Hear that? Find out where to find free live music this summer

New sounds will be echoing out of local parks and plazas almost anywhere you go in St. Clair County this summer.

Whether they’re weekly concerts in the park or weekend entertainment in town centers, nearly every municipality along the St. Clair River has something lined up for the season — with many of them kicking off this weekend. And they're all free and open to the public.

The longest roster and biggest variety of acts are likely in St. Clair and Port Huron, while weekly events are also scheduled in Marysville, Marine City, and Algonac and Clay Township.

Here are the highlights.

Rockin' the Plaza in St. Clair

The bands and acts scheduled to appear at Riverview Plaza every week are promoted through the St. Clair Chamber of Commerce.

But since the effort began three years ago, St. Clair County Board Chairman Jeff Bohm has spearheaded fundraising among sponsors and booking who performs.

Live music began Friday at the plaza with Los Gringos and was to continue with Alter Ego on Saturday, Planet of Fun on Sunday, and Blue Blaze on Memorial Day this Monday. Each set begins at 7 p.m.

As the summer wears on, Bohm said the lineup would shift days slightly and in the kinds of acts that are booked through September.

On Thursdays in June, the plaza will play host to DJs, while Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays will have other live entertainment. In July, DJs will be on Wednesday with other acts set from Thursday to Sunday. The week of July 4, which is a Tuesday, something is booked every day.

“We’re constantly tweaking, and actually, I’m going to do something this year starting June 23 and go to Labor Day,” Bohm said. “There’s a fishing pier on the north wall of the harbor. We’re going to be putting acoustic acts Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the intent that when boats pull in, they’re going to see live entertainment playing.”

He was referring to Rotary Park off Clinton Avenue and the Pine River just outside of St. Clair’s downtown.

“The focus the last couple of years has been on the mall, the center courtyard. And we’re trying to do some entertainment in other parts of the community,” Bohm added. “When I went to Nashville last year, I kind of got inspired.”

This summer marked the fourth season for Rockin’ the Plaza, and this year, he said they were cutting back a little on the number of shows planned, though he admitted that could change.

“We were doing two shows on Saturday, two shows on Sunday (in 2022). There’s a good chance we will add more music,” Bohm said Thursday. “Right now, I’m probably at about 110 shows booked for the summer with the potential to add some more.”

For more on St. Clair’s plaza lineup and new music as it’s added, visit www.stclairontheriver.com/calendar-of-events.

McMorran Plaza and around Port Huron

August is known for the city of Port Huron’s Rockin’ the Rivers concert series for a few Thursdays each summer. But residents and visitors will get plenty of other opportunities to catch live music at outdoor venues around town.

The Lake Bonisteel Music Association is promoting live entertainment from several acts at the free LBMA Fest from noon to 8 p.m. June 24 at Pine Grove Park. Meanwhile, another event — dubbed on social media the Undertow Music Festival — is advertising several locations with free entertainment on July 14 with any proceeds going toward the Blue Water Music Awards and Seed and Soul Society. More information on each can be found on Facebook.

Weekly entertainment is lined up at McMorran Plaza, as the city is marking the start of its second season downtown.

For Memorial Day weekend, there were acts lined up for Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. at Casey’s Bar, which is located on the plaza. The bigger summer concert series — featuring acts from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays — are set to start June 2 with acts on the main stage, as well as at Casey’s and the adjacent beer garden.

Dion Turner was set for Casey’s Saturday, while Hynde Sight and Garret Veal were set for the main stage June 2 and 3.

“Battle of the bands is one of the new things, so that’s going to be featuring (the) Gobies, Los Gringos,” said Jesse Sheldon, marketing specialist for McMorran, said referring to the June 17 event, which will also include Blue Blaze and Big Pappa and the Machine.

“Everything was quite a bit of a test (in 2022),” he added. “And this year, we have a much better grasp on what we want of the plaza and what the plaza means and then taking it to the next level. That’s why we’re doing newer events like battle of the bands, bringing just larger events that have done well in other areas and stepping up our game plan.”

The full list of events for the plaza — notably including Boat Week entertainment in July — can be found at www.mcmorran.com/plaza.

Elsewhere in St. Clair County

Music events are also set in other waterfront communities as follows this summer:

• Algonac-Clay Music in the Parks from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays with acts at Algonac Riverfront Park in June and July 6 and at Clay Township Park from July 13 to Aug. 10
• Harsens “Island Style” Music in the Park at Browne’s Field with Classic Maniacs set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. June 2, Bad Mojo from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 28, Randy and 3 from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 5, and On the Rockz from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 16
• Ira Township Music in the Park from 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays, June 16, July 14, and Aug. 11, with performances from the Fabulous Henhouse Boys, featuring Jimmy DeHeno, On the Border, and Gopher Broke, respectively
• Marine City Music in the Park from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday from June 13 through Aug. 29 at Drake Park
• Marysville Concerts in the Park from 7 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday from June 21 to Aug. 9 at the city park’s bandshell

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.