If you head down to the Fremont Street Experience on almost any night of the week, you can enjoy free musical entertainment, from cover bands like Spandex Nation and Wonderboogie, offering up their versions of big hits from the past and present. But during the summer, the Downtown Rocks concert series brings big-name touring acts to the FSE stage, providing top-notch concerts for fans at the same price as the attraction’s ongoing entertainment: absolutely free.
This year’s concert series kicks off on May 25 with two of the biggest acts from the ’90s alt-rock boom: low-key roots/punk band Cracker and hard rockers Candlebox. Cracker broke out with wry, catchy hits “Low” and “Get Off This,” and continues to produce witty, jangly music. Seattle’s Candlebox rode the grunge wave with hits “Far Behind” and “You,” breaking up in 2000 but reuniting six years later, and this year is marking its 25th anniversary as a band.
The celebration of ’90s alt-rock continues on June 30 with the annual Summerland Tour, headlined by tour organizers Everclear, whose hits include “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine” and “Wonderful.” Everclear has headlined nearly every year of the festival founded by band frontman Art Alexakis, and this year they’ll be supported by fellow ’90s radio favorites Marcy Playground (“Sex and Candy”) and Local H (“Bound for the Floor”).
The series switches gears a bit on July 4 for country superstar Billy Ray Cyrus, still best known for his 1992 dance-craze-spawning hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” In recent years, Cyrus has been focused as much on acting as on music, with starring roles in the drama series Doc and the sitcom Still the King (not to mention appearing on Hannah Montana alongside his daughter Miley), but he continues to release new music, including last year’s Set the Record Straight.
Rock returns on July 14 with The Cult, longtime hard rockers known for ’80s hits “She Sells Sanctuary,” “Fire Woman” and “Love Removal Machine,” led by brooding frontman Ian Astbury and guitar virtuoso Billy Duffy. Southern rockers Molly Hatchet, whose 1979 hit “Flirtin’ With Disaster” remains a staple of classic-rock radio, take the stage on Aug. 11.
The series isn’t only about celebrating rockers of the past, though; on Aug. 25, current rock-radio favorites Halestorm, led by powerhouse vocalist Lzzy Hale, will be the headliners. Known for recent hits like “It’s Not You,” “I Get Off,” “Love Bites (So Do I)” and “Amen,” as well as relentless touring, the band should bring in some welcome youthful energy along with polished musicianship and a well-crafted live show.
Downtown Rocks wraps up on Sept. 29 with two acts from the ’80s hair metal scene: L.A. rockers Ratt, whose catchy hits, including “Round and Round” and “Lay It Down,” are key building blocks of glam metal’s signature sound; and former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, whose piercing voice was behind hits like “18 and Life” and “I Remember You.” There are still some open slots on the schedule, though, so expect downtown to keep rocking even more throughout the summer.
Candlebox and Cracker Fremont Street Experience, 9 p.m. May 25, free. 702.678.5600
