America's Largest Free Outdoor Concert Series Is Back
This summer, the power of free, live music to strengthen the social fabric of our communities is on radiant display, with more than 400+ free Levitt concerts across the country. These shows bring people together of all ages and backgrounds in beautiful green settings for the shared experience of free music under the stars. Levitt Pavilions, the national nonprofit behind America's largest free outdoor concert series, has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants in 2015, in partnership with the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, to support free concerts in 16 towns and cities. These include six signature Levitt locations with permanent, state-of-the-art outdoor music venues, and 10 Levitt AMP sites that were selected following a grant competition with online public voting.
Levitt Pavilion comes of age
By Preston Jones
Thursday, May. 28, 2015
Live music is an integral part of life in Texas.
Nearly everywhere you go, whether it’s a bar with your buddies or a restaurant with your family, there’s probably a singer-songwriter performing covers or original material.
Not to mention the surfeit of clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums — indoors and out — where music can be heard year-round.
Yet most of these concerts are happening in Fort Worth or Dallas, leaving Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys and the thrill rides at Six Flags, as something of a musical afterthought.
Houston's The Suffers play in Levitt Arlington
The Suffers redefine the sound of Gulf Coast Soul, intertwining elements of classic American soul with rock ‘n’ roll. The 10-piece ensemble packs its rhythm and horn sections with a level of talent that provides the perfect foundation for singer Kam Franklin’s massive voice. The band exudes sincerity and emotion to attract an audience so broad, they may prove to be the needed panacea for a jaded, stratified live music scene. In the short time they have been together, The Suffers have progressed from packing local Houston venues to accepting invitations for main stage performances at the 20th Annual Austin Reggae Festival, Houston’s Free Press Summer Festival and Paste magazine’s Untapped Festival, where they shared the stage with The Wailers, Mavis Staples, Alabama Shakes, The Walkmen and Cat Power. The Suffers have earned four Houston Press Music Awards in two years and last year were listed among the top musical acts to watch by the Houston Press and Houston Chronicle. They’ve been working on a full-length album planned for release this year.
Willow Waterhole an oasis of trails - and movie screen
A much bigger project is a future outdoor pavilion that would seat 5,000 on a 3-acre lawn and offer 50 free concerts annually. Willow Waterhole was chosen in 2013 to house the nation's eighth Levitt Pavilion, joining Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; and Arlington, among others.
Levitt Pavilions is a national nonprofit organization that advocates revitalizing communities and public spaces through music. Funds are being raised for the $5 million project, which Sacks hopes will open by 2018.
"The Levitt is a dream come true for Houston," said Sacks, chairman of the Friends of Levitt Pavilion Houston. "There is every opportunity for every kind of entertainment to use the pavilion."
Signature park status sought for Waterhole
Construction is under way on the fourth pond, and proponents are lobbying Harris County officials to fund the final two next year, well ahead of the planned 2017 opening of the nation's eighth nonprofit Levitt Pavilion. Headed by Howard Sacks, a former conservancy president, the Friends of Levitt Pavilion Houston is raising $10 million to build an outdoor music venue for staging free concerts.
Community leaders' input sought in branding campaign
The campaign will reach its intended national audience next year, said Cari Broderson, GHP's vice president of marketing. For now, she is sharing details and getting input locally.
Last week, she was met with enthusiasm and advice from Brays Oaks area leaders at a community breakfast.
"I'm all for the organizations in our community having a bigger representation within the city," said Marcy Williams, president of the Brays Oaks Super Neighborhood 36.
Williams ticked off multiple improvements taking place in the community, such as the Levitt Pavilion proposed for the 290-acre Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve, plans for a new HCC Southwest campus along West Bellfort Avenue and Riceville School Road and coming improvements related to Houston Baptist University's new stadium.
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Community laying foundation for Levitt Pavilion Houston
Southwest Houston residents are rolling up their sleeves to seat a board of directors and launch a $10 million capital campaign to build the nation’s eighth Levitt Pavilion at the 280-acre Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve.
The Levitt model sets up a public-private partnership between the newly-formed Friends of Levitt Pavilion Houston, the city of Houston and the nonprofit Levitt Pavilions/Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation to build and maintain a state-of-the-art outdoor music venue that will annually stage 50 concerts free to the public. Local leaders are hoping it can open as early as 2017.
Levitt Pavilion Coming to the Willow Waterhole
After a stellar sales pitch on behalf of the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy, Council Member Green, the Brays Oaks Management District, and the City of Houston Parks Dept., the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation and the Levitt Pavilions announced a commitment to develop a Levitt Pavilion within the Willow Waterhole Detention Basins.
The Levitt Program brings communities together through the experience of music. The pavilion is a catalyst for professional concerts, which are free to the public, to revitalize underused parks and public spaces and provide a place for neighborhoods to connect. Thus, the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation and the Levitt Pavilions chose the Willow Waterhole as an ideal site for a Levitt Pavilion where families, neighbors, and all age groups and backgrounds will gather to enjoy "music under the stars."
Levitt Pavilions:Transforming America’s Cities Thru Music
Bi-Monthly Breakfast – BOMD & SW Houston 2000
Guest Speaker: Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director – Levitt Pavilions
Learn about Levitt Pavilions
Come listen to Sharon tell how Levitt Pavilions provide support to cities to turn underutlized public spaces into welcoming community desitnations. We welcome you to join us to learn more about the local effort to bring a Levitt Pavilion to our city. Breakfast Invite (PDF)
Music and a Sustainable Future to Shine at Levitt Pavilion Houston
Eighth Levitt venue to open in 2017
Levitt’s vision for an America filled with thriving public spaces is one step closer to reality with recently announced plans to bring the Levitt program to Houston!
Houstonians will soon have a unique place in their city to experience free music under the stars. Levitt Pavilion Houston will be the first Levitt venue on a site dedicated to natural resource conservation. The new music venue will be part of the city’s 280-acre Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve, a public park that provides needed flood relief, offers recreational amenities and, with the establishment of the Levitt program, will provide free access to the performing arts for all.