Don't know about you but I'm ready for summer and kickin' back at Pespi Amphitheater, soaking up free live music during 8 Great Tuesdays.
With that in mind, the lineup is nearly complete. Once again, several national acts will be part of the mix, including Big Brother and the Holding Company for the final concert on Aug. 28.
The series will begin with a pretty good trifectaa on July 10: Big Leg Emma, Yankee Zydeco Company, and Tiger Maple String Band.
Bluesy band Ana Popovic Band pops in on July 17, followed by Devon Allman's Honeytribe on July 24. Devon is the son of Gregg Allman.
Look for Dave Stevens Big Band on July 31; Jake's Blues on Aug. 14; Louisiana great Tab Benoit on Aug. 21. The artist for Aug. 7 is yet to be announced.

CelebrateErie hasn't released any info yet but Pollstar lists an Aug. 18 date for the Bacon Brothers, the rock band fronted by actor Kevin Bacon. He'd draw a crowd, if indeed he's booked.

Better late than never: Buffalo's Thursday on the Square finally released its schedule today. The free summer concert series draws thousands of fans, including many from Erie who appreciate high-quality bands playing outside for free. That said, this year's lineup looks especially strong.

The series kicks off with Umphrey's McGee on May 31, followed by Son Volt on June 7 and Augustana on June 14.
Also on the bill: Violent Femmes (June 21); Joan Osborne (June 28); Sam Roberts Band (July 5); moe (July 12); Nickel Creek (July 19); Old 97s (July 26); John Butler Trio (Aug. 2); Keller Williams (Aug. 9); reunited Soul Asylum (Aug. 16); North Mississippi All Stars (Aug. 23); Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Aug. 30); Romantics (Sept. 6); Anders Osborne (Sept. 13); and Dropkick Murphys (Sept. 20).

Congratulations to Ron "Preach" Williams, who just got the thumbs-up call from Rusted Root. He'll join the Pittsburgh band as a percussionist for its summer tour. Preach's first date with the Root will be May 25 (with Jimiller Band opening) at Cleveland's Time Warner Cable Amphitheater.
He plans to still honor dates for several One World Tribe shows that fit in with Rusted Root's schedule.
"I'm happy, man," said Preach. "I had a good time playing with them, a good time vibing with them. It didn't feel like an audition; we were just jamming."
He'll visit Colorado and California, among other states, during Rusted Root's summer tour.

Don't look now but Vince Neil of Motley Crue lists an Erie concert for July 12 on his web site. That's a Thursday. Putting two and two together -- this is me, just speculating -- that suggests the show is likely a free Downtown Block party event, sponsored by the Cellbock.

After nearly snaring -- but missing out on -- a Bob Dylan concert for Jerry Uht Park last year, Mandalay Entertainment has landed a date on the Rock n Roll Triple Play Ballpark Tour.
This event features three big-time rock bands -- Counting Crows, Live, and Collective Soul. They'll team up on July 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Jerry Uht Park.
Tickets will be $49.50 each and go on sale June 2 at the Erie SeaWolves' box office, by phone at (800) 456-1304, and online at www.seawolves.com. They will not be available through Ticketmaster.
In a nod to families, an adult ticket holder can bring one child 12 and under into the concert for free.
Capacity for the concert should be more than 7,500, said John Frey, the SeaWolves' general manager. If it's a brilliant summer night, this show could reach that because it's pretty strong lineup.
All three groups were huge at one point; all three have enjoyed plenty of smash hits over the years -- "Mr. Jones," "Hangin' Around," Accidentally in Love," "A Long December" (Counting Crows); "Lightning Crashes," "Selling the Drama," "All Over You," "I Alone" (Live); and
"Shine," "Run," "World I Know," "December" (Collective Soul).
Put 'em all together and that should make for a pretty satisfying rock and roll night.
All three bands have played Erie before: Live was last here in May 2000; Collective Soul (with Train opening up) played the Warner in June 1999; and Counting Crows performed at the Warner in April 2003.
All seats will be general admission for the show, including on the field.
Presales for tickets start on May 29 at CountingCrows.com. The site also gives a full listing of tour dates. Tickets also will be sold June 2 at FriendsofLive.com.
SeaWolves season ticket holders will have an opportunity to purchase tickets before June 2, said Frey.
Frey added that concert will be the first at the Uht since 1999 when Jessica Simpson and 98 Degrees played in Erie.
The Rock n Roll Triple Play Ballpark tour will include 23 of America's minor league parks, beginning July 22 in Wilmington, De., at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, home of the Blue Rocks.
Adam Duritz of Counting Crows told Billboard magazine on Friday why he's excited about a tour of minor-league parks in smaller cities.

