Concerts to fill summer air in downtown Carson City

The streets of downtown Carson City come alive this month with the sound of music as concert series fill the summer air of the historic west side.

Tonight California native Shane Dwight opens the 10th annual Fox Concert Series on the Bob McFadden Plaza in downtown Carson City.

The Fox Brewpub's privately funded summer concert series returns to full strength in 2017 after construction of the plaza on Third Street and North Carson Street last year limited the venue, Fox Brewpub owner Jim Phalan said.

"Since the day we started participating in the events, we felt the need to do more to attract people to downtown," Phalan said. "I have always believed, build it and they will come. Now with the completion of the McFadden Plaza, it's a perfect venue."

The Bob McFadden Plaza features a permanent stage behind the historic two-story St. Charles Hotel along what used to be Third Street between North Carson and Curry streets.

The downtown corridor improvement project along North Carson Street last year included construction of the new walking plaza, replacing Third Street with a pedestrian and family-friendly venue.

"We are a local family, providing local activities for our great city," Phalan said. "We really enjoy doing it and being a part of the community."

Eight musical acts have been secured to celebrate over the summer on the plaza's permanent stage, including Dwight who also closes the series Friday, Sept. 8.

In between are six other Friday night acts, including Paperback Writer: The Complete Beatles Experience on June 23; Mojo Green, July 7; JellyBread, July 14; Road Daddy, July 28; Musicole, Aug. 11; and Mentally Spent, Aug. 18.

The Fox Concert Series, a 100 percent privately funded venue, is also free to the public, running three hours each scheduled Friday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Find The Fox Brewpub on Facebook here for more information about its summer concert series.

Also returning to downtown Carson City is last year's successful debut of the Levitt AMP Summer Concert Series along Minnesota Street at the Brewery Arts Center.

Earlier this year, the Levitt-AMP Foundation announced its return to the Minnesota Street Stage at the Brewery Arts Center for a second season in 2017.

Many new faces will take to the stage this summer, but one returning act is Southern Drawl Band, which electrified country music fans last year from the Minnesota Street stage. They make an encore performance in the Nevada state capital on Saturday, July 29 at 7 p.m.

The Levitt-AMP summer concert series opens June 23 with the series' only Friday night concert featuring Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, a jazzy swing band, on the Minnesota Street Stage at 7 p.m. They are followed by nine more weekly acts every Saturday at 7 p.m. through Sept. 2, which ends with the Celtic rock band, Young Dubliners.

The rest of the lineup includes pop and folk band, The Novelists, July 1; Guitar Shorty, July 8; Gene Evaro, Jr., July 15; South American-inspired La Misa Negra, July 22; Southern Drawl, July 29; Thee Commons, Aug. 5; Marla Brown, Aug. 12; and Dusty Green Bones, Aug. 26.

There is no concert scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19.

Go here for more information about the Levitt AMP Carson City Music Series and its lineup of weekly acts.

In its inaugural season last year, the Levitt AMP successfully drew hundreds to Minnesota Street at King, including the parking lot of Performance Hall, a former church.

The 10-week free public concert series also featured a community art wall and food truck vendors last season.