Your Guide to Outdoor Summer Concerts

Photo credit to Kaija Zoller.

One of the best parts of summer is the magic of outdoor concerts. As the sun sets, the stage comes alive against a backdrop of vibrant sunset colors and warm summer air. Boise, Idaho has no shortage of venues that celebrate the joy of gathering under open skies, surrounded by music and the beauty of twilight. Check out this list of outdoor concerts this season, and get ready to dance and sing your way through the summer!

Outlaw Field:

Photo credit to Raino Zoller. 

Located by the Old Idaho Penitentiary and the Idaho Botanical Gardens, Outlaw Field is a wide-open grassy, park-like setting with a backdrop of the foothills that is the perfect setting for a summer concert. Guests are welcome to bring blankets or a low-back chair to sit on while enjoying the show. With nearby access to the Greenbelt, this venue is easy to bike or walk to from various neighborhoods around Downtown Boise. The concert lineup at Outlaw Field for this summer includes:

• Jon Batiste - June 6th

• Nora Jones - July 26th 

• Billy Currington - August 9th

• Sierra Ferrel - August 14th

• Mt. Joy - August 15th

See full calendar here.

Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater:

Photo Credit to Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater.

With reserved and grass general admission seating, the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater is a beautiful outdoor venue located in Nampa, Idaho. The stage is surrounded by a slight grassy hill on all sides, allowing everyone a good view of the show. Blankets or low-back chairs are allowed for GA tickets at some concerts. The Ford Idaho Center brings in some bigger names, with the concert lineup for this summer including:

• Jordan Davis - June 7th.

• Whiskey Myers - June 15th.

• Sam Hunt - June 30th.

• Kenny Chesney - July 11th.

• Neil Young - July 28th.

• Luke Bryan - August 2nd.

• Koe Wetzel - August 8th

• Willie Nelson & Family - August 7th

• Flatland Cavalry & Trampled by Turtles - August 10th

• Tyler Childers - August 21st

• Jelly Roll - August 28th

See full calendar here.

Albertson’s Boise Open Concerts:

Photo credit to KIVI.

The Albertson’s Boise Open is a three-day golf tournament held at Hillcrest Country Club from August 22nd to 25th. Part of this exciting event is three nights of live music after the golf is over for the day. These concerts take place on the 18th Fairway at Hillcrest and are GA/standing-room only. Tickets sell out quickly for these concerts so grab yours today! The artists playing are listed below:

• Jon Pardi - August 22nd

• Daryl Hall - August 23rd

• Goo Goo Dolls - August 24th

Get tickets here.

Boise Music Festival:

Photo Credit to Boise Music Festival.

As Idaho’s largest one-day music festival, Boise Music Festival provides a full day of entertainment and family fun. It is taking place at Expo Idaho on June 22nd this year from 10 am to 10 pm, and there are multiple ticket options including GA, Pit Pass, and the Cool Zone (an exclusive, adults-only, tented area). The lineup for Boise Music Festival this year includes: 

• Jason Derulo

• Dustin Lynch

• Ceelo Green

• Bryan Martin

Get tickets here.

FREE Outdoor Concerts:

• Alive After Five. Boise's longest-running, all-ages, FREE outdoor summer concert series produced annually by the Downtown Boise Foundation. It takes place in the Grove Plaza in downtown Boise, Idaho on select Wednesdays through June and July from 5-8pm, with a mix of nationally and internationally touring artists and local talent. The 2024 lineup is yet to be announced.

• Green Acres Food Truck Park. Tucked away on the Boise Greenbelt right by Payette Brewing Co., Green Acres offers local food trucks, drinks, and live music in a relaxed park setting. It is family-friendly and dog-friendly with plenty of yard games to keep everyone entertained. They are typically open from 11 am to 8 pm, but check the daily schedule before you go for more details!

• Neighborhood Concerts. The Neighborhood concert series is put on by the Morrison Center with the goal of making live music more accessible. They offer free pop-up concerts in parks around Boise with food trucks, vendors, and beer from Lost Grove Brewing. The summer schedule includes 6 concerts and can be found here.