Free Summer Concert Series to feature Harper College ensembles, Chicago-based bands

Posted May 22, 2025 2:02 pm

Submitted by the Harper College News Bureau

Harper College’s campus will come alive with music on Thursday nights this summer as the fifth annual Summer Concert Series kicks off June 5 at the Drs. Kenneth and Catherine Ender Pavilion, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine.

The free series, open to the public, features live performances by area groups and Harper College ensembles, showcasing the musical talents of students, faculty, alumni and special guests. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. most Thursdays through July 31 and will highlight a wide range of genres, including indie rock, jazz, soul and folk.

“The Summer Concert Series is a wonderful showcase for our ensembles to share their music with the greater Harper community,” said Edward Hamel, chair of Harper’s Music Department. “It’s also a chance to highlight the breadth of our program, including performances by some of the groups our faculty are involved with. These concerts reflect the spirit and strength of Harper’s music community.”

On June 5, the series will open with a Harper Radio-presented show featuring Chicago-based rockers Naked Brunch and Pinksqueeze, along with Sadie (S)Pins (Sadie Hochman-Ruiz, assistant professor of music at the college). Other installments will feature the steel drums of Harper’s Pan Go Steel Band and folk selections from the college’s Back Porch Revue. Classical guitar students and alumni will collaborate for the Harper Guitar Legacy Concert and the Harper Jazz Ensemble will finish the series with a performance on July 31.

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, as seating is not provided. Free parking is available nearby in lots 9 and 10; enter at Harper’s Euclid Avenue entrance. In the event of rain, performances will be moved indoors to Building A.

Harper College Summer Concert Series:

• June 5: Naked Brunch, Pinksqueeze, Sadie (S)Pins (Harper Radio Presents)

• June 12: The Pan Go Steel Band

• June 26: Michele Thomas & Soulmeme

• July 3: Back Porch Revue

• July 10: Edgar Gabriel String Shredders

• July 17: Harper Guitar Legacy Concert

• July 24: Harper College Jazz Lab Band

• July 31: Harper College Jazz Ensemble

For more information, visit events.harpercollege.edu.

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