Akron Art Museum's 'Downtown@Dusk' concert series highlights local music, art

AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Art Museum in downtown Akron is beginning its annual free Downtown at Dusk concert series this week.

The series starts Thursday, July 11. Concerts happen 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. from through Aug. 8.

This will be the 40th year for the series that highlights local bands outside in the museum’s Bud and Susie Rogers Garden and also offers music lovers and museum goers an opportunity to check out the AAM’s current exhibits for free from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday.

A cash bar will be set up in the garden, and a coffee shop is inside the museum.

The bands start at 6:30 p.m. The schedule:

July 11 - JT’s Electrik Blackout – Akron native Justin Tibbs is a saxophonist and composer who leads this jazzy and funky quintet that specializes in catchy, toe-tapping grooves. Tibbs released the group’s debut full-length album, the eponomously titled “JT’s Electrik Blackout,” available at Bandcamp.com.

July 18 - Umojah Nation – Formed in 2006, this veteran reggae band, led by the married duo of lead singer Tracey and bassist/singer Stefano Nguma, are regulars and favorites in the Akron/Kent live music scene with their mix of skank-worthy originals and covers of reggae classics with a dash of dancehall.

July 25 - 15 60 75 The Numbers Band – Kent’s left-of-center blues legends are celebrating 54 years of writing, recording and playing music and their 30th show at Downtown@Dusk. Led by Robert and Jack Kidney, the band has a storied history that intersects with other Ohio music legends including Devo’s Jerry Casale, Chris Butler of The Waitresses and Tin Huey, Pere Ubu’s David Thomas and Anton Fier’s Golden Palominos, to name a few.

Aug. 1 – Lisa Bella Donna – This talented multi-instrumentalist has become acclaimed for her expertise on the modular synthesizers including being feted and featured by the Moog company. Bella Donna also is a prodigious composer and has released scores of albums ranging from gentle ambience to noise, to foot-stomping grooves. Her latest album is Total Eclipse, available at Bandcamp.com.

Aug. 8 - Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival: Inlet Dance Theater/Member Appreciation Night - Downtown@Dusk closes with an interesting night of dance. This performance is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary season of the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, which presents free performances by Ohio dance companies in public parks. To close the series, the Cleveland-based organizations Inlet Dance Theatre and Djapo! Cultural Arts Institute are teaming with Strongsville-based Pacific Paradise Entertainment for an exclusive performance.

In addition to checking out the music, the AAM’s galleries will be open. Exhibits include a couple of Cleveland artists: “Marilyn Stafford: A Life In Photography” and Michelangelo Lovelace’s “Art Saved My Life.”

Beginning in July 26, art photography appreciators can enjoy “Where We Live: Photographs of Human Spaces,” which aims to reveal “the meaning of architecture and the meaning behind the space and construction.”

Go to The Akron Art Museum for details about Downtown@Dusk and the museum’s programs.