Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College announced the line-up of entertainment for the 2018 Hot Summer Nights Concert Series, a series of free concerts scheduled for the college’s outdoor-indoor amphitheater. The popular performances are open to the public and will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every Thursday evening for four weeks beginning on July 19 and concluding on August 9. All concerts will be held rain or shine under the dome of the college’s spectacular amphitheater.
“It’s hard to believe that this is our 20th summer we will have presented free concerts at the college” said Tom Urbanski, director of public information at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. “What started as a simple idea quickly became popular among area residents and visitors, many who keep coming back every summer to hear great music in a wonderful setting.”
The series opening act on July 19 is a crowd favorite from a few years ago, troubadour Tim Houlihan and his trio from Minneapolis. July 26 presents the innovative Celtic music of Lehto & Wright, featuring former Esko resident Steve Lehto. Week three of the series offers up Don Buck and Rock-a-Billy Revue on August 2. The final concert on August 9 brings an exciting new act to the series, Laura Lou DuSchane of the Twin Cities, an engaging performer with tremendous vocal style and personality on stage.
“We start receiving phone calls about the concert series around mid-May, and everyone tells us that they look forward to the concerts each summer and to please keep the music going,” said Urbanski. “That’s great feedback. It’s always fun and different music each week, and we carefully select high-quality performers who you don’t often hear or see in our area. People have said our concerts are like attending a mini-festival every Thursday evening in Cloquet.”
In addition to the Thursday evening concerts, the college will host one Monday evening concert by the Cloquet Community Band on Monday, August 6, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Each entertaining evening of music is designed for family fun and for people of all ages. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, or seat cushions to sit on. Beginning at approximately 6:15 p.m. each Thursday concert evening, the members of the new CEC Mountain Bike team will be grilling and selling tasty food items from the B&B Market including hamburgers and hot dogs as a fundraiser for their team activities.
Scheduled to appear during the Hot Summer Nights Concert Series 2018 are:
Thursday, July 19: Tim Houlihan
Opening night of the 2018 Hot Summer Nights Concerts Series features the return of engaging troubadour Tim Houlihan. Minneapolis-based Tim Houlihan is a singer-songwriter whose songs are carved from real life with articulate enthusiasm, strong grooves and sophisticated playing. Tim has traversed the United States and Europe and his performances draw listeners in through intimate stories and warm anecdotes. Tim’s library of Americana music continues to grow across a never-ending horizon of Midwestern attitudes and perspectives.
Thursday, July 26: Lehto & Wright
Former Esko resident Steve Lehto performs a rare local gig to showcase his outstanding guitar talent. As Lehto & Wright, the trio takes cues from Irish, English and American folk traditions and interprets them with contemporary, guitar-based arrangements. The result is a fresh approach to the world of Celtic music. Hear them use modern tools to achieve the effect of a six-piece band while using only three musicians.
Thursday, August 2: Rock-a-Billy Revue
This enduring group from Duluth is noted for providing popular hit music and crowd-pleasing fun. With the entertaining Don Buck leading the way, the show is full of surprises and good humor.
Thursday, August 9: Laura Lou DuSchane
Laura Lou is the breath of fresh air you didn’t realize you needed to take. With songs that focus on authenticity, presence, and timelessness, Laura Lou draws in the audience with her full-body vocals, tender ballads, and fun-driving folk-rock bangers. It’s fun music, and she’s great…her shows are a special experience music fans won’t want to miss. She recently released her first full-length album “ECHO” to critical acclaim.
Monday, August 6: Cloquet Community Band
Cloquet-area residents play classic Sousa marches, Broadway show tunes, and familiar concert band music.
The Hot Summer Nights Concert Series 2018 is sponsored by Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. For more information, call 218-879-0800.

Tim Houlihan

Lehto & Wright Trio

Laura Lou DuSchane

Rock-a-Billy Revue