The popular downtown summer concert series Party in the Park has returned for its 22nd season with another strong and diverse lineup.

Officials from Rochester Events! — the same organization that puts on the Lilac Festival, Park Avenue Festival, Midtown Eats, and the new Live at MLK summer concert series, announced this year's lineup in April:

June 6 — Zac Brown Tribute Band, with Springer (modern rock tribute), and JUMBOshrimp

June 13 — Toots and the Maytals, with Majestics, and Noble Vibes

June 20 — Samantha Fish, with Start Making Sense (Talking Heads tribute), and Steve Grills & the Roadmasters

(This show has been moved indoors due to rain. It will take place at Anthology, located at 336 East Avenue in Rochester.)

June 27 — Twiddle, with Andy Frasco & the U.N., and Teagan and the Tweeds

July 11 — Lettuce, with Medicinals, and Jack West

July 18 — Almost Queen (Queen tribute)

July 25 — WAR, with Groupo Next Level

August 1 — Aqueous, with Adam Ezra, and Root Shock

August 8 — Galactic, with Haley Jane & the Primates

Party in the Park features opening and supporting acts each year, often on both the main stage and in the fountain bowl below at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square in downtown Rochester.

New this year, Party in the Park will include two special celebrations  — Hometown Night (featuring Zac Brown Tribute Band, with Springer) in partnership with Champion Athleticwear, celebrating the company’s 100-year anniversary, and a Pride in the Park Night with the Out Alliance during Pride Week (feautring Almost Queen).

“These summer concerts are important because they build on Rochester’s great reputation for live music and the arts. And that reputation isn’t just local — it’s international,” said Mayor Lovely Warren in a press release. “Now, with these new partnerships, we can make Party in the Park even better. Live music with world-class talent is part of what makes this city a great place to live, work and play.”

Party in the Park takes place every Thursday from early June into August. General admission is $7, up from $5 last year, and children 12 and under are free. VIP options are available as well, starting at $35 and season pass prices start at just $49. Tickets are available now online.

Come for the music, but stay for the food, drinks, and shopping. Party in the Park features rotating food trucks, local craft beer selections, and many art vendors. In 2018, the event debuted the Bazaar in the Park, a weekly collective of emerging designers, vintage collectors, and artisanal products all under one roof, creating a community around art, crafts, fashion and discovery.

Band Bios

ZBTB — ZBTB was founded in Rochester and as the intials imply, is the nation's premiere Zac Brown Tribute Band. Not only do they capture the sound and creativity of the Zac Brown Band, but they bring a similar atmosphere of family-friendliness to their shows while engaging the audience in a way that is all their own. 

Toots and the Maytals — Toots is one of the true architects of reggae – so much so that “Do the Reggae,” a 1968 single by Toots and his group, the Maytals, is credited with giving the genre its name. At the heart of their sound is Toots' voice, drenched in soul, rooted in gospel, and still breathtakingly powerful after almost four decades in the spotlight.

Samantha Fish — Since launching her career a decade ago, Samantha Fish has established herself as a rising star in the contemporary blues world. With her charismatic songwriting, she’s earned a reputation as a rising guitar hero and powerful live performer. With her wide range of solo and rhythm ability she displays imagination and creativity that delights fans of classic blues.

Twiddle — An American rock-jam band that utilizes extensive instrumental improvisation in their live performances, giving fans the feeling that there always seeing something special for the first time. They incorporate a wide variety of musical genres, including rock, jazz, bluegrass, reggae, and funk. They were formed in Vermont in 2004, and have since toured across the nation, inspiring fans to dance the night away.

Lettuce — Known for their incendiary live shows, extensive touring, die-hard fan base, and extensive recording collection after a two-decade career, Lettuce has brought a modern touch to classic funk by matching smooth and soulful grooves with a hip-hop inspired urgency. Their avant-garde funk-fusion engages audiences with quiet, reflective moments in one instant, and awe-inspiring dance-fueled rage the next. Lilac Festival fans will recall their memorable 2017 performance, so let us enjoy Lettuce once again!

Almost Queen — Almost Queen returns to PITP after 2018’s electrifying performance at the same event. They claim to be the most authentic Queen live show since the days of Queen themselves, and if you’ve seen them peform, you’d probably agree with that sentiment. The four-piece ban utilizes four-part harmonies and genuine costumes while captivating the live energy and atmosphere that is the ultimate Queen experience.

WAR — An American original, WAR has sold nearly 50 million records to date. A permanent part of America’s pop culture landscape, and a touring act that performs approximately 150 shows per year, they broke boundaries by fusing rock, jazz, latin and R&B while transcending racial and cultural barriers with a diverse ethnic lineup. Don’t miss this chance to catch living legends in action!

Aqueous — Aqueous returns to Party in the Park after an electrifying performance at the same event in 2017. After forming in Buffalo in 2006, Aqueous has earned a reputation as one of the most dynamic improvisational rock acts in the country. In fact, they recently performed an all-improv set in Rochester at Anthology on March 15, a first for the band. Whether they’re selling out smaller clubs across upstate New York, or headlining festivals in front of thousands across the country, Aqueous brings an exciting and unique approach every single time they take the stage.

Galactic — An American jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, Galactic puts the “fun” in “funk.” By fusing traditional New Orleans instrumentals with modern techniques and tones, Galactic has established themselves as one of the premiere touring fusion bands in the nation. Their recently-released album “Already Ready Already,” is a short, sharp blast of creative muscle and their live performances take those recorded tracks and turn them into memories.

Here is a map that shows gate entry areas into the venue as well as nearby parking options:

Check back with Spectrum News as we'll continue to update this page as the rest of the Party in the Park lineup gets announced.