Concert scene shapes up big for summer 2021

By Patrick Lalley, for Pigeon605

Live music is back.

Just in time.

The 2021 summer concert schedule in Sioux Falls is coming together. While it may not be back to pre-pandemic levels, there are opportunities for everyone to get out, put their hands in the air and release the tension pent up after way too many Facebook Live events.

Even a few weeks ago, it was unclear whether fans would be comfortable enough to come back to live events. But as the infection rates fall and vaccination rates hopefully rise, that fear is falling away.

“The big question among all my music nerds is whether we’ll see live music return as it was before,” said Scott Hudson, a freelance music writer and commenter in Sioux Falls. “A couple of months ago, I would have said absolutely not, at least in the near future. But seeing the crowds return to sports gives me hope.”

A big change is the return of the summer series at the Levitt at the Falls outdoor amphitheater. The venue launched its inaugural season in 2019 with 30 free concerts. It was a huge hit, with big crowds and great performances.

The Levitt is back for 2021 with a lineup of 40 dates hitting about every musical genre there is.

While the Levitt is the most obvious example, there is increasing activity across the live music venues in Sioux Falls, from the Premier Center to the clubs.

Whether the crowds will come is another question, but if opening weekend at the Levitt is any indication, it’s looking good.

“I’m sure a lot of people are going to be pretty hesitant at first,” Hudson said. “We’re all a bit reluctant to return to aspects of life we took for granted. I know I’m worried about again being pressed together in a sweaty, crowded club. But I have a feeling that once I conquer that fear, there will be moments during that first show where I’ll be fighting back a tear or three – tears of joy, of course, when that certain song hits a sweet spot and that for those few moments it’s like 2020 never happened.”

It’s not just music that people miss. It’s the entire atmosphere that comes with getting out and having fun.

That’s what Wes Eisenhauer is anticipating. He’s a Sioux Falls live music icon – one of the co-founders of Soulcrate Music and Later Babes, and the co-organizer of the That Sounds Decent annual concert at the 8th & Railroad Center.

Eisenhauer is looking forward to the music but also the rest of life in downtown Sioux Falls, he said.

“I’m really just looking forward to gathering with people this summer,” he said. “It’s been amazing so far. Specific things I’m looking forward to this year are the Headlights Theater performances, The Breaks block party on July 10 and the energy and amount of activity that the Levitt brings to downtown.”

That Sounds Decent will be back Aug. 28. Eisenhauer said the lineup for the show, with a local flavor, will be announced soon.

Concerts at the Denny Sanford Premier Center have been coming in, though the big tours are booking into next year judging from the schedule.

Still, there are some notable country shows – the staple of the Premier Center schedule in general – coming up.

Case in point: Little Big Town on Saturday. The Grammy-winning foursome is riding the wave of their latest hit, “Wine, Beer, Whiskey,” and are sure to draw a big crowd of entertainment-starved country fans.

“Country music fans, like everyone else, are ready to get out with friends and party,” said Randy McDaniel, an on-air personality at KXRB radio in Sioux Falls. “Since last summer was pretty much a total washout for great live country music, and all other events for that matter, I think the demand will be strong whatever the venue might be.”

Which begs the question, what else is coming up?

We’ll give you a not-quite-comprehensive list of live music events for the summer in a moment. But first, here are the top five can’t-miss shows for live music fans in Sioux Falls this summer.

This is a completely subjective list, regardless of genre, based on what I know or can glean. And if there’s an unbalanced inclusion of bands with fiddles, well, that’s my problem.

I’m sure you disagree, but here goes.

Top 5

Pert Near Sandstone, July 26, Levitt at the Falls

It’s hard to start a conversation about this Minneapolis-based bluegrass outfit without mentioning their Minnesota brethren Trampled by Turtles. That’s because of founding member and TbT fiddle player Ryan Young. But it’s unfair to suggest that Pert Near Sandstone is some sort of splitter project of the better-known brothers. PNS is awesome in their own right, and if you’re a TbT fan, you should shimmy on down to the Levitt for this FREE show.

Old Crow Medicine Show, July 30, The District

There’s some sort of cruel irony that the Wagon Wheel Tour featuring Darius Rucker is coming to W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds on July 11. Because if you know anything about the title of that tour, you know that it’s based on the song “Wagon Wheel,” which Old Crow Medicine Show wrote, based on an unfinished Bob Dylan lyric, and that Rucker subsequently covered to great commercial success.

Such is the cruelty of business, but I’m sure OCMS doesn’t mind the residual. And one must wonder, since the band gave Dylan a writing credit on the original, if the bard of American music even knows he gets a residual.

Whatever the vagaries of industry economics, catch these guys at The District. You won’t be disappointed. For my cash, the original “Wagon Wheel” is among the top modern folk/bluegrass songs ever written and should be experienced by the boys who crafted it.

Sunny Sweeney, July 9, Bigs Bar

Authenticity is a trait seldom found in today’s country music. That’s because most of what you hear today is contrived for maximum commercial value. If you’re a country fan looking for a connection to real stories about real life in the real world, go see Sunny Sweeny. She’s well known in authentic country circles, and that’s probably enough if you’re somebody like Sunny.

Don’t believe me? Just Google “From a Table Away” or “Bottle by my Bed.” If you’re a woman and don’t feel an immediate, visceral connection, I’m sorry. If you’re a man and don’t feel at least a little regret for all the stupid crap you’ve done, I can’t help you.

It’s powerful, real, authentic country music. God bless.

Sioux River Folk Festival, Aug. 6-8, Newton Hills State Park

If you like original, local, quality music – and I do – this year’s Sioux River Folk Festival is something you don’t want to miss. The Friends of Traditional Music has been organizing this event at Newton Hills State Park, just south of Canton, for more than 40 years. There have been some incredible performances over the years from local and touring acts. It’s three days of outdoor music, camping and connection with what matters.

But this year has a special treat for local music fans. It’s the return of Snakebeard Jackson and the Union Grove Pickers. Snakebeard produced two incredible albums of hard-driving, hard-living folk/rock before disbanding in 2018. There have been a lot of experiences experienced since then, so there’s reason for high expectations for this reunion show.

The Union Grove Pickers haven’t played publicly for a while either. You’ll recognize some of the members from other incarnations of local acts because they’re great musicians. The possibility of seeing either of these two groups on a random summer evening somewhere is tantalizing. But in case that doesn’t happen, it’s best to roll down to Newton Hills in August.

Little Big Town, June 19, Premier Center

As much pop as country, Little Big Town is arguably the biggest name coming to town this summer. It’s weird, but when I see them, I immediately think of a country version of ABBA. Before you go all Swedish on me, the band is fronted by a harmonizing quartet – two men and two women. They’ve been writing can’t-get-it-out-of-my-head party ballads like “Pontoon” and the aforementioned “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” for more than 20 years.

So sue me on the ABBA thing, but if you like big concerts that are a big party, you should go to Little Big Town. It’s going to be a thing.

Honorable mentions

I said top five, and that’s the list. But I’d be making a mistake to not point out a couple of shows that likely won’t include a fiddle.

Tab Benoit, July 11, The District

Instead of the Wagon Wheel Tour – I’m not saying don’t go, but if you don’t want to go, this is a great option – catch blues guitarist Tab Benoit at The District. If you’re a guitar person – and really who isn’t – you’ll love Benoit. He plays a stock 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline and performs original blues tunes in styles from the Delta to Chicago. And it’s inside.

Tantric, July 1, Bigs Bar

Tantric is a classic post-grunge rock-n-roll outfit. Only lead singer Hugo Ferreira remains from the original lineup that made its mark in 2001 with singles “Breakdown,” “Astounded” and “Mourning.” Give credit to Ferreira, he has iterated the group through the years while keeping the Tantric name and producing his own version of the sound.

It’s rock-n-roll man.

P.O.D., Aug. 19, The District

The moniker of this Christian metal band stands for Payable on Death. They started in 1992 in San Diego and have since sold more than 12 million records worldwide. So that’s something.

As previously noted, you may have some can’t-miss dates of your own. That’s cool.

If not, you can pick from this list of dates – again not inclusive – to find something to fit your tastes this summer.

Note: This list contains no references to Rich Show, a.k.a. Violet. But if you see one somewhere, just go.

Just be happy we have a choice.

Cheers.

Ready to listen live? Here are tons of places ready to make that happen.

Levitt at the Falls

• There are 40 dates. The beauty of the Levitt is that you don’t have to know the group to have a good time. There’s something for everybody. Click here for the schedule.

Premier Center

• June 19 – Little Big Town.
• Aug. 14 – Summer Fest: Lil Durk, Pooh Shiesty and NLE Choppa

Washington Pavilion

• June 25 – Foreigner
• July 28 – Mo Pitney, Belbas Theater
• Aug. 15 – Air Supply

Bigs Bar

• June 25 – Kris Lager Band
• June 26 – Cryptic Wisdom X Jay Influential
• July 1 – Tantric
• July 9 – Sunny Sweeney
• July 16-17 – Slamdakota Death Fest 2021
• July 23 – Icyboi Ice Cold Summer
• July 28 – R.A. the Rugged Man: All My Heroes Are Dead Tour
• Sept. 3 – KING 810 with Johnny Apollo

The District

• July 11 – Tab Benoit
• July 30 – Old Crow Medicine Show
• Aug. 19 – P.O.D.  (Payable on Death)

Sioux River Folk Festival, Newton Hills State Park

• Aug. 6-8 – Full schedule, click here.

That Sounds Decent, 8th & Railroad Center

• Aug. 28 – TBD roster of acts with local flavor

The Alliance, formerly Badlands Pawn

• Aug. 6 – Eli Young Band
• Aug. 27 – Aaron Watson

Wiley’s Sixth Annual Block Party

• July 16 – Jordan Davis with s/g Trey Lewis

Icon Lounge

• July 8 – Carolina Story with Halverson

Wagon Wheel: A Celebration of Whisk(e)y and Wine at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds

• July 11 – Featuring Darius Rucker and special guest Gary Allan

Montrose Music Festival

• Aug. 27-29 – Lineup TBD