The Sunset Concert Series is in its 47th season of providing great free musical entertainment. Photo by Amihere Benson.
April 17, 2026
Come join the musical fun at SIU’s 2026 Sunset Concerts beginning June 11
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The 47th edition of the ever-popular Sunset Concert Series, returns with a wide variety of diverse musical performances beginning June 11 on the Shryock Auditorium lawn at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The popular longtime summertime Southern Illinois tradition features six weeks of free diverse melodic entertainment appealing to all ages and tastes. The locale alternates between the scenic campus spot, Turley Park on the west side of Carbondale, and a brand-new venue — the New Era Events Plaza, located in downtown Carbondale at 200 S. Washington St. The family-friendly outdoor performances take place each Thursday evening through July 23, with the exception of July 2. All concerts are free and open to the public.
“We have some great new and different talent this year and I’m really excited about this lineup,” said Tena Bennett, assistant vice chancellor for auxiliary enterprises and student affairs. “SIU is pleased to again partner with the City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Park District to present entertaining summer nights enjoyable for everyone.”
Fun for everyone
Each concert begins at 7 p.m. and lasts about two hours. Those in attendance are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and refreshments. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase from on-site vendors.
The 2026 schedule includes:
- June 11 – Shane Guerrette, Shryock lawn, Americana/roots-rock/modern indie. An upstate New Yorker, Guerrette is a multi-instrument songwriter and musician in the midst of a tour across North America. His raw vocals, inspired guitar-playing and personal lyrics are reminiscent of John Mayer, Marcus King and Ben Howard – yet distinctly different. He’s garnered a large fan base of blues, rock and folk music enthusiasts causing his videos to go viral with millions of streams.
- June 18 – Shawn Holt and the Teardrops, Turley Park, blues. The band’s 2025 concert was rained out, so they’re back on the schedule this year. Holt follows in the footsteps of his father, blues legend Magic Slim, offering a unique sound accompanied by the high-energy, hard-driving sound of the Teardrops, who have been playing the scene for 35 years. Shawn Holt has toured since he was 17 along with his father, uncle Nick Holt and the Teardrops. Shawn Holt and the Teardrops won the 2014 Best New Artist Debut category at the Blues Music Awards for their debut album, “Daddy Told Me,” along with a Blues Blast Music Award for New Artist Debut Album.
- June 25 – The Way Down Wanderers, New Era Events Plaza, alternative Americana. This Peoria, Illinois, band is known for high-energy performances and tight harmonies, and presents a unique blend of bluegrass, folk and roots music in its performances featuring drums, bass, guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin accompaniment.
- July 9 – Funky Butt Brass Band, New Era Events Plaza, brass/funk/soul. Touring since 2008, this St. Louis band melds jazz, blues, soul, funk, gospel, hip-hop and rock ‘n’ roll as it performs more than 100 live shows annually. The performances feature instrumental lighting, cover songs, dynamic vocals and more. The shows combine New Orleans rag, Motown, blues, funk, gospel, jam, Southern boogie, along with favorites from the band’s studio albums.
- July 16 – Goldpine, Turley Park, Americana. The married Nashville duo dubs their style “aggressive Americana.” They’ve performed together for 16 years and recently released their third album, “Three” featuring stories of sorrow, tested love and space trips. The band has appeared on NPR’s “Mountain Stage with Kathy Mattea,” performed the national anthem at Kansas City Chiefs football games and numerous other venues and festivals.
- July 23 – Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Shryock Lawn, zydeco. From one of zydeco’s most influential families, Dwayne (Dopsie) Rubin is a Lafayette, Louisiana, native, singer, songwriter and accordionist. The band has toured the world since its debut when he was 19, playing high-energy tunes that combine traditional zydeco with rhythm and blues, funk, rock ‘n’ roll, reggae and pop. Dopsie has garnered multiple awards, including a 2022 Grammy Award and a Big Easy Award for Best Zydeco Band,
Keeping it fun and safe
Sunset Concerts typically draw impressive crowds as people gather to listen, dance and sing along.
A few rules are in place to ensure audience members have a safe, enjoyable time. Bans on glass bottles, kegs, smoking, grilling and solicitation and underage drinking are in place and will be enforced. Only single-serve containers are permitted. Pets are allowed – but they must be leashed.
For more 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, are collaborating with the City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Park District to sponsor the musical entertainment. Organizers say additional sponsors are welcomed and appreciated; inquire about sponsorships by calling 618-453-2461.