Live music is an integral part of living the "Lake life" at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks. On any given day during the summer months, visitors can enjoy live music performed by local artists and big name acts at nearly all of the 200 restaurants and bars, as well as resorts and entertainment complexes at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation. And, two of the area's biggest outdoor venues host legendary recording artists during their summer concert series.
Shawnee Bluff Vineyard, located off Highway 54 at 8 Tolwood Road in Eldon, has for years hosted many nationally-acclaimed musical acts. The 2018 concert series at the sprawling 40-acre vineyard kicks off with
"Chicks with Hits," a concert featuring celebrated female country vocalists
Terri Clark, Pam Tillis and
Suzy Boggus on Saturday, May 12.
On Friday, June 1, Shawnee Bluff hosts an evening of alternative rock heavyweights from the 1990s. Gin Blossoms, who dominated the '90s air waves with their pop singles "'Til I hear It From You," "Hey Jealously," "Allison Road," and "Found Out About You," will be joined by Tonic and Vertical Horizon. In Addition, t he month of June sees several big-name country bands play the vineyard stage. Diamond Rio comes to the Lake of the Ozarks on Friday, June 8, followed by Steve Earle and The Dukes on Friday, June 22. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of his hit country-rock album "Copperhead Road," Earle and The Dukes will be playing the celebrated album in its entirety as well as many of his other hits. The Grammy-nominated Cam brings her brand of wildly successful pop country to Shawnee Bluff on Saturday, June 30.
The rest of the summer sees other successful country artists as well as legendary rock bands
Sara Evans plays on Saturday, July 7 and
Survivor, best known for their double-platinum hit "Eye of the Tiger," plays on Saturday, July 28. Half of country music's biggest hit making mother-daughter team of the '80s and '90s, the Judds,
Wynonna and The Big Noisewill entertain crowds at Shawnee Bluff on Saturday, Aug. 25. September sees
the Bellamy Brothers playing on Friday, Sept. 7 and the vocal talents of
the Oak Ridge Boyson full display on Friday, Sept. 28. The Shawnee Bluff Vineyard summer concert series concludes with the raucous rockabilly sounds of
Reverend Horton Heat on Saturday, Oct. 13.
playing the vineyard stage. Country Music Award-winning performer.
Nearly all shows are billed as being all-ages shows with doors opening at 5 p.m. Headliners take the stage at 8 p.m. during each concert, followed by professional fireworks displays at the close of the evening. Tickets for the shows range from $20 - $89 per person. For more details on the performers, or to order tickets, either call
573-365-1100 or visit
www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com/concerts.
Aside from these notable acts, Shawnee Bluff Vineyard also features local artists every Sunday throughout the summer and their second location, Shawnee Bluff Winery in Lake Ozark, features live music every weekend throughout the year. For more information on both locations - the Vineyard and the Winery - as well as a full events calendar, visit www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com.
The Lake of the Ozarks' largest outdoor venue, Ozarks Amphitheater , marks the beginning of its 2018 summer concert series Memorial Day weekend with one of the most popular and successful country bands of all time, Alabama , on Saturday, May 26. Alabama, who charted over 40 number-one hits in their hayday, is joined by Montgomery Gentry.
In June, the amphitheater, which is located at 2629 North Business Route 5 in Camdenton, hosts a weekend double-header starting with the humorous tunes of comedian and country artist Rodney Carrington on Friday, June 15. The next day, the Grammy-winning progressive heavy rock outfit Mastadon join the experimental funk-rock band Primus on Saturday, June 16.
July sees Jamey Johnson, the 11-time Grammy nominated torch-bearer of current outlaw country, and Craig Campbell play on Friday, July 6. Fans of the late Tom Petty will enjoy Free Fallin: A Tribute to Tom Petty on Friday, July 20, complete with costume changes and accurate replications of Petty's biggest hits.
On Saturday, Aug. 11, two celebrated groups come to the Lake with performances by alternative
Big Head Todd and the Monsters and the latin-infused rock and roll sounds of
Los Lobos.
rock band
For Labor Day Weekend, Ozarks Amphitheater welcomes back the Grammy-nominated, multi-plantinum recording artistAaron Lewis on Saturay, Sept. 1. To close out the summer concert series, Get the Led Out, hailed as the "American Led Zeppelin," brings the British rockers hits to life with their musically-precise two-hour set on Saturday, Sept. 22.
For most shows at the amphitheater, doors open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. Depending on the artist, tickets for each show run from $20 per person up to $600 for VIP seating for four.
For more information on the Ozarks Amphitheater, or to order tickets for the upcoming concert series, please call 573-346-0000 or visit www.OzarksAmp.com .
Of course, the previously mentioned concerts are not the only opportunities to see live music at the Lake of the Ozarks this summer. In addition to events taking place at the different restaurants, bars, resorts and entertainment complexes, Main Street Music Hall, 5845 Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach, has been entertaining audiences for over 20 years with their different musical programs. The Music Hall's shows take place from late April through December and include the Best of Main Street Opry variety show as well as the Reelin' in the Years revue that includes hits from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Details on the Main Street Music Hall can be found at www.LakeMusicHall.com or by calling 573-348-9500.
For more live music taking place around the Lake this summer, visitors should head to the event calendar at
www.FunLake.com or check the websites or Facebook pages of their favorite restaurants, bars and other venues.
To get additional information about all the fun events,
attractions as well as dining and lodging options available at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the nation, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB) at 800-FUN-LAKE, or visit the CVB's award-winning website at www.FunLake.com .
Leading up to the main event, there are several Lake Race festivities, including the "Festival of Speed" on Thursday, May 31. The Festival of Speed takes place at Big Thunder Marine Showroom, 3401 Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark, and features both indoor and outdoor exhibits of many models, shapes and sizes of fast boats. The Festival of Speed runs from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.
On Friday, June 1, the lower area of the historic Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark, from west end of the "Strip" to the dam, will shut down to traffic and transform into the Lake Race headquarters. There will be a Lake Race Street Party at 5 p.m., complete with a family-friendly race "village" where the public can meet the racers and check out all the impressive power boats.
