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This summer's Red Butte Garden outdoor concert series promises everything under the sun, or stars, with 29 shows that cover rock, pop, blues, country, R&B and jazz.
"We don't feel like we want to be just one thing," said Chris Mautz, the Red Butte staffer who arranges the concert series.
The series kicks off June 3 with folk and country legend Emmylou Harris — and concludes Sept. 14 with emo-rock singer-songwriter Conor Oberst, aka Bright Eyes.
In between, the lineup — which was announced Tuesday morning — includes such classic artists as Santana, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Toto, and Earth Wind & Fire. There also are some new acts, such as pompadour-wearing R&B singer Janelle Monáe and hot pop band Fitz and the Tantrums.
Some acts are Red Butte regulars, such as folk-rock singer Brandi Carlile (performing for her fifth consecutive year) and alt-country singer Lyle Lovett. Others, Mautz said, are returning in new configurations. For example, bluesman Robert Cray and R&B/gospel legend Mavis Staples, who each have appeared separately at Red Butte, will co-headline a show June 20. Meanwhile, piano-rock musician Bruce Hornsby returns July 21 to share the bill with a Red Butte newcomer, jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and his Unity Group.
Mautz said the Red Butte planners don't start with a checklist of musical genres. "It happens a bit more organically, and less formulaic," he said.
Past success has given the programmers the confidence to push the envelope, Mautz said, mixing in unfamiliar names with the tried-and-true.
"The garden is such a unique place to come see a show," Mautz said. "Folks really trust the programming we put together. People are willing to take a chance on something they haven't heard of before."
Red Butte concertgoers this year will have to trust in the venue's new ticketing system. After the internal ticketing software crashed last year on the first day of ticket sales, Red Butte officials enlisted an external system, Ticketfly, to handle online sales.
Red Butte members can buy tickets online starting at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 28. Members can buy tickets in person at Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29.
Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 5 — though some shows are likely to be sold out by then.
outdoor concert series">Red Butte Garden must do so before 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, to be eligible for first-day ticket sales.
For ticket details, go to redbuttegarden.org.
Who's playing at the Garden?
Here is the complete lineup for Red Butte Garden's 2014 summer concert series, with ticket prices for members and nonmembers:
Tuesday, June 3 • Emmylou Harris, folk/country legend; $42/$47
Sunday, June 8 • Janelle Monáe, R&B/soul musician; $57/$62
Tuesday, June 17 • Jason Isbell, country/rock singer-songwriter; opening act: The Lone Bellow; $30/$35
Friday, June 20 • The Robert Cray Band, blues, and Mavis Staples, R&B/gospel singer (co-headlining); $35/$40
Tuesday, June 24 • Natalie Cole, pop/jazz singer; $42/$47
Sunday, June 29 • Gavin DeGraw and Matt Nathanson, singer-songwriters (co-headlining); opening act: Mary Lambert; $45/$50
Monday, June 30 • Fitz and the Tantrums, pop/soul band; opening acts: Max Frost, Holy Child; $30/$35
Tuesday, July 1 • Sarah McLachlan, singer-songwriter; $60/$65
Wednesday, July 9 • The Avett Brothers, folk-rock band; $47/$52
Thursday, July 10 • Bob Weir & Ratdog, jam-rock band; $50/$55
Monday, July 21 • Pat Metheny Unity Group, jazz, and Bruce Hornsby, pop/jazz musician (co-headlining); $42/$47
Tuesday, July 22 • Tedeschi Trucks Band, blues-rock group; $45/$50
Friday, July 25 • Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, alt-country group; $57/$62
Sunday, July 27 • Gary Clark Jr., rock/R&B/soul musician; $37/$42
Monday, July 28 • Amos Lee, folk/rock singer-songwriter; $37/$42
Tuesday, July 29 • Santana, guitar-rock legend; $95/$100
Sunday, Aug. 3 • John Hiatt & The Combo, rock/folk band, and Taj Mahal Trio, blues band (co-headlining); $37/$42
Tuesday, Aug. 5 • Chris Isaak, rock crooner; $49/$54
Wednesday, Aug. 6 • John Butler Trio, roots-rock band; $35/$40
Friday, Aug. 8 • Ray LaMontagne folk singer-songwriter; opening act: The Belle Brigade; $47/$52
Sunday, Aug. 10 • Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, jazz/funk band, and Galactic, jazz/funk jam band (co-headlining); $38/$43
Tuesday, Aug. 12 • Michael McDonald, pop crooner, and Toto, '80s pop/rock band (co-headlining); $57/$62
Thursday, Aug. 14 • Sheryl Crow, folk/rock singer-songwriter; $69/$74
Tuesday, Aug. 19 • Portugal. The Man, psychedelic-rock band, and Grouplove, alt-rock dance band (co-headlining); $35/$40
Monday, Aug. 21 • David Gray, English singer-songwriter; $48/$53
Sunday, Aug. 24 • Brandi Carlile, alt-country/folk singer-songwriter; $39/$44
Friday, Aug. 29 • Earth Wind & Fire, legendary funk/soul band; $60/$65
Thursday, Sept. 11 • Ben Harper, folk/rock singer-songwriter (acoustic set); $48/$53
Sunday, Sept. 14 • Conor Oberst, emo-rock singer-songwriter; $35/$40