Concerts

May - September 2026

Dates and Artists will be announced soon!

We are delighted to announce that AMP Berea (formerly First Friday Berea) has been awarded a multi-year Levitt BLOC Music Series Grant Award of $120,000 in matching funds to present a free outdoor music series at multiple Berea locations in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

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The Levitt BLOC Berea Music Series is supported in part by the Levitt Family Foundation, which partners with changemakers and nonprofits to strengthen the social fabric of communities in America through free, live music in outdoor public spaces. In 2026, the Levitt Family Foundation is supporting over 900 free concerts in 90+ towns and cities across the country, bringing joy to over a million people. levitt.org

Musicians perform on stage, including Bee Taylor singing and playing keyboard, a saxophonist, and a person with an electric guitar.

A young girl with blonde hair in a bun, smiling and playing with a hula hoop outdoors.

Know before you go

Free Admission Every event is free and open to everyone. No tickets, no registration, just show up!

Family-Friendly Kids and families of all kinds are welcome at our concerts. We partner with Grow Appalachia to provide free youth meals at many of our events.

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Bring What You Need Pack blankets, lawn chairs, and anything that makes you comfortable. We provide the music and the space.

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Accessible Parking All venues offer accessible parking. Contact us in advance if you need specific accommodations.

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Rain or Shine Most concerts happen rain or shine. Check our social media or email for weather updates if conditions look questionable.

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Well-Behaved Pets Welcome Leashed pets are welcome. Please be mindful of crowds and clean up after your animals.

A black and white pictogram of a dog wearing a cone around its neck, with a slash through it indicating no dogs allowed.

Food & Drink Food trucks are available at all events. You're welcome to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages.

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Group of five young women posing happily outdoors in front of a rainbow, with people sitting on the grass and trees in the background.

Smiling elderly couple sitting in camping chairs on a grassy field with a golden retriever dog, surrounded by people at an outdoor gathering with tents and umbrellas in the background.

Mission

Fortify Community

Long-time residents, newcomers, and college students gather on the lawn for free live music. These aren't just concerts—they're rare moments when people across social divides actually connect. We transform underused public spaces into places where neighbors who'd otherwise never meet discover they have something in common. Our concerts help build the relationships that make Berea feel like home for everyone.

Diversify the Arts

Our stage features everything from traditional Appalachian to contemporary global sounds. We deliberately book women musicians, culturally diverse artists, and emerging local talent alongside touring performers. Free admission reflects our core belief: exceptional cultural experiences belong to everyone, not just people who can afford tickets. We also invest in youth leadership programs, nurturing the teens who'll shape Berea's cultural landscape for decades.

Amplify Berea

We elevate what makes this place special: our cultural heritage, creative spirit, and sense of community. Through partnerships, we address needs beyond the arts—food security, environmental sustainability, youth engagement. When we bring diverse voices to our stage and support local entrepreneurs, we're nurturing an ecosystem where creativity and community thrive together. Our concerts tell Berea's story in a way that honors the past while building the future.

A woman and three young girls standing in the middle of a street during a community event. The woman holds a sign that says 'We Love It Here' and the girls hold paper bags. In the background, people are walking, and there are tents and buildings on either side of the street.

Where strangers become neighbors.

Our story

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2014: First Friday Berea

What started as an Old Town block party in 2014, grew into something bigger when we realized how hungry people were to gather.

Outdoor community gathering with people seated on blankets and lawn chairs facing a small stage, under a partly cloudy sky with buildings and trees in the background.

2017: Levitt Music Series

We partnered with the Levitt Family Foundation, giving us the resources to expand and the credibility to dream bigger.

Group of people standing in front of a white canopy tent outdoors during evening, with some wearing event shirts, a bicycle, and a park with trees and benches in the background.

2021: Became Nonprofit

Became a 501(c)(3) to formalize what we'd been doing all along: centering accessible arts as the backbone of community connection.

People holding a banner that reads 'BERSA INDEPENDENCE ART PARADE' during a parade through a park with trees.

2025: Creative Collaboration

Interdependence Parade brought together workshops, massive puppetry, and live music across multiple arts organizations. Proof together we create magic.

A group of people at an outdoor music concert, with a woman hugging another woman in the foreground, smiling. There is a band performing on a stage with colorful lighting in the background.

2026: AMP Berea

A new name for our next chapter! Same mission, bigger vision, and growing capacity to serve this community we love.

Our team

We're a small team of Berea neighbors who believe great live music should be free and accessible to everyone. Our all-volunteer board curates diverse musical experiences and works year round
to make these concerts happen.