JEFFERSON CITY — Mid-Missouri still faced winter temperatures this week, but Capital Region Amphitheater is looking ahead to warmer weather with a series of free summer concerts.
The outdoor venue in Jefferson City announced the “Big Fans of JCMO” concert series of free concerts for the summer on Tuesday. Four concerts, each featuring two local artists, will be held in the first week of each month from June until September.
“There are some people in the community that have never been out here,” Capital Region Amphitheater Executive Director Rich Thompson said. “Mainly, all of our events have been ticketed, so we want to give back to the community so they can come out and experience the amphitheater.”
Thompson said the event has been organized largely by volunteers, and it’s possible to hold it thanks to sponsorship agreements. The amphitheater opened in 2021 and is located at Jefferson City’s Ellis-Porter Riverside Park, near the banks of the Missouri River.
Research published last year in the Music Business Journal shows that live music attendance has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic, but so have ticket prices. According to the Music Business Journal, prices rose more than 27% from 2019 to 2025.
The Jefferson City Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, which operates the park surrounding the amphitheater, helped plan the concert series. Assistant Director Amy Schroeder said the name “Big Fans of JCMO” comes from a sculpture installed at the park.
“We have Thomas Jefferson playing guitar on there, and Paddy Malone is represented by a shamrock, and there’s an ice cream cone for Central Dairy,” Schroeder said.
The sculpture is a 5-foot tall aluminum fan that was fabricated by parks employee Ryan Dudenhoeffer and painted by Columbia-based artist and Jefferson City native Adrienne Luther.
The concerts will also feature a kids’ area, concessions stand and food trucks.
Attendees don’t need to make reservations or book tickets ahead, but they will need to be prepared for security. The concerts will have stadium-style security featuring a clear-bag rule similar to many sports games.