Exile and Juice Newton lead off July O.C. Tanner Summer Concert Series shows

The Independent

Picture this: It’s a warm summer evening. Stunning sandstone cliffs in rich hues of tan and red tower over you. The stars hang in the deep blue velvet sky overhead as lively music wafts around you, begging you to tap your foot along to the beat.

This is what summer dreams are made of, and thanks to Dixie State University’s O.C. Tanner Amphitheater Summer Concert Series, this dream can be your reality. All you need to do is bring pillows and blankets to make yourself comfortable. Then indulge in the amphitheater’s concessions and enjoy the variety of musical performances offered all summer long. Located at the gateway of Zion National Park at 350 W. Lion Blvd. in Springdale, the amphitheater’s gates open at 7:30 p.m., and shows begin at 8 p.m. each Saturday.

“We are so appreciative of the O.C. Tanner family’s support of Dixie State University and for the use of this absolutely beautiful venue,” said Brad Last, Dixie State University’s vice president of advancement, said. “There couldn’t possibly be a more perfect setting for this wonderful concert series than the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater.”

To kick off July, the Tanner Amphitheater Summer Concert Series moves to the M.K. Cox Performing Arts Center on the DSU campus for one night only. There, you can celebrate Independence Day with two legendary artists: Exile and Juice Newton.

Formed in 1963 in Richmond, Kentucky, Exile released the hit “Kiss You All Over” in 1978 and had their first taste of sitting on top of the Billboard charts. Then in 1983, their country single “Woke Up In Love” hit No. 1, which led the way for nine consecutive No. 1 singles. In all, the band has had three gold albums, 13 award nominations from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, and 11 No. 1 hits.

Integrating both pop and country-rock influences into her music, Newton, who has won Grammy, Country Music Association and Billboard awards, has had multiple albums go platinum and gold, has sold 10 million records, and has seen 15 songs become Top 10 hits. Newton became a household name in 1981 with the release of her hit songs “Angel of the Morning,” “Queen of Hearts” and “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known),” which reached No. 1.

The Exile and Juice Newton concert starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $35.

The following week, the series will return to the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater, where Incendio will delight audiences with instrumental music featuring classical, jazz, rock, flamenco, Celtic, and even bluegrass influences.

Formed in 1999 by Jim Stubblefield, Jean-Pierre Durand and Liza Carbé, Incendio’s music is rooted in Carbé’s Sicilian ancestry and flamenco and classical guitar training, Durand’s Peruvian heritage and fondness for rock-style theatrics, and Stubblefield’s European travels and neo-classical guitar mastery.

On July 18, local favorite Lawn Darts will take the Tanner stage to showcase their versions of rock classics along with a handful of original compositions.  Fronted by Travis Brown and the virtuoso guitar skills of Lisle Crowly, Lawn Darts will have you dancing in the aisles.

Explore the music and culture from far beyond the West on July 25, when the six-piece band Todo Mundo performs. Led by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Santiago Orozco, Todo Mundo blends the musical flavors of rumba and reggae with Spanish, Brazilian, Balkan, and Middle Eastern cultural influences to create upbeat and lively music. The band was recently featured in an NPR podcast as part of the Tiny Desk Concert Contest.

With the exception of the Exile and Juice Newton concert, general admission tickets for each concert are $15 for adults, $6 for youth, and $38 for families. To purchase tickets, call (435) 652-7800, visit www.dsutix.com, or stop by the ticket office in the M.K. Cox Performing Arts Center on the DSU campus. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are also available at the door, where only cash is accepted. Learn more about Dixie State University’s O.C. Tanner Amphitheater Summer Concert Series at www.dixie.edu/tanner.