May 06, 2025
Don’t miss Season 46 of the Sunset Concert Series beginning June 12
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The 46th season of one of the region’s most iconic events – the Sunset Concert Series – begins June 12 on the lawn of Shryock Auditorium at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and features six weeks of free diverse musical entertainment sure to appeal to all ages and tastes.
The venue alternates between the scenic campus locale and Turley Park on the west side of Carbondale. The family-friendly outdoor performances, held each Thursday evening through July 24 (with the exception of July 3), are all free and open to the public.
“Sunset Concerts have been one of the most popular summertime traditions in Southern Illinois for nearly half a century,” said Tena Bennett, assistant vice chancellor for auxiliary enterprises and student affairs. “SIU and the City of Carbondale are thrilled to again partner to present an exciting, eclectic musical lineup for 2025. There’s truly something for everyone, so we hope everyone will join us and have a great time.”
Enjoyable evening for all
All concerts begin at 7 p.m. and last about two hours. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. They can bring refreshments or purchase food and drinks from on-site vendors.
The 2025 schedule includes:
June 12 – Denise La Grassa, Shryock lawn at SIU, blues/roots/soul/rock. La Grassa launched her musical career as a 5-year-old in suburban Chicago going door-to-door offering to sing and sell her original poem-songs to neighbors for a quarter each. Since then, she’s held a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for muscle grinds on a trapeze, performed comedy and improv with The Second City, performed with her band in Europe and more. Her 2023 rockin’ blues album “The Flame” was played nationwide, and the song “Better Day’s Coming” hit the Top-10 singles chart. Her latest nine-song album, “Sundown Rising,” delves deeper into her take on the blues and notes that as in past all-white “sundown towns,” it is still most frequently the poor and people of color who are marginalized and cast aside in a country of abundance.
June 19 – Marcella Simien, Turley Park, rhythm and blues/Creole/soul/funk. Simien grew up on stage, and celebrity visitors were common. A member of one of the first Creole families to settle in St. Landry Parish in Opelousas, Louisiana, she is the daughter of double Grammy winner and Zydeco icon Terrance Simien. She founded and leads Marcella & Her Lovers, a band blending classic Memphis soul and the swagger of New Orleans funk, and she also performs with Marcella & Les Vagues Magnolias, and Terrance Simien’s Krewe De Monifique.
June 26 – Natty Nation, Shryock lawn, rock reggae. This Madison, Wisconsin, band has been thrilling crowds with its distinctive signature self-described “hard roots rock reggae” sound. Its 2016 single “Divine Spark” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard reggae chart, and it has won numerous awards throughout the Midwest, including Hall of Fame and “Best Artist” recognition. With a roots reggae foundation and soul, rock and funk shining through, it’s apparent that the likes of Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Living Colour, Bad Brains, and Earth Wind and Fire have influenced bandmates, who are currently JAH Boogie, Paule Willis, Aaron Konkol, Nick Czar and Captain Smooth.
July 10 – Josué Estrada Band, Turley Park, “Chicano jazz.” Born to Mexican immigrants, trumpeter Estrada’s music draws from his jazz background and tours halfway around the globe, performing in projects rooted in bossa nova surfpunk and Dixieland-punk-bluegrass and a variety of existential themes. His original “Chicano jazz” music incorporates spiritual jazz greats past and present, the avant-garde to boleros, and so much more. He recently recorded his debut EP at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, and the first two singles will be released in May.
July 17 – Shawn Holt and the Teardrops, Shryock lawn, blues. The son of blues legend Magic Slim, Shawn continues in his father’s footsteps providing that unique sound and energy while accompanied by the high-energy, hard-driving sound of the Teardrops, who’ve been playing the scene for 35 years. Shawn isn’t a newcomer either, hitting the road at 17 with his father, uncle Nick Holt and the Teardrops. Shawn Holt and the Teardrops won the Best New Artist Debut category at the Blues Music Awards in 2014 for their debut album, “Daddy Told Me,” and a Blues Blast Music Award for New Artist Debut Album.
July 24 – The Mighty Pines, Shryock lawn, roots rock. The St. Louis-based soul-inspired roots rock The Mighty Pines have a unique sound that’s wildcat guitar in jazz grass, electric mandolin in country-reggae, three-part harmony in zydeco-folk and bass in jump-blues jamboree. The band has toured nationally, performed at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and on Season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice,” recorded with Michael McDonald and Brian Owens, collaborated with Yonder Mountain String Band’s Allie Kral and much more, including hosting its own festival, Pines Fest, in Midtown St. Louis.
Fun and a few rules
The concerts draw large crowds as participants gather to listen, dance and sing along, just as they have for decades.
To ensure all audience members have a safe, enjoyable time, there are a few rules. Bans on glass bottles, kegs, smoking, grilling and solicitation will be enforced as will underage drinking laws. Single-serve containers only are permitted. Pets are allowed, but they must be leashed.
For additional information, visit sunset.siu.edu, call 618-453-5714 or follow the Office of Student Engagement on Facebook or Instagram.
SIU along with its Office of Student Engagement and Student Affairs, in addition to the City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Park District, are collaborating to sponsor the musical entertainment.