By James Windell
The free Riverfront Concert Series returns for 10 Thursday nights of family-friendly music and kids activities beginning on Thursday June 25, 2026.
Sponsored by the City of South Haven and Foundry Hall, the 2026 Riverfront Concert Series kicks off with the Kevin McDaniel House Band playing classic oldies.
“Kevin McDaniel is our perennial favorite for classic rock,” says Lotte Resek about the opening act. Following the Kevin McDaniel House Band will be J R Clark, a Michigan‑based blues, soul, and rock musician who fronts the high‑energy J R Clark Band at the concert on July 2. The J R Clark Band has gained a reputation as a group known for powerhouse blues performances, strong musicianship, and collaborations with nationally recognized artists.
On July 9 Cabildo, a West Michigan–based alternative Latin rock collective known for blending rock, folk, cumbia, ska, punk, and other Latin‑American genres into high‑energy, dance‑driven performances, will perform.
DB Horns, a West Michigan brass band that plays pop, upbeat tunes, jazz standards, Dixieland, and gospel, returns to South Haven for the July 16 concert.
The Incantations, a compelling rock/folk‑rock group from Kalamazoo, performs on July 23. The group combines folk storytelling with rock energy, strong guitar work, and emotionally expressive vocals.
A somewhat unusual offering is in store for concert goers on July 30 as Pan de Monium, the Bloomingdale Steel Pan Camp Band, takes the outdoor stage. Pan de Monium is a youth steel‑drum ensemble from the Bloomingdale, Michigan area that performs publicly as part of community music events.
With no concert on August 6 because of South Haven’s Blueberry Fest, the Riverfront Concert Series returns on August 13 with Jared Knox and the Hagar Bombers. A southwest Michigan modern country band known for high‑energy 1990s‑style country, Jared Knox and the Hagar Bombers feature strong Southern vocals, and lively bar‑crowd shows,
A local favorite, the Casco Community Band, will play traditional and patriotic band music on August 20.
Closing out the series will be Desmond Jones on August 27. A five‑piece rock/funk/jam band from Grand Rapids, Desmond Jones puts on high‑energy shows with melodic guitar riffs, funky bass lines, groovy drum beats, and sax‑driven improvisation.
“We have a lot of highlights this year,” says Resek. “Cabildo is a really fun, high energy, alternative Latin rock band that played at our Riverfront Concert Series several years ago and it was a great show. The percussionist, Josh Dunigan, is bringing a bunch of extra Congas for people to play after the concert, too.”
She says that while the J R Clark Band is playing in the series for the first time, other favorites returning are DB Horns, Kevin McDaniel and Jared Knox. “Jared Knox is a local country favorite that hasn’t played for us in several years,” Resek adds.
Resek points out that all of the concerts start at 7:00 pm, but before every concert there will be kid-friendly pre-concert activities beginning at 6:00 pm. “For instance, Foundry Hall will have an instrument petting zoo before the first concert,” Resek says
All of the concerts will be on the lawn along the Black River at Riverfront Park, 345 Water Street, South Haven. Concert goers are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, the concerts will move to the Huron Street Pavilion in downtown South Haven.
For more information, visit foundryhall.org