"I grew up in a college town and I've always loved those kinds of places," Duritz told Billboard. "That's why Counting Crows has always done so many tours outside the big cities. I'm definitely a city boy myself. Hell, I live in New York City. But this is a big country and, as much as I love a city, too many bands forget that there's a hell of a lot of America out there that's not New York or Chicago or L.A."

Live Nation in Cleveland sent late word Friday about several big new concerts, while Pittsburgh has confirmed Korn's Family Values' date.

In Cleveland, diva Beyonce -- with special guest Robin Thicke -- will perform Aug. 19 at Quicken Loans Arena. Tickets will go on sale June 2 at noon, priced at $59.75 to $89.75.

Also, country superstars Rascal Flatts and Jason Aldean team up at Quicken Loands on July 21. Those tickets ($67) go on sale June 2 at 10 a.m.

Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City will host a couple big multiple-headliner shows. Marilyn Manson & Slayer team up on July 31. Tickets, $47, go on sale June 1 at 10 a.m.
Also, Hinder, Papa Roach and Buckcherry will play on Aug. 24. Those tickets are $29.50 advance, on sale June 1.

Sheryl Crow plays the Plain Dealer Pavilion on July 31. Reserved ticket are $56 and $46, while general admission is $35. Also, Aly and A.J., with guests Corbin Bleu, Drake Bell, and Bianca Ryan, play the pavilion on Aug. 29. Reserved tickets are $45 and $35, while general admission is $20.
Ticket for both shows go on sale June 1 at 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Family Values Tour with Korn, Evanescence, Atryeu, Flyleaf, Trivium, and Hellyah will play Post-Gazette Pavilion on Aug. 4. Lawn seats are just $9.99 -- now there's a good deal. Reserved tickes are $59.50 and $29.50. They will go on sale June 2 at noon at Ticketmaster.

The music lineup has slightly changed for the 17th Wild Rib Cook Off and Music Festival which kicks off Wednesday in downtown Erie.
Kurt Nova as Elvis will now play Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. instead of Friday. Also, the Jazz Erie All-Stars will no longer play on Saturday.

Otherwise, the lineup remains firm, including Thursday's much anticipated Big Leg Emma show. For Friday's bike night, Shadows Force will headline, playing classic and Southern rock. Also, Saturday will kick off the Erie Summer Long Jazz Festival with performances by Charles Ventreloo Quintet, blues and jazz with JK Quintet, and the Gem City Jazz Ensemble.

For Wednesday's opening day, the music lineup includes Next of Kin, Familiar Spirit, and Alysa Balduf. Thursday will also feature young jazz-rock band Tri This, plus -- for the lunch crowd -- a special performance by former Big Leg Emma member Kev Rowe.

Eight ribbers will participate, including last year's champ Pig Foot BBQ Company and previous winner Sgt. Oink's. Three new teams also join the lineup. The new KidZone will feature a 27-foot high Shark Slide, plus a trackless train, along with other fun stuff. On Wednesday and Thursdays, kids can get a Ride-a-Ribba Ramma pass for $10 that lets them climb and play, all day long.

Visitors this year will also voted on a People's Choice Award winner for Best Rib -- the first time that award will be given out in several years. You can find your ballot at the Moore Research Tent.

Also, the schedule is set for this summer's series of downtown block parties, sponsored by Erie Downtown. At least two national acts will likely play -- Motley Crue's Vince Neil and former Warrant singer Jani Lane.

The free outdoor shows kick off with Leave No Trace, Matty B and the Dirty Pickles, and Next of Kin on June 7 in front of Docksider, Nicky's Pub, and Papa George's.

After that, look for the return of Allman Brothers' tribute Midnight Riders with Jimmy 13 on June 14 for Calamari's and Papermoon night.

On June 21, the Boardwalk hosts a party -- presumably headlined by Lane, who lists Erie and the Boardwalk on his web site for that date.
Similarly, Neil's web site lists Erie for July 12 -- the day of the Cellblock's block party.
Other shows include Hammerd and M-80s (July 19) at Peccadillo's; Valerie Horton Brown Project and One World Tribe (July 26) for Erie Art Museum, Scully's Pub, Antler's, Sullivan's, and Pufferbelly; New Wave Nation and Nerds Inc. for Aug. 2 at Sherlock's; Justus and Money Shot on Aug. 9 at Floral Gallery; BluesBeaters and Rick and Roadhouse Rockers on Aug. 23 for Plymouth and Roadhouse Theatre; Red Hot Rugcutters on Aug. 30 for Matthew's Trattoria; M-80s for Jr.'s Last Laugh on Sept. 6, and finally an Octoberfest party at Brewerie on Sept. 13.