The Jayhawks are headlining our Summer Kickoff at Ariel-Foundation Park! We’re starting the season strong at the Schnormeier Event Center with an incredible night of live music from The Jayhawks. Known for their signature harmonies and Americana rock sound, this is going to be one of the must-see concerts of the summer. Grab your lawn chairs, bring your friends, and get ready to kick off summer at the Park the right way.

The Jayhawks and their rootsy sound were definitely swimming against the tide when they emerged from a crowded Minnesota music scene in 1985. Over the course of almost 4 decades, 11 albums, countless memorable live shows and enough personal drama to fill a couple of Behind the Music episodes, this beloved band soared to heights few ever achieve while winning the hearts and minds of numerous critics, fans and peers in the process. After releasing two Indie albums in the 80s The Jayhawks signed with American Recordings in 1991 and over the next decade released 5 challenging, at times groundbreaking, albums, toured the world to widespread acclaim and even survived the departure of founding member Mark Olson in 1995.

After a hiatus in the mid 2000s, the “classic” 1994 lineup reunited for another new studio album in 2011 and 2 years of solid touring, reacquainting audiences old and new with the band's timeless musical vision. 2014 saw a late 90s version of the band led by Gary Louris hitting the road to support the reissues of the 3 Jayhawks albums released from 1997-2003. This lineup released the band's 9th studio album in 2016, recorded  in Portland, OR with producers Peter Buck and Tucker Martine. The band's next studio album, Back Roads And Abandoned Motels, was released in the summer of 2018, featuring Jayhawks versions of songs Gary Louris had previously written with other artists plus 2 new compositions. Recording for a new Jayhawks album was completed in Minnesota in late 2019 and in July 2020 the band released their 11th studio album, XOXO. In early 2025 the band announced the that work had begun on their 12th studio album, slated to come out in 2026, which will be the 40th anniversary of the release of their first album. 2026 has officially been designated as “The Year Of The Hawk.”

Summer Kickoff with the Jayhawks is a ticketed event. Only ticket holders will be able to access the Schnormeier Event Center, including the view of the stage, bars, food trucks, and restrooms. This event will not be visible to anyone not in the Schnormeier Event Center.

Sponsored by Ariel Corporation.