saturday, Sept. 5 (Labor Day weekend, Lightning 100 Free Fest): TBA, Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves, Laney Jones and the Spirits, Marble Jets, Wolf Twin
Sunday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day weekend, Lightning 100 Free Fest): Arlo Parks, MORGXN, Moody Joody, Elke, Maddie Ettrich
Friday, Sept. 11: Augustana, Caper Sage, Wildermis, Carver Jones, Mary McGuinness
Friday, Sept. 18 (AmericanaFest): TBA, She Returns From War, Ink, Obed Padilla
Friday, Sept. 25: Buddy Miller, TBA, Abigail Rose, CHAPPY, Milly Roze
