Past concerts at Riverfront Park. Photos courtesy of HU Presents.
Few sensations pair better than a gentle summer breeze from the Susquehanna River and hearing the opening chords of a live song from one of your favorite bands.
Starting this month, live music fans again will get to have this experience as the Harrisburg University (HU) Presents Summer Series brings an eclectic mix of prominent musicians to the area.
The series will feature at least five concerts, including R&B legends The Roots, indie rock band Mt. Joy, Phish legend Trey Anastasio and indie folk band The Head and the Heart.
Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit return to the stage at Riverfront Park on July 26, opening the series. The band, currently on tour supporting the June release of the outfit’s sixth LP, “Weathervanes,” last performed in the capital region in August 2021.
Frontman Isbell, formerly part of the rock band Drive-By Truckers, has carved out a unique place for himself as one of the most celebrated talents in the singer-songwriter community, bringing a handcrafted touch to mesmerizing melodies and lyrics that may linger with you long after you’ve hit “repeat” on your playlists a few dozen times.
“Jason Isbell—I think he’s iconic,” said Frank Schofield, HU’s director of live entertainment and media services. “He really speaks to the integrity and fabric and the cloth that we try to drive for at Harrisburg University.”
The Summer Series at Riverfront Park, now in its fifth year, has drawn audiences of 4,000 to 5,000 music lovers to the waterfront for shows that have featured bands like Lord Huron, Cage the Elephant and The National, among others.
“We’re very confident of the capacity that we’ve set forth to have fun shows in a safe environment,” Schofield said, before adding jokingly, “We don’t charge the pontoon boats. They come in kayaks, too.”
John Harris, the talent buyer for XL Live and head of production management for the HU Presents concert series, echoed the excitement of bringing acts to the riverfront that generally play to much larger crowds.
“There’s this thing in the music industry we refer to as an ‘underplay,’” Harris said. “The band is big, and they shouldn’t be playing our small venue. So, when we get an underplay, it’s very exciting. We’re starting to attract that type of thing, and we’re building a reputation in this market.”
Harris added that HU has an advantage with having both the indoor XL Live and the outdoor Riverfront Park venues.
“Once an artist plays the venue, they might be inclined to come back,” Harris said. “Look at Jason Isbell and The Roots — they had a good experience, and so did we.”
Comes Together
The benefits of the concert series stretch far beyond the enthusiastic crowd, too.
The six shows together have an economic impact on the region of some $3.75 million, according to the Visit Hershey Harrisburg Economic Impact Calculator.
Partnerships with governmental entities, with artist agencies and with area companies and organizations are something else that the HU team is proud of, Schofield said.
“We’re very proud of the different teams that are organized underneath the Riverfront series, because there’s a backstage team, a front of house team… food trucks, sponsors,” he said, counting PSECU and Tröegs among the new partners. “We’re deeply indebted to Dauphin County and the others that continue to believe in our safe and reliable shows for a great night of fun in the city.”
Harris provided a greater level of detail about what goes into making each show come together.
“For every person on stage, there’s 15 to 20 people involved,” he said.
On the production side, he’s more focused on what’s happening on the sidelines, comparing the process to being a little like “Groundhog Day” for crews managing the stage, the sound, the catering, and the power, for what can sometimes amount to an 18-hour day.
“I look forward to the challenges of the bigger shows,” Harris said. “It’s beautiful when it all comes together.”
For more information and tickets for the HU Presents Summer Series, visit HUPresents.live.
Listen Up
The HU Summer Series features at least five concerts this year:
- Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Wednesday, July 26
- The Roots, Saturday, July 29
- The Head And The Heart, Saturday, Aug. 26
- Mt. Joy, Saturday, Sept. 16
- Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB, Sunday, Sept. 17
All shows to be held in Riverfront Park.
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