The Freeman Stage announced Vol. 2 of the 2018 season Monday, April 9, at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach. The second announcement pulled back the curtain on over 40 performances, including the Stage’s Young Audience series, cultural performances and free events.
The 2018 season will be the arts nonprofit’s biggest season to date — with 67 events. Headlining acts announced Monday, include Alison Krauss on June 9; The Four Tops & The Temptations on July 2; country artist Lee Brice on July 5; Boys II Men on July 12; Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and Rick Springfield on July 23; southern rock jam band Gov’t Mule on July 25; Matisyahu on July 26; Mary Chapin Carpenter on July 28; Gin Blossoms on Aug. 2; Postmodern Jukebox on Aug. 17; SOJA on Aug. 19; Michael Bolton on Aug. 31; Phillip Phillips and Gavin DeGraw on Sept. 1 and the Gipsy Kings on Sept. 16. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Monday, April 16.
This season’s growth was a way to fulfill the needs of everyone in the community, said Patti Grimes, executive director of The Freeman Stage.
“As we begin our second decade, to continue our mission of partnering to present memorable performances and provide inspired arts education for all we’ve expanded our offerings to fulfill the needs of our ever-growing community,” she said. “This season, more than ever, there is something for everyone.”
In addition to headlining acts, 45 percent of this season’s lineup includes free performances, such as Step Afrika, the world’s first dance company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, on Aug. 17; David Engel’s Jedi Academy!, where children and adults can channel the force within, on Aug. 1; magician Mike Super on July 11 and The Hunts, a Chesapeake, Virginia-based band of seven siblings on June 28. Tribute acts include Simply Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute on June 23; Party Rock, with members of Jessie’s Girl will bring the hits from the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s on June 29; Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot will celebrate the music of Billy Joel on July 6 and Remember When Rock was Young: The Elton John Tribute will perform on July 21. The Young Audience series, which is sponsored by the PNC Foundation, will include programming on Saturday mornings as well as a couple of weekdays throughout the summer.
The full season’s performers include two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, a Tony Award winner and combined, have more than 68 Grammy Awards and 80 Grammy nominations; 30 Country Music Association Awards and over 50 nominations; and 15 American Music Awards. A complete list of the 2018 performances can be found at freemanstage.org.
As an arts nonprofit, The Freeman Stage is able to offer performances for all ages to enjoy with the support of local organizations, such as its Season Sponsors, who include Sarah Chase Carlson, Schell Brothers and The Meltzer Group.
The Freeman Stage, which is located 4 miles west of Fenwick Island, Delaware, is a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, who partners to present memorable performances and provide inspired arts education for all. This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com. Grant support is also provided by the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, the Sussex County Council, and the state of Delaware. For more information, visit freemanstage.org.
